Izzy sure loves that plant...

[slvrwhispr]

I have a schefflera plant in my living room, and Izzy thinks it is the greatest toy ever. She thinks it's another kitty condo-type toy. Is there ANYTHING in the world that's going to keep the cat out of the plant, or should I just resign myself to having dirt and half-chewed leaves all over the floor?

For the record, I've checked a zillion places, and nowhere does it say that scheffleras are poisonous to cats, so I'm not worried about that. I just really like having live greenery inside, especially in the winter, and I'd like to keep Izzy from chewing it to death if at all possible.

[momPaws]

I think someone on this board said to spray plant with something peppery, but I can't remember what...maybe they will post it

[Traci]

It is listed...Poisonous Plants Toxic to Cats.

Please, keep ALL plants away from and out of reach to Izzy...even if you have what you think is a non-toxic plant, many parts of the plant may cause problems such as GI tract upset, vomiting, etc.

[slvrwhispr]

Really. Everywhere else I checked, it said it wasn't poisonous.

She's not eating the leaves so much as climbing in the branches. If I see her munching, I'll find another place for it.

[Tambrey]

Here you go

Scientific Name: Schefflera spp., Brassaia arboricola
Common Name: Schefflera, starleaf, Australian umbrella tree

Characteristics

Family: Araliaceae.

Plant Description: Evergreen shrub or tree; leaves alternate, palmately divided into 8, smooth-margined leaflets, dark green, base of leaf stalk clasping the stem; flowers small, seldom formed in houseplants.

Origin: Asia.

Where Found: Houseplant or interiorscape.

Mode: Ingestion, dermatitis.

Poisonous Part: Leaves, plant sap from all parts.

Symptoms: Vomiting, numbness and tingling of the mouth, lack of coordination. Skin irritation after contact with cell sap.

Toxic Principle: Oxalates.

Severity: CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/cons ... chefsp.htm

[slvrwhispr]

Alrighty, thanks ladies. She doesn't have access to it when I'm not around, so she's not going to get into it when I'm not looking. And she's responding real well to a squirt bottle, so she's not in any danger. But if anyone knows anything I can maybe put on the pot to make it totally unappealing to her... double, since Christmas is coming up, and I KNOW she'll want to climb that tree... lol.

[Tambrey]

HAHAHAAHAHHA....surely you jest?!...a cat NOT climb a tree?!?!

I have more than one cat...and I have given up on having a pretty tree as long as I have cats...I have not put any glass ornaments on the tree for a few years now...absolutely NO tinsel/icicles...

We have an artificial tree as I cannot see wasting a tree to decorate my house for a few weeks...so the tree is beginning to not look so much like a tree...for the first few years, and even some after that, people could not believe it was fake until they touched and looked deeper inside the tree...

The cats climb it...play with the ornaments...you name it...last year I kept cotton balls soaked in vinegar scattered throughout the tree...now there is a lovely Holiday scent to savor

[slvrwhispr]

lol.

When I had Cody, I bought a bunch of shiny plastic ornaments which I still have, so that won't be a problem, at least. And I've taken to twist-tying ornaments to the tree because I have a bad habit of managing to knock the tree over at LEAST once a season.

Eh well. Such is life with cats.

[Tambrey]

One thing I have done for years is I set the tree up at the front window, and I have a rope that goes from the curtain rod, down and wraps around the tree a couple of times, then back up to the rod...at least it does not fall over now

[annabradley]

We put a hook in the ceiling and tied the top of the tree to it. It was the only way That actually made it so stable that the cats could climb to the highest branches. We also wired the ornaments to the tree branches so they could be batted and not come off. The things we do!
Anna B.