Cats chew on plants because it’s hardwired into their biology, not because something is wrong with them. Research published in the journal Animals found that plant eating in domestic cats is an innate behavior inherited from wild ancestors, who regularly consumed grass and other vegetation to help expel intestinal parasites. This means you can’t train the instinct away entirely, but you can redirect it, make your plants less appealing, and block access effectively.
Why Cats Chew Plants in the First Place
The most common assumption is that cats eat plants because they have an upset stomach or need to cough up a hairball. Neither holds up well under scrutiny. A large survey of cat owners found that only a small proportion of cats appeared ill before eating plants, and the data didn’t support the hairball-purging theory either. Instead, the behavior appears to be a normal, common instinct that virtually all cats share.
Young cats chew plants more frequently than older ones, likely because the exploratory drive is strongest in kittenhood. But cats of all ages show a consistent urge to seek out and chew vegetation. This is why indoor cats will reliably go after houseplants if no alternative is available. Up to 57% of cats a year old or older vomit after eating plants, which doesn’t mean they’re sick. It’s simply a side effect of the behavior itself.
A possible nutritional component exists too. Some researchers suggest a dietary deficiency in trace nutrients could drive certain cats to seek out plant material more aggressively. Providing a balanced diet may reduce the intensity, but it won’t eliminate the behavior.
Remove Toxic Plants First
Before trying any deterrent strategy, check whether you have plants that could seriously harm or kill your cat. Lilies are the most dangerous common houseplant for cats. Ingesting even a small amount of a true lily (Asiatic, Easter, or daylily varieties) causes severe kidney damage. Gastrointestinal symptoms start within one to three hours, and kidney failure can begin developing within 24 to 48 hours. This is a genuine emergency with a narrow treatment window.
Other popular houseplants toxic to cats include:
- Pothos and philodendrons: cause mouth pain, drooling, and vomiting
- Aloe: causes vomiting and diarrhea
- Dieffenbachia (dumb cane): causes intense mouth irritation and swelling
- Sago palm: extremely toxic, can cause liver failure
- English ivy: causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
- Monstera (Swiss cheese plant): causes oral irritation and difficulty swallowing
- Azaleas and rhododendrons: can cause cardiovascular problems
- Autumn crocus: causes multi-organ damage
- Chrysanthemums: cause vomiting, diarrhea, and skin irritation
The ASPCA maintains a searchable database of hundreds of toxic plants. If you’re unsure about a specific plant, look it up before assuming it’s safe. With a determined chewer, the safest option is to remove toxic plants from the home entirely rather than relying on deterrents alone.
Offer Cat Grass as a Substitute
Since you can’t eliminate the instinct to chew greens, give your cat a sanctioned outlet. Cat grass is a mix of grasses like rye, barley, oat, and wheat that’s safe for cats to eat freely. It can provide small amounts of vitamins A and D, and the fiber may act as a mild laxative or help trigger the occasional purge that cats seem naturally inclined toward.
Place cat grass pots near the areas where your cat usually goes after your houseplants. Having a readily available, appealing option reduces the drive to seek out your decorative plants. You can also try catnip or catmint as alternatives. Cornell University’s Feline Health Center notes that providing these alternatives won’t guarantee your cat ignores houseplants completely, but it does give you a competitive option.
Cat grass kits are inexpensive and grow quickly, usually ready within a week. Keep a rotation going so there’s always a fresh pot available, since cats tend to lose interest once the grass gets tall and tough.
Use Taste and Scent Deterrents
Bitter sprays like Bitter Apple are safe for both plants and animals and work by making leaves taste unpleasant. Spray the product on all leaves so the cat associates the bad taste with plant chewing in general, not just one specific leaf. You’ll need to reapply after watering or misting. Hot chili sauce brushed on leaves works similarly, though it’s messier.
For scent-based deterrents, you need to be careful. Cats are exceptionally sensitive to essential oils, and many commonly recommended ones are actually toxic to them. Oils to avoid entirely around cats include tea tree, lavender, cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and most citrus oils like bergamot, grapefruit, and lime. These can cause serious reactions even from inhalation or skin contact.
Safer options that cats also tend to dislike include cedarwood and lemon oil (used sparingly). However, relying on scent deterrents as your primary strategy is risky because the margin between “cat dislikes this” and “this is harmful to the cat” is narrow with essential oils. Taste deterrents and physical barriers are more reliable.
Create Physical Barriers
The most foolproof approach is making plants physically inaccessible. Options that work well:
- Hanging planters: mount them from the ceiling or on wall brackets, away from any surface a cat can jump to
- Enclosed shelving: glass-front cabinets or bookcases with doors keep plants visible but untouchable
- Mesh or wire covers: attach mesh screens to open shelves where plants sit, sized to block access while allowing light through
- Dedicated plant rooms: if you have a spare room or sunroom, keep the door closed
- Decorative stones or pinecones: covering the soil surface discourages cats who like to dig in pots, though this won’t stop leaf chewing
Cats are athletic and persistent, so placement matters. A shelf that seems high enough will get tested. Assume your cat can reach any surface within jumping distance of furniture, countertops, or other shelves. Wall-mounted floating shelves with no nearby launch points are more effective than tall plant stands.
Redirect With Play and Enrichment
Boredom intensifies the plant-chewing habit. A cat with nothing to do will investigate whatever’s available, and a leafy plant that moves when batted is genuinely entertaining. Increasing interactive play, rotating toys, and adding vertical climbing spaces all reduce the amount of attention your cat directs at plants.
Rubber toys scented with fish oil or treats hidden in puzzle feeders can absorb the same oral fixation that drives plant chewing. When you catch your cat approaching a plant, redirect with a toy or treat rather than punishment. Punishment doesn’t teach the cat what to do instead, and it can increase stress, which actually makes compulsive chewing worse.
When Chewing Signals a Bigger Problem
Occasional nibbling on plants is normal. It crosses into concerning territory when your cat is actually consuming large amounts of non-food material, a condition called pica. Mild pica looks like frequent chewing or licking of unusual textures, but the cat stops short of swallowing and otherwise behaves normally.
Serious pica involves swallowing plant material, soil, or other objects and puts cats at risk for intestinal blockages. Warning signs include repeated vomiting, straining during bowel movements, refusing food, visible abdominal discomfort, or producing no stool. Excessive drooling, gagging, or difficulty breathing after chewing something suggests the material is stuck and requires immediate veterinary attention. Cats that have swallowed string-like plant fibers face particular danger, as linear objects can saw through intestinal walls as the gut tries to move them along.