Lots of homeowners add to the attractiveness of their homes with houseplants. Will your kitty be able to resist attacking those houseplants? A cat can reduce a houseplant to useless shreds in a matter of minutes. Naughty little puss! But don't punish your cat until you know why he attacked your plants.

First, you must decide what caused your cat to attack the plant. Cats will attack plants for two main reasons. First, cats need greens for a balanced diet. If your kitty has not been given any vegetables or greenery to eat, he could be simply following his instinct for survival. In this case, make sure kitty gets to go outside frequently so he can eat the grasses of his choice. As a bonus, chewing on grass can help your cat get rid of hairballs. cat grass is available to be grown in pots if you live in a place where you cannot let the cat out regularly. Most large pet stores sell cat grass seeds.

A plant's rustling leaves can look like a vulnerable enemy to your cat, who will attack and bite its perceived foe. This is a natural behavior for cats in the wild. Should this occur, make sure to keep the plant away from breezes so that the cat won't feel tempted. It may suffice to place the plant upon a low table, or you may need a higher shelf for it.

Of course, once kitty has had a wonderful time destroying that plant you loved so much, he might decide he wants to do it all the time. In this case, you may have to live without indoor plants, or keep kitty confined to a room where there are none while you are out of the house. On the other hand, it may have been sheer boredom that made him attack the plant - he could have just needed something or someone to play with. So don't let your cat go too long without knowing that it is loved and cared for. Make sure he has plenty of his own toys. Toys you make at home, which are inexpensive and easily replaced, are at least as good as costly models from the pet store.

Try dangling a scrunched up sheet of paper on a string just above the floor. Attach it to a chair rung or cupboard doorknob. Your cat will enjoy pouncing on the wad and rolling on his back to wrestle with it. Another good cat toy is a small light ball, which your cat will love chasing all over the floor. Once your cat has plenty of other toys to play with, it will be more likely to leave your plants alone.