I’ve an issue.

I have a bunch of plants that need to come in for the winter. I have gotten rid of every plant I own that is toxic to cats. We have two.

I’ve been growing a lemon tree for 4 years now. It’s finally in its final pot, and 3-4 feet tall. Meaning, it cannot go up on my winter shelf, and needs to sit on the floor.

One of our cats is, well, chompy. So I looked up if the lemon tree was toxic to cats. I really didn’t think it would be, but yay, it is.

We’ve two bathrooms, in a very small house. My son’s bathroom has a skylight, so for now, not knowing where to put this tree, I stuck it in his tub. I take it out and watch for the cats when he showers, and then put it back in.

My husband made comment about my plant shelf this morning, because I’m down to one functional plant light, anyway, I said this is nothing, and told him what I’ve been doing with the lemon tree the last few days.

He said, well that doesn’t sound sustainable. I said, well what else should I do?

He is so paranoid about our cats getting sick. He suggested I should get rid of the tree, that’s what he would do. I said, it feels like I cant have hobbies because of the cats, I’ve already gotten rid of so many of my plants for them.

He then got mad at me for blaming him, I really should hear myself sometimes. I said I wasn’t blaming him. And he left for work.

I see people with plants and cats. Like, what the hell should I do? I’ve been growing this lemon tree from seed, and I don’t want to get rid of it.

I already have a tropical plant, that has grown too large for the house, is toxic to the cats, and its sitting outside right now freezing to death. It makes me depressed.

:(

  • Shadow@lemmy.caEnglish
    9·
    13 days ago

    Bring the tree in and see if it’s actually an issue. Cats don’t like citrus, so you might not have an issue.

    You could spray your tropical plant with bitter apple spray, that’ll solve it too.

    • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
      9·
      13 days ago

      Agreed, spray it with that nasty tasting spray until they learn it tastes terrible. I use this one, it’s even nastier than the bitter apple: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002DIOD0

      It’s made from grapefruit, and it tastes like all the worst sour/bitter notes of grapefruit, dialed up to 10, and none of the tasty ones. (Yes, I tried it before using it. Also it lingers for several minutes and you can’t rinse it out. Do not recommend.)

      You might also get some cat grass that the cat can munch on to get their fix. Apparently they do it to help digestion and hairball control, or something.

  • Wahots@pawb.socialEnglish
    2·
    10 days ago

    I’d spray the lemon tree with hot sauce mixed with water. Real hot sauce! Reaper peppers. Most animals hate spicy things, especially if it gets on their fur. We use it to protect crops and plants against squirrels, rabbits and raccoons.

  • underreacting@literature.cafeEnglish
    2·
    13 days ago

    Ask around if you have a neighbour or friend willing to plant sit for you during winter. People like doing favours for each others if you’re just willing to ask for it. Or maybe it can be brought to work with you, husband, neighbour, or even to the kids classroom to liven up the place in winter?

    I wonder if your husband is always so defensive or if something is going on, as that wasn’t super constructive. Maybe you both have better communication skills when you’re not affected by the morning stresses.

    • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      2·
      13 days ago

      He’s so on edge for months now. Every small thing is like a massive problem. I’ve messaged him reiterating, I wasnt blaming him and brought up stress management because it’s clear hes suffering.

      It’s starting to leak into our relationship. Basically everything he says lately is negative or worry. Unless he’s playing rust. Then shits fine. But lately anything I say feels like I’m annoying him.

      I’ve already gotten some good advice here on how to protect the kitties and my plant, I’m really greatful.

      • underreacting@literature.cafeEnglish
        2·
        12 days ago

        Hopefully he’ll realise that this is an issue that needs to be dealt with asap. If he waits too long, you might become detached to protect yourself from the constant negativity, and once he’s ready to fix things you might not have any positive emotions left towards him or the relationship. This kind of stuff gets worse the longer it goes on, because it causes new issues as a response.

        It could be stress, it could be that you need a break from the routines you’ve gotten into, it could be a midlife crisis even; pondering what life has become and what it means going forward.

        Stress management, couples therapy, time apart, or time together doing something new (stuff like dancing or climbing maybe, where you’re working as a team)… There are many options, depending on what the issue is, as long as you’re willing to work on it.

        Relationships need care, just like plants and cats do. I hope he’s willing to care for yours.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    13 days ago

    What places do you have some amount of light that the cat can’t get into? Garage, workshop, shed? You can place it in one of those and get a cheap grow light and timer to help it overwintering.

    Otherwise, maybe get some cheap chicken wire and build a little fence dome to put over the plant while it’s indoors.

  • Swordinferno@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    13 days ago

    One possible solution you’ve gotten close to is having an area in the house off-limits to cats. That could be a door that stays closed or a baby gate guarding a nook with a window.

    You could also try wrapping the pot in chicken wire.

    Hopefully one of these two solutions could work in the short term, to then give you time to work on a lasting solution: train the cat to not be chompy.

    • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      1·
      13 days ago

      Yeah, this bathroom is the only place in my 5 room house the kitties don’t really go, and it has the skylight so I don’t need to plug in a light for it.

      I’m going to try the spray someone mentioned so I can keep it by the livingroom window

      • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
        6·
        13 days ago

        Hahaha he is a tiger cat too

        His name is Edsel. I used to have propagated pathos plants in the window sill. But when he wants the crunchies from me, and it’s not crunchy time, he will purposely go eat my pathos propagations and then puke infront of me.

        He’s smart. He begs from my husband by jumping on his sports card collection, and for me, he eats any plant he can reach. Smart little bastard