My cat killed some tomato seedlings!

tgplp · February 11, 2011

Help! I saw my cat drag a lettuce seedling out of my seed starting flats, so I took it from her and scolded her. That was okay, though, because lettuce isn't posinous! I closed up my little "greenhouse" that I was starting seeds in, and went back to doing whatever I was doing. I came back an hour later, and two mauled tomato seedlings were lying on the soil, and two holes where they used to live were in their pots. This is pretty random non tomato growing question, but do you think my cat will be ok? She didn't actually eat anything, she just bit the tomato plants and pulled them out of their pots.

Rest in peace, Stump of the World and Grub's Mystery Green.

The lesson here? Cats are smarter than you think they are. And they can get into zipped up greenhouses.

Taryn

ContainerTed · February 11, 2011

Deer eat tomato foliage and seem to thrive on it. So, I wouldn't worry about that.

But, for the sake of proper training, you're gonna need to bite the cat.

Ted

Dutch · February 11, 2011

Your cat may have a digestion problem. Oat spouts are an excellent digestion aid for cats.

kath · February 11, 2011

Our cats always used to know how to get rid of anything that didn't sit well with them.

Don't worry...doesn't even sound as though much was ingested.

matilda'skid · February 11, 2011

Thanks for the reminder. I put some little tomato plants on the floor in the sun this morning. They are under lights but I thought I would give them a little sun. My dog could have chewed them. I think your cat is normal. One time I started blue fescue grass in the house and couldn't keep the cat out of it.

tgplp · February 12, 2011

Ted and Kath- LOL!!!

Thanks everyone!!! I won't worry to much about it, but if my cat isn't feeling too great, I'll give her oat sprouts.

Silly cats...

Taryn

newatthiskat · February 12, 2011

I don't know why by my cat goes crazy for basil sprouts. I have to constantly keep her out of it.

Kat

darwinslair · February 12, 2011

one of my cats has eaten 24 lemon drop seedlings, and 11 tomato peppers. <sigh> That is what I get for potting them up on the kitchen table and then leaving the room for a few hours.

Tom

RayR · February 12, 2011

And I thought my cat was crazy, he likes to chew on chives (garlic or regular)

RinTinTin · February 13, 2011

Cats love it when we get active in the spring time. They think we are building them a giant super soft potty. Mine watched me build a cat-proof booby trap. I went inside to grab a beer, and when I got back outside, he was curled up inside my cage, taking a nap on top of my seedlings!

KLorentz · February 13, 2011

Been there.And it was very expensive at times.At one time I was trying to build up an Orchid collection and the cats killed every last one

Many tomatoes in the last few years have died at the hands ( paws) of these fury villains.It can be a real challenge to think of a strategy to keep them away from your plants.When you think of one let me know

Kevin

dice · February 13, 2011

It is still early enough to plant another Grub's Mystery Green
and Stump of the World if those were the only seedlings of
those cultivars.

svalli · February 13, 2011

Our cat has an obsession with the expanded peat pellets. I have to sprinkle hot chile powder on top of the seed starting box to keep him away. I think that same should work with seedlings too.

pinakbet · February 13, 2011

our cat will always dig out my seedling trays whenever i forgot to put back the mesh cover overnight..

Wi-sunflower · February 13, 2011

We had a friend that couldn't keep any plant in the house -- her cat would eat up anything. So we gave her a decent sized potted up hot chile plant. It cured the cat of plant eating.

I have a lot of "barn cats" here on the farm that get into everything. The smarter cats have figured out that it's warmer in a greenhouse than out in the barn. Especially at nite. Unfortunately some times they will curl up right on top of a whole flat of seedlings. But often the seedlings are just flattened and most will eventually pop up when I get the cat off of them.

Spraying the cat with some water can sometimes "train" them not to go places they aren't supposed to be, but not always if they are determined. And yes, I have to watch out for extra "fertilizer" if I forget to put a cover on my big tub of potting mix overnite.

But I don't have nearly as much trouble with mice digging around in my seeded flats any more. They can do a whole lot more damage than the cats. Especially mixing up varieties. So it's a trade-off I can live with.

Sometimes it's fun trying to write a tag while a cat is trying to get petted at the same time. Hard enough to read my hand writing.

Carol

February 11, 2011	#1
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	My cat killed some tomato seedlings! Help! I saw my cat drag a lettuce seedling out of my seed starting flats, so I took it from her and scolded her. That was okay, though, because lettuce isn't posinous! I closed up my little "greenhouse" that I was starting seeds in, and went back to doing whatever I was doing. I came back an hour later, and two mauled tomato seedlings were lying on the soil, and two holes where they used to live were in their pots. This is pretty random non tomato growing question, but do you think my cat will be ok? She didn't actually eat anything, she just bit the tomato plants and pulled them out of their pots. Rest in peace, Stump of the World and Grub's Mystery Green. The lesson here? Cats are smarter than you think they are. And they can get into zipped up greenhouses. Taryn

February 11, 2011	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Deer eat tomato foliage and seem to thrive on it. So, I wouldn't worry about that. But, for the sake of proper training, you're gonna need to bite the cat. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

February 12, 2011	#7
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply I don't know why by my cat goes crazy for basil sprouts. I have to constantly keep her out of it. Kat

February 13, 2011	#12
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	It is still early enough to plant another Grub's Mystery Green and Stump of the World if those were the only seedlings of those cultivars. __________________ -- alias

February 13, 2011	#13
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	Our cat has an obsession with the expanded peat pellets. I have to sprinkle hot chile powder on top of the seed starting box to keep him away. I think that same should work with seedlings too. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

February 11, 2011	#3
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	Your cat may have a digestion problem. Oat spouts are an excellent digestion aid for cats.

February 11, 2011	#4
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Our cats always used to know how to get rid of anything that didn't sit well with them. Don't worry...doesn't even sound as though much was ingested.

February 11, 2011	#5
matilda'skid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 309	Thanks for the reminder. I put some little tomato plants on the floor in the sun this morning. They are under lights but I thought I would give them a little sun. My dog could have chewed them. I think your cat is normal. One time I started blue fescue grass in the house and couldn't keep the cat out of it.

February 12, 2011	#6
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	Ted and Kath- LOL!!! Thanks everyone!!! I won't worry to much about it, but if my cat isn't feeling too great, I'll give her oat sprouts. Silly cats... Taryn

February 12, 2011	#8
darwinslair Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lake Minnetonka MN Posts: 229	one of my cats has eaten 24 lemon drop seedlings, and 11 tomato peppers. <sigh> That is what I get for potting them up on the kitchen table and then leaving the room for a few hours. Tom

February 12, 2011	#9
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	And I thought my cat was crazy, he likes to chew on chives (garlic or regular)

February 13, 2011	#10
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	Cats love it when we get active in the spring time. They think we are building them a giant super soft potty. Mine watched me build a cat-proof booby trap. I went inside to grab a beer, and when I got back outside, he was curled up inside my cage, taking a nap on top of my seedlings!

February 13, 2011	#11
KLorentz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Stryker, Ohio Posts: 995	Been there.And it was very expensive at times.At one time I was trying to build up an Orchid collection and the cats killed every last one Many tomatoes in the last few years have died at the hands ( paws) of these fury villains.It can be a real challenge to think of a strategy to keep them away from your plants.When you think of one let me know Kevin

February 13, 2011	#14
pinakbet Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pearl of the Orient Posts: 333	our cat will always dig out my seedling trays whenever i forgot to put back the mesh cover overnight..

February 13, 2011	#15
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	We had a friend that couldn't keep any plant in the house -- her cat would eat up anything. So we gave her a decent sized potted up hot chile plant. It cured the cat of plant eating. I have a lot of "barn cats" here on the farm that get into everything. The smarter cats have figured out that it's warmer in a greenhouse than out in the barn. Especially at nite. Unfortunately some times they will curl up right on top of a whole flat of seedlings. But often the seedlings are just flattened and most will eventually pop up when I get the cat off of them. Spraying the cat with some water can sometimes "train" them not to go places they aren't supposed to be, but not always if they are determined. And yes, I have to watch out for extra "fertilizer" if I forget to put a cover on my big tub of potting mix overnite. But I don't have nearly as much trouble with mice digging around in my seeded flats any more. They can do a whole lot more damage than the cats. Especially mixing up varieties. So it's a trade-off I can live with. Sometimes it's fun trying to write a tag while a cat is trying to get petted at the same time. Hard enough to read my hand writing. Carol