Monstera/cheese plant

[Naranjo]

I'm getting a rescue cat this week, an adult. I haven't had a cat since I was a child. I think I have it in hand apart from a few things I'd love some advice on:

• I've put out an igloo bed. I've got some catnip toy fish, could I put one in there, or would that be over stimulating?

• Candles - can you have lit candles in the room with a cat (obviously wouldn't leave it unattended)

• Plants. I'm getting rid of my lilies and ficus. I also have an enormous monstera/cheese plant though that I'm reluctant to get rid of if I don't have to. It's about 6ft tall, and I have it raised about 2 ft from the ground, but if the cat stands on back of sofa it can easily reach the leaves. I'm going to put some foil balls in the pot itself to try and deter poo-ing in there. But for chewing - I know it tastes bad so I'm hoping that I can just monitor and see if the cat shows interest. Can I put cinnamon on the leaves to extra deter it?

You can try but if it’s a determined plant chewer it’s got to go. Try to love calatheas or palms like the rest of us.

I’d love a draecana but I know if I got one my cat would decide to take up plant chewing as a full time job.

Thanks, good to know what plants I can consider in future.

Don’t worry about toys in the bed. The cat won’t sleep in the bed anyway - you could always use the bed as a toy basket.

Candles are generally ok - just don’t leave a naked flame at a height that could accidentally ignite some passing floof. I put candles either up on a high shelf or in a jar/vase, to avoid accidents. Be aware that scented candles will smell very strongly to a cat, and paraffin based candles emit toxic chemicals, so they may not want to hang out with you in that room.

Unfortunately cheese plants are pretty toxic to cats - not as bad as lilies, but if kitty turns out to be a chewer then it’ll have to go. I have several toxic houseplants (not lilies - that’s a risk I won’t take) happily coexisting with a cat. I provide catnip and cat mint plants in rattan baskets - he chews both the plants and the baskets, and leaves the rest of the plants (in boring old solid planters) well alone. Might be luck, or might be a successful diversion.

I think you could keep the montesera and ficus for now, provide more palatable alternatives, and you’ll find out pretty fast if kitty is a devout plant eater or not. Replace any bamboo cane supports with something metal - a lot of cats love to chew on dry bamboo canes.

That's a good idea to have dedicated plants for the cat. And I do indeed have cane holding up the monstera so shall take a look at that. Thank you.

Buy spider plants (chlorophytum).

Far, far more appealing than a Monstera.

My DCat (10 months) loves to hide behind my monstera leaves like he is in the jungle and pop out to scare me/his mousey at various times. I also have two peace lillies on little tables at knee height that he has shown no interest in. On the other hand my beautiful 3m tall bird of paradise tree was his go-to poop ground (more than the litter tray), so sadly it had to go.

I burn scented candles all the time, obviously with me there and I usually open a window as I know DCat’s sense of smell is stronger than mine. He always wants to be in the room I am in, and candles don’t deter him.

I’d say yes to the bed and catnip fish. Catnip seems to have no effect on my fellow, but I keep trying. And DCat sleeps on everyone except the beds I buy him!!

I expect your fellow will have his own pretty firm likes and dislikes too, this is just to show one cat is happily co-existing with plants and candles here!

This is interesting as I never gave houseplants or candles a thought. I have a draecana, a yucca and several succulents plus a rubber plant none of which had DCat ever shown any interest in apart from weeing on the yucca occasionally 🙄

Catnip is adored as is a large scratching post but the most successful thing ever is a cardboard box that’s big enough for him to sit in. Oh and he sleeps in a wooden tray never his bed.