How do I keep my cat out of my houseplants?
Pet stores sell sprays that are safe to spray on plants that smell and/or taste HORRIBLE to cats, causing them to generally avoid them! If it's the dirt your worried about, you can cover the dirt by putting aluminum foil over the pot, and around the roots of the plants, loosely. Most cats hate tin foil and won't scratch at it. You can also train your cat not to go near the plant by using a spray bottle and LIGHTLY squirting the cat on the side or on the paws (NOT in the FACE OR EARS!) while firmly saying "NO!" After a couple times, they usually stop in their tracks as soon as they hear "NO" or see the spray bottle.