Digging in Plants

that is interesting.... I wonder if it really does work - or if my ornery duo will regard the pinecones as a nice back or ear scratcher... lol!

THAT is a great idea! Thanks for thinking of me. They go to the vet first thing Wed morning, but I'm going to be looking for some pine cones for when they come home. Thank you, my friend, for taking the time to find this discussion again.

how kind of you to recognize my post.... thank you!

Yep, those are all good ideas, but I'm still not convinced it will deter my little heathens. They've knocked over the pot itself a number of times, so covering may not help. Good luck!

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure if I could stand the smell if adding something to the dirt, thought (I'm VERY sensitive). As for adopting strays, it wasn't by choice. They weren't very big, didn't look like they'd been weaned long, and it was cold out. They wouldn't come to us so first I put food out (cheerios with tuna worked until I got to the store, LOL) and made them a warm bed in a box on the porch. The plan was to get them inside and handled long enough to get them to the vet to be spayed, then put them back out. We can't have pets here and the landlord lives next door - yikes! They've been inside for about two months now and one has already been in heat twice and driving me crazy. Her sister may have, but hasn't shown the more vocal/physical signs. I'm looking for a low-cost spay now because I'm on a fixed income and can't pay a vet bill, but I sure don't want to put them back outside now and have kitties everywhere.

I think your first reply has an good suggestion as well, if your plant is the kind that has a main stem like that. As for cats in heat ... I SOOOOOO understand ... two of mine are adults and have been taking turns going into heat on me for about a month now. Totally driving me nuts!! I am not only low income also, but don't have a working vehicle right now so have not been able to spay them either :( I have been tempted to turn one of mine loose outside as well, but really don't want to be responsible for loads of kittens either! ~Rachel

keep looking. My sister ended up getting all her dogs shots free.

Thanks, Pat. Our county shelter does offer low-cost, but the vet requires all shots, etc and that they be healthy. If they would need more than just the spay, it would still be out of our reach. I'm still looking!

Interesting, I didn't know about the citrus. I might give that a shot. Wonder if squirting with orange or lemon juice occasionally might have the same effect? I don't know about giving them their own plant. Would think that might encourage the behavior I'm trying to thwart (and I'd still have a mess somewhere). Thanks!

I've got some weird cats then cause aluminum foil is their fave toys. Any piece they can get their paws on becomes a play toy. I've even caught them in my recycle bin trying to fish out a tiny pieces of foil candy wrapper.