Why Cats Chew Plants, and How to Stop It
A cat chewing and tearing at plants isn't just mischief — there's an instinct behind it. Once you understand why, the ways to stop it follow naturally.
You've probably had this happen: you bring home a new potted plant, and before long your cat is nibbling the leaves. You scold them and they do it again; you move it and they somehow find it anyway. This isn't your cat being disobedient — it's instinct at work.
Why do they chew?
1. To aid digestion
Cats are carnivores, but in the wild they do eat grass at times — to trigger vomiting that clears hairballs or foreign matter from the stomach, or to get fiber that helps digestion. House cats keep this instinct, which is why they feel the urge to chew on plants.
2. A nutritional instinct
In the wild, grasses contain trace nutrients like folate. A cat may seek out plants when it senses something is missing from its diet. It can be worth reviewing the quality and amount of food you're giving.
3. Boredom and stress
A cat left alone all day runs short on stimulation. Plants sway, have varied textures, and make a sound when chewed — they become the easiest toy within reach. This behavior is especially common in indoor-only cats.
4. Getting attention
If chewing a plant once got a reaction from you, your cat learns from it. You rushing over is itself a reward, and even being scolded can register as a form of attention.
5. Texture and smell
Every plant has a different texture and scent. Cats are sensitive to smell and find certain plants' aromas appealing. Just as they react to catnip, particular herbs or plants can draw them in instinctively.
How to stop it
Offer an alternative plant
The most effective approach is to give them something else to chew. Growing cat grass in a pot can lower their interest in other plants — but the grains sold as cat grass (oat, wheat, barley) differ in their evidence for cats, so check the cat grass guide first. The ASPCA lists catnip and lemongrass as toxic to cats, so this guide doesn't recommend them as something to chew.
Block access entirely
A plant placed on a high shelf or windowsill your cat can climb to will eventually get reached. Put it somewhere your cat can't climb, or use a heavy pot so it's hard to knock over. A glass case or terrarium works well too.
Deter with smell
Citrus scent is often suggested as a deterrent, but this guide doesn't recommend it. The ASPCA lists lemon and orange as toxic to cats, and the toxic principles it names are essential oils and psoralens. Avoid both leaving peels around the pot and spraying citrus scent.
Cover the soil
If your cat digs in or chews the soil, laying pine cones or pebbles on top of the pot creates enough of a nuisance to reduce access.
Provide enough stimulation
If boredom is the reason, more playtime and rotating toys is the real fix. Even 10–15 minutes of play a day often noticeably reduces the behavior.
Don't scold
A big reaction when you catch them chewing only reinforces the attention-seeking lesson. Quietly redirecting them, or leading them to the cat grass you've set out, is more effective.
It matters even more with toxic plants
If the chewing itself is hard to stop, the best move is to at least keep toxic plants out of the home entirely. No matter how out-of-reach you think a spot is, cats climb far higher and squeeze into far tighter gaps than you'd expect.