Please don't say "skin the cat", that has already crossed my mind. :? This is what I get for moving the plant last night off of the damp windowsill into a "safer" (from rot) location.

My Barbara LeAnn had a spike about 4" long and the sheath had a bud plumping inside. Now, the sheath, and bud, have tooth holes decoratively punched through them. How should I handle this? Is it futile to not cut the spike, in the hopes that later buds will mature or is this baby done for?

Wouldn't know what to do! Never came across feline trouble yet!!
Do feel the anger and frustration though, hope the other guys can guide you in the first aid for phrags.

put your plant out of reach --and wait i have found 2nd blooms are better we will wait to see pic too so its not just you doing the waiting ---- Cat lover billie

i don't know if it really works, but if you like citrus, i've heard that citrus repels cats, so sprinkle some around the base of the pots or in the area. then, let me know if it works:confused:
also, i wasn't gonna say skin the cat, i was gonna suggest stringin' it up...

What about cayenne pepper? or pure capsican.I know it works for dogs.

Heather -I'd just leave it.Try it! It doesn't cost you anything & is worth a try.The 1st bud may be damaged but who knows about any subsequent ones.

Isn't it the worst? The cat's only doing what's natural, but you've got a maimed spike.

I'd say leave the plant as is and send it good thoughts. Kerplunk, the 'Chid-Killing Cat, has decimated 2 spikes - a Psychopsis & a Phal. Both were my fault for leaving them accessible. (He hasn't actually killed anything - dramatic effect.)

Yeah, they're tougher than the Barbara LeAnn, but maybe there's hope. The Psychopsis put out a side spike, and the Phal branched w/ more buds than it would have had. Sure looks funny, though.

Kerplunk's trained me well. All the plants are behind a closed door now.

Let us know what happens - Whitecat8

This will not help for the current calamity, but try growing a small pot of 'cat grass'. It can be purchased at most pet stores and may help satisfy your cat's natural urge to chomp on greenery. Luckily our two guys restrict themselves to outdoor grass.
The only time where I've had trouble with our cats and the orchids was when the Aeranthes grandiflora was in bloom. The flowers are on long pendant stems and the cats loved to bat the flowers as they waved in the air. :)

I would wait and see if more buds develop too. Something came along and munched off some of my daylilly buds this morning. Just stems left! :rolleyes:

Heather--
My cat used to eat my plants too, and the best method I have found is to wait to catch him in the act and spray him with water, saying NO! firmly. Now, he just rubs his face on them without eating them. Also, I leave kitty grass around for him to chew, instead of attacking my other plants. As for your plant, if the holes are fairly minor, just leave it be.

Had this happen when I had a room mate and his cat chewed on some leaves. I love this cat to death, so skinning was out of the question...but I sure thought about it.

What worked almost instanty was Habenaro peppers. While he was chewing on some leaves on the bench, I calmly walked up to him with a habenaro cut in half. He turned and looked and instead of scolding him I offered the pepper. He licked it, ran out of the room and gave me a dirty look while watching me sit the pepper on the plants pot. The next day I put an orange plastic ball about the same size in its place and he wouldn't even go in the same room.

As for the plant, I'd leave it and see what it does. If it turns brown and dies, cut it and it will just put more energy into growing.

Jon

Um, thanks all!
This was an isolated incident. She is usually fine w/ the plants. We are all adjusting to new surroundings, and I made the mistake of putting a couple within her reach on a table she sometimes sits on. This incident has all the markings of a late night "I'm not getting enough attention" chomp. She is notorious for eating the roll of toilet paper at this time of night, and I think she saw a new soft green thing within her domain that looked as though it might be more interesting to chomp on and thought it might get her some attention. :roll:

At any rate. I am going to try to take a pic of the damaged bud to see if anyone thinks there might be any hope for subsequent ones. Poor bud!

Okay, here's pics of the damage.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/ahmcd33/1c629cec.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/ahmcd33/918961b0.jpg

This incident has all the markings of a late night "I'm not getting enough attention" chomp.

That's why I think cats make lousy pets. But I love the habanero pepper idea :devil:

It looks like it will be fine, I was expecting much worse.

You know fish don't eat orchids, Heather :poke:

Jon

Yeah, I have some fish, they seem pretty un-interested in the orchids. :)

The bud inside the sheath is pretty torn up, so I think it is a goner, but I hope maybe it is not so damaged as to kill the progression completely. I'd love to see another bud. I was really excited to find this one in sheath, as most of my phrags are out of bloom now. Time will tell, I suppose.

Do feel the anger and frustration though, hope the other guys can guide you in the first aid for phrags.[/QUOTE]

Forget the first aid for the phrags! How about first aid for the cat!

maybe it'll open as some super kool neato freak flower. i'd say leave the sucker on there.

Was the cat's name Martel? Or dare I say it HAMMER..... :devil: Maybe the cat was jealous cause your were paying the plant too much attention... Cats are good beer battered and slow fried.

It will be fine Heather. The worst that can happen it the bud won't grow...then the plant will hurry and mature the next growth for you. I have three cats so I know how you feel....I'm sure that if my grow room wasn't off limits to them there would be lots of chewed stuff. They do come in while i water but when i leave their furry butts are shoved out the door.

Does this look like a guy that would chew orchids?

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h76/Scoobasquinch/IMGP0023.jpg

Yes!!!!! :D

Well, the cat gets to live this time. I've another new sheath on the plant. I decided because of that, to snip the older damaged spike, since it had not developed further. Might as well let the plant focus on the new spike instead.

Cat has been informed that the next time? She loses her whiskers! :mad:


Wendy - I'll trade you? Gregory = so adorable! :heart:

I know if my cat was still alive he would definately eat my orchids...my cockatoo would also if he got close to them....

I have no answers but it looks like you have a lot of things to try...let us know what works.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Cat-Repellent-or-How-to-Keep-Cats-Out-of-Your-Garden&id=6554

I think i remember reading somewhere that decomposing material wilts flowers, but I forgot. Never tried it cause I don't have cats. Putting barrier or orange peel around you blooming plants may work.

I hear anti-freeze is an excellent cat repellant:)