Hi everyone, okay, here’s my problem…my two cats are always getting into my plants…they knock over the little pots, and just lie down or sit in the bigger pots. They piss and crap in the bigger planted pots, which really pisses me off. So…what can I do to keep them out of the plants? Your suggestions just may prevent these two kitties from becoming tennis racket string. :eek: Just kidding, I would’nt do that. I know that with the collective knowledge of all you dopers I will get some very good advice.
Put moth balls or lemon peels in the plant’s base. Lemon juice on the leafs should also prevent them from eating them. Cats hate the smell and should leave the plants alone unless your cats are weird. And there are a lot of weird cats.
Oooh, be careful of the mothballs idea. We had a cat when I was little that died after eating the mothballs my mom spread around her flower beds to keep dogs away. And I now have a cat that loves the smell of citrus (oranges and grapefruit at least), so in at least some cases, that smell may not work.
I would recommend a mechanical approach. Put up some sort of barrier so the cats can’t get into the large pots - I’d use pencils driven into the soil far enough that they’ll stay put but still be tall enough to inconvenience the cat. For the smaller plants, get a tray with a lip on it to make it harder to push them over. Some hardware/garden stores used to sell plant shelves that could sit on a window sill that were made out of metal with a picket fence edge that stuck up about 1 inch - something like that provides enough resistance that my cats leave whatever’s up there alone.
I hate to say this, but (as you no doubt know) cats will inevitably find a way to go and do exactly as they please most of the time. If the good ideas supplied so far don’t work, I’d just get rid of the plants. I know that’s probably not what you want to do, but it will at least solve your immediate problem, assuming that your cats provide you with more pleasure than your plants. 
I agree with missdavis102 that mothballs or other chemicals may not be the best way to go. Mothballs especially are very toxic, and even the fumes can damage an animal’s kidneys and liver with prolonged exposure.
Whatever you end up doing, good luck. Cats are great friends, no matter how crazy they may drive you!
I hate to say this, but (as you no doubt know) cats will inevitably find a way to go and do exactly as they please most of the time. If the good ideas supplied so far don’t work, I’d just get rid of the plants. I know that’s probably not what you want to do, but it will at least solve your immediate problem, assuming that your cats provide you with more pleasure than your plants.
I agree with missdavis102 that mothballs or other chemicals may not be the best way to go. Mothballs especially are very toxic, and even the fumes can damage an animal’s kidneys and liver with prolonged exposure.
Whatever you end up doing, good luck. Cats are great friends, no matter how crazy they may drive you!
I’ve had some success covering the dirt with tinfoil. Crinkle it up, then smoothe it around the plant and over the dirt (you’ll probably have to use a couple of pieces, shaping it around the plant), making sure it covers the edge of the pot. Fasten this down with a large rubberband or string.
[li] Kitty does not like to step on tinfoil (feels funny and sharp)[/li][li] If kitty knocks over the plant, most of the dirt stays inside[/li][li] You can still water the plants in the center of the container.[/li]
It’s worked for me. YMMV.
BTW - If I remember music history class correctly, catgut [tennis racquet and violin strings] was made from sheep intestine.
My mom used those aluminum pie trays (cheat throw-away types available in the grocery stores in a variety of sizes and shapes) to cover the dirt in her plant pots. She’d cut a slit to the center, then cut a hole in the center only big enough to go around the plant and cover the dirt with it. For all her small plants, we put them inside a large aquarium with the screened top (used for cavies and rodent pets) to create a protective terrarium.
Tin foil (already mentioned), or I have had great success with large rocks, 2 or 3 inches diameter (smaller for the smaller pots), totally covering the top the soil. You can water right over the top of the rocks and it will seep down. I think rocks look better than tin foil. The rocks will help with weighing down the pots too, so they aren’t as apt to be tipped over. For my “problem plants” (the ones my cats like to chew or otherwise find irresistable) I found that hanging them is the best choice. Even plants that aren’t the traditional “hanging basket trailing” types will look good up in the air.
Rocks sound like a good idea, I’m not too crazy about tinfoil or moth balls, although I’m greatly appreciative for the advice. I’ve had this problem for years. I’ve used pepper, garlic, liquid concoctions, you name it. Pepper seems to work pretty good. Still, though, keep the advice coming people, I’d like to hear everything you guys have to say. Thank you for your help. 
I have had the best luck with rocks. You can buy pretty red lava rocks from Home Depot for about $3 a bag.
I covered the dirt in all my house plants with the rocks to keep my cat from using the bathroom in them and from digging in the dirt. It worked like a charm. The cat has no interest in the rocks.
Plus, they look prettier then dirt.
Mine doesn’t go to the bathroom in there though. He just sits. Weird, huh? Anyway, I agree that pepper helps to keep them away. Or, a good squirt of water works, but when they run away, they can make a mess too. The rock idea is great, I may have to use that one myself.
Buy a squirt gun and shoot the kitties whenever you see them in the plants.
Or get them their own plant. A big spider plant is harmless on their digestive systems, and they’ll leave your other plants alone if they have theirs. (And cats are so cute trying to eat the spidery leaves.)