The plant known as the “Cat and Kitten Plant” or “Scaredy Cat Plant” has gained a reputation among gardeners for its potential to deter feline visitors from digging up flower beds. This tender perennial is often sought out for a natural, non-harmful solution to protect vulnerable garden areas. The plant’s primary feature is a distinct, pungent aroma released when its foliage is disturbed, which is believed to be the source of its repellent effect. Understanding its identity, specific growing requirements, and maintenance is essential to successfully integrating it into your landscape.
Identifying the “Cat and Kitten Plant”
The botanical name for the plant most commonly referred to as the Cat and Kitten Plant is Plectranthus caninus, which is also frequently marketed under its synonym, Coleus caninus. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, and is native to dry regions of southern and eastern Africa and India. This plant grows as a compact, semi-succulent subshrub, typically reaching a mature height and spread of between one and two feet.
The foliage consists of gray-green, slightly rounded, and fleshy leaves covered in fine hairs, which give the plant a soft texture and appearance. It produces delicate spikes of small, blue-violet flowers throughout the summer, which add to its ornamental value. The common name is derived from the plant’s unique defensive mechanism, which is its strong, musky odor that is often likened to skunk spray or dog urine.
This strong scent is primarily released when the leaves are disturbed. It is this aroma that is anecdotally reported to be highly unpleasant to cats and other small mammals. While its effectiveness is not absolute, reports suggest the plant may successfully repel approximately 70% of cats that encounter it. However, the deterrent effect is localized, meaning cats may simply choose to walk around the plant rather than through a dense planting.
Essential Growing Conditions and Placement
The Cat and Kitten Plant thrives in warm, well-drained environments. It prefers locations that receive full sun for several hours a day but can tolerate partial shade. If planted in an area with intense afternoon heat, a spot with dappled sunlight or morning sun is preferable to prevent stress and leaf damage.
The plant’s semi-succulent nature requires sharply well-draining soil to avoid root rot. A suitable growing medium is standard potting soil blended with materials like perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage. When planted in the ground, loamy or sandy soil enriched with organic matter provides ideal conditions.
Consistent but moderate watering is necessary during the active growing season (spring and summer). The soil should always be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. During the winter months, when growth slows, watering frequency must be substantially reduced, often to about once a week, to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilization requires a balanced liquid fertilizer applied monthly throughout the spring and summer. Growing the plant in containers is highly recommended, as this allows for easy relocation to maximize the deterrent effect. Strategic placement involves positioning the pots near vulnerable vegetable patches or along the edges of garden beds where cats frequently trespass.
Propagation and Year-Round Maintenance
Propagation of the Cat and Kitten Plant is remarkably straightforward, offering an easy way to multiply your stock and ensure a continuous supply of plants. The most reliable method is using stem cuttings, which can be taken at any time during the growing season. Mid-to-late summer is ideal for overwintering. Use clean, sharp pruners to snip a three to five-inch tip from a healthy stem.
Next, remove the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting to expose the leaf nodes, which are the points where new roots will emerge. The cutting can then be rooted either by placing it in a glass of water, or by planting it directly into a small pot filled with a well-draining soil mix. Roots will typically begin to form within a few weeks, after which the new plant can be transplanted to its final location.
Regular pruning is necessary to maintain the plant’s shape and encourage a fuller, bushier growth habit. Trimming back straggly stems and pinching off spent flowers redirects the plant’s energy into producing more foliage. Since this plant is a tender perennial, unable to tolerate frost, it is typically grown as an annual in cooler climates.
The entire plant can be brought indoors before the first frost, or cuttings can be taken in the fall and rooted indoors to grow through the winter. When kept indoors, watch for common houseplant pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Treating infestations early with insecticidal soap or neem oil will help protect the plant until it can be moved outside again in the spring.