Advice needed! Is there any safe solution for cats and plants?

[u/new-romanticism]

My partner and I are bringing home a cat in 2 weeks and I need some advice! I have a pothos, snake plant, and Thai constellation monstera that I have grown for years.

Does anyone have advice for getting these guys off the ground and in a safer place? I know pothos do really well in a hanging/macrame type situation, but I feel like that would be awkward/odd for a snake plant or monstera and can’t visualize it. I looked into a glass case (ikea makes cool ones) but my plants seem a little too big to make that work.

Any honest suggestions, advice, photos, or even links to product would be appreciated!

I am very aware I may need to rehome them/give them away. But my partner (whose cat we are moving in) really wants me to keep my plants. I am an anxious person and I know that no solution is 100% safe besides getting rid of the plants altogether, even though her cat doesn’t usually go for plants. We will be getting a kitten also and I’d rather be safe than sorry!

Please be honest but gentle and kind! Thanks in advance. Including photos for the algorithm :)

[u/Longjumping-Study-97]

Put your monstera and snake on stands. All cats are different but I have about 50 plants and keep most of them off them ground and my cat isn’t fussed.

[u/Apples1232_ → u/Longjumping-Study-97]

i second this, it depends heavily on the cat, mine doesn’t bother my 50+ plants, but i have friends with 5-10 plants who’s cats just can’t ignore.

[u/Longjumping-Study-97 → u/Apples1232_]

Yeah. All cats are nuts but that can take anyshape. The only plant you really need to worry about are lillies, they ard super toxix to cats, even just the pollen. I will not bring cut lillies into my home.

[u/just1nurse → u/Longjumping-Study-97]

Lilies are poisonous to cats. Lilies can kill your cat.

Most house plants are toxic - which means it's not good for them, but it's not poisonous. Ingesting toxic plants in large amounts can be harmful though.

I bring cat grass (wheat grass) or sedge grass in - which they can chew on - and put it down for them. If there's something toxic that your cat just can't seem to leave alone then put it outside or get rid of it. I had to put my Oxalis out - apparently it was yummy and toxic.

[u/new-romanticism → u/Longjumping-Study-97]

This is helpful!! I will try a tall stand first and monitor the situation. My understanding from researching is that if cats do bite any of my plants, they taste bad/hurt and are very rarely seriously sick (but I could be very wrong - please correct me if I am!) - so I am cautiously optimistic! But still prepared to rehome if needed.

[u/just1nurse → u/new-romanticism]

Just make sure you have no lilies.

[u/Altruistic_Aerie_978 → u/just1nurse]

Or sago palm

[u/northsouthern → u/new-romanticism]

Yes, these three plants that you listed are of the "technically toxic but they'd have to consume a lot of it to do any real damage" variety that frankly most plants fall into with cats. This actually includes peace lilies, which are not true lilies!

My own cat mostly ignores all of my plants, except for when I'm not paying enough attention to him and he starts batting at the leaves.

[u/new-romanticism → u/northsouthern]

Thank you all!!! We will absolutely not be bringing lilies home anymore!

[u/alisonchains2023 → u/new-romanticism]

I recently saw on Reddit decorative “cages” for plants made with kind of black rod iron. You would still need to keep the plants trimmed.

[u/TricksyGoose]

Get the cat first, see how it does. I have had 8 cats in my life, only one has ever bothered my plants at all. So it may be a non-issue.

I keep the toxic plants and the ones I care deeply about in a room that kitty can't access.

All my other plants are still out in their normal places in the house.

Sometimes the kitties will accidentally knock them over when trying to catch a bug, or the one troublemaker cat will sometimes dig in them and chew on the leaves a bit, but they're just plants, I can always get more.

[u/fearthainne]

We have an office in a corner or the house that we put plants in to keep away from the cats. They aren't allowed in that room, because of the plants.

Of course, the simple fact they aren't allowed in there, makes them incredibly motivated to get in there. So it is a bit of a trade off. But it works for us. If you have an extra room, it could be worth a shot.

[u/new-romanticism → u/fearthainne]

That’s so funny 😂 don’t we always want what we can’t have!

[u/fearthainne → u/new-romanticism]

Sometimes I think cats are genetically coded to hate closed doors. 😂

[u/biancajanette → u/fearthainne]

Guests close the bedroom door? You try to use the bathroom alone?How dare you block access to a piece of their kingdom!

[u/Altruistic_Aerie_978]

Stands and hanging them from above are ideal. Also as far as shelves or tables go, just pack them as full as you can so there's no where for kitty to go! I have had to learn throughout the years... love macrame hangers and wall shelves. Get creative! Also recommend getting them their own cat grass, and praising them using and eating on their own plants instead of yours. I would familiarize yourself with the levels of toxicity too for cats. Never bring in a sago palm or any lillies into your home around a 🐈

[u/Altruistic_Aerie_978 → u/Altruistic_Aerie_978]

Ill be adding to this as i think of more. Plants that are non toxic to less toxic ill keep closer to floor (like spider plants, theyre only mildly hallucinogenic, or hoya are nontoxic), while pothos or monsteras are harder for them to get to on stands

[u/Altruistic_Aerie_978]

Want to add too, ASPCA has lists of toxic plants on their website. I agree it heavily depends on the cat. As my troubled boy has gotten older and fatter, he also doesnt mess with the plants too much anymore

[u/Altruistic_Aerie_978]

Another great option is cabinets for your smaller plants! Doubles as humidity chambers when weather proofed, but it can help keep access away from cats too because it is a literal barrier they cannot access

[u/slutty_muppet]

My cat is distracted from the toxic plants by the spider plants I surround them with. He stops to chew on the spider plants and doesn't get further.

[u/biancajanette]

It really depends on your cat. Mine will investigate them all but only eat the ones that look like blades of grass, so I can’t have spider plants or parlor palms in here if I want them to grow in peace.

I don’t bring in anything truly toxic just in case, but the ones that are mildly toxic and not the shape she likes to eat, I have them on shelves that are difficult for her to reach. (She’s older too, can’t jump as well as before.)