QI saftey

I don't know if this would work or not. Can you make a liquid spray using Cayenne pepper and water? Two of my cats think dried flowers and fresh cut flowers are lunch. I sprinkle the dry pepper on arrangements and cut flowers, esp. roses. Wolfie had gotten really good at either tipping the vase of roses over and pulling the flowers out, or just removing one at a time. I now put the vase on the stove and sprinkle pepper in the flowers and just a tiny amount around the base of the vase. He leaves it alone. Just don't make the mistake of sniffing the flowers after putting pepper on them--I never knew one could sneeze so much!! I also put Cayenne pepper on plants on the deck that I don't want the squirrels to chew. Works. And no, they don't get sick. One tiny lick and it's enough to leave things alone. Gen

They are both trained to come when I can, but Darius only comes for the treat. He will also lay still for grooming for the treat, but if you take too long he will decide that it isn't worth it and walk away. I need to work with Cheetah on that one. She is learning that mom doesn't want her on the kitchen table, but has recently started climbing up to one of my counters which is not allowed either. I am trying to get her to learn that the ironing board and cutting table are off limits, but that training has just started, so we'll have to see how long it takes her to get it.

On Fri, 7 Sep 2007 08:44:30 -0500, Charlotte Hippen wrote (in article ):

Mostly I just try to stay really vigilant. Fortunately neither of the girls is that interested in the ironing board. But they both love the pincushion (and a spare empty one will just not cut it with them). And very interested in watching me cut things out.

They watch the sewing machine needle, but fortunately I haven't had any little paws try to catch it.

Sometimes an empty spool will be a distracting enough toy to get them away from the danger zones.

Maureen

Thanks for the tips jennelh. I hadn't thought of needing to check the garbage for lost tools. I try to keep things put away except when I'm using them because of my kids, which I've got to crack down on myself again - I've gotten lazy now that they are starting to get older. I'd better watch that garbage can just in case she gets one anyways.

Thanks Debra.

On Fri, 7 Sep 2007 08:44:30 -0500, Charlotte Hippen wrote (in article ):

Mostly I just try to stay really vigilant. Fortunately neither of the girls is that interested in the ironing board. But they both love the pincushion (and a spare empty one will just not cut it with them). And very interested in watching me cut things out.

They watch the sewing machine needle, but fortunately I haven't had any little paws try to catch it.

Sometimes an empty spool will be a distracting enough toy to get them away from the danger zones.

Maureen

That they do!!

On Fri, 7 Sep 2007 21:40:32 -0500, NightMist wrote (in article ):

Nightmist, tell Jiji that is not true. I happen to know that all string belongs to Maggie Belle. It's rule number one.

Rule number 2 is that all cellophane belongs to Maggie Belle.

Maureen

Yup, she's strictly an indoor cat. I think she would be a good mouser if she were a farm kitty. She may mellow out a bit as she ages (at least I hope she does). I don't think she will hit my Darius's stage of mellow though. Which would be nice. I often wished he was playful, so I guess I'd better watch what I wish for because I'm getting that wish and then some with her right now.

LOL!! That would be a surprise all right!!

Unfortunately I can't lock her out of my sewing space because there are no doors on it. I have done some of my cutting sprees with her locked in 'her room' , and when DH is home at night he is a good distraction for her too. I just have to watch what I do during the day, and watch her so she can check my things out without getting hurt. We are both kind of learning here, so eventually we will get it figured out.

Oh my, eating pins. That could be dangerous. Cheetah decided to take a few out for me one day. My others leave everything alone unless it is a finished(or near finished) quilt, so with out thinking one night I left some rows of blocks out that had been pinned an ready for sewing. After she was released from her room the next morning she thought the pins looked interesting and removed some to play with. Luckily she didn't try to eat any and I caught her right away.

Sorry I can't help, but wish you luck. Our Darius used to just love my plants (still does just no longer has access). There was a product that was just for cats that we tried without any luck. We also tried cedar balls/chips, having plants of his own (kitty oats) and a few other tricks that I can't recall right now. Finally, we just ended up getting rid of all but my favorites and putting them in places he can't get to.

Thanks for thinking of my QI's Polly. We have been down this road with our first QI, and unfortunately didn't have much luck. We now have just 3 favorite plants placed where they don't have access. I would love to have more, but I just can't risk it because Darius would eat anything he can get at. Even if I did get one that is totally safe for him to chew on, he would probably eat the plant, and I'd be left with a pot of dirt. Since QI's out rank plants (at least in my book), I have a couple of silks to help me feel better.

When we first got our "rescue-love" (a doggie Q.I.), he'd love to sniff around the houseplants. We picked up a spray bottle of something called "Bitter Apple" at our local pet shop to put on the plants (and furniture where we didn't want him to chew). Guess it tastes terrible! (Never tried it myself - will take the company's word for it!) It didn't seem to bother the plants, and he stayed away from it. Don't know if it would work with cats, but it might be worth checking out.

First, check the toxic plant list to see if the new plant might be poisonous to cats.

Get the kitty more oat grass to eat. You might want to consider buying seeds so you can grow a new batch while Jiji-chan eats the first batch. If he has his own plants he will be less likely to chew your decor plants.

Bitter apple, Tabasco, cayenne pepper powder, and other topical additives only work for a short time, if at all. Animals will get accustomed to the taste and eat it anyway. Bitter apple usually doesn't deter young children from sucking thumbs for very long, cayenne pepper powder doesn't deter squirrels from eating bird seed (especially sunflower seed) for more than a couple of days, and I once had a cat that ate some sardines in spite of the spicy jalapeno pepper oil the sardines were packed in. (The cat's eyes watered, but she wouldn't quit eating the sardines. Ever try to retrieve food from a cat that is that determined to eat something she can carry off? Let's just say I made a good effort and leave it at that.)

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Not likely to find it on such a list. It is a weed indigenous to Mexico, and not a very common house or garden plant. The flowers are freaky looking though, which is of course why I wanted it. (G)

I have been trying to figure out a way to get a goodly greenery forage area set up for the kitties. Problem is I have limited sunlight and most of the grasses and such want full sun. With four cats, one of which is a fiend for greens, I would just sew a tub with cat friendly greens and keep it seeded. But I don't have good lighting for it. the oat grass we had I had to keep toting around to get good light. I have my one micro-greenhouse sort of set up on the stair landing (where the glads are), and that is the only full sun zone in the whole house. What can I grow for them that likes partial to full shade? kiri is violently allergic to ferns, so those are out.

I suspected as much. Jiji is our green fiend, but the other three are all inordinantly interested in this salvia as well. Catnip and salvias are members of the mint family, maybe they are more closely related than I thought. The cats did devestate the kitchen sage I was trying to nurse along in the kitchen.

We eat red lentils and rice fairly often. If we do not tithe some to the cats they will come right up onto the table after it. The only thing that makes them do that. Though Mr. Bear (RIP) would jump up and steal pizza after every one had left the table. With the lentils all of them will swarm on up and snatch it right off your fork. Tithing is better than lentil battles.

We can close the hall off from the cats, so it is looking like that salvia is going to have to either put up with overmuch light, or come to live in my studio.

NightMist The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking. - AA Milne

Yep, that flower is a little unusual looking. I totally understand why you'd want it too.

Perhaps have one pot of new grass growing outside while the other is being eaten. Also give a try at growing catnip because it may distract the kitties from eating the lesser cousins of the plant. Catnip is notoriously easy to grow.

Debra in VA See my quilts at

Many cats despise citrus. I find a light mist of a citrus-based household cleaning spray on my palm tree keeps my QI from nibbling.

Monique in TX