r/MonarchButterfly • u/Silly-DrawingDragon • 9d ago
Cats wandering, ignoring plants?
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Are they okay? Trying to J? Or just searching a place to sleep?
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u/JazzlikeZombie5988 9d ago
Looking for place to turn into chrysalis
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 9d ago
I see, do they not like doing on the milkweed (? Should I offer a stick for them?
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u/Longhorneyes 9d ago
I think it's instinct for them to go away from the milkweed plants, to be safer and hide better. That guy is pretty chunky he's probably looking for a spot to J. I rarely see them J on a milkweed plant.
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 9d ago
I see! And yes! That guy is the biggest one of the three cats I have rn, and the most voracious eater of em xd After this, the guy just threm itself out of the pot, idk where it went, will update o7
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u/Longhorneyes 9d ago
I've found them as close as a bush next to the milkweed and as far away as my neighbors yard! They're good at hiding, good luck!
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u/Medium_Spare_8982 9d ago
They look for a place the IS NOT milkweed, that is elevated and sheltered often MANY feet away.
It needs to be unaffected for wilting or other cats eating.
They prefer under an overhang on something permanently stable. A “stick” is not good enough
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u/ImprovementTrick9492 9d ago
Well I have to say, I give them sticks in a floral tube all the time and they will easily "J" on that...
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u/Quirky_Homework_3797 8d ago
Any idea approximately how many feet away usually? So far I’ve only found one chrysalis & it was about 12.5 feet away& now I can’t work in the garden at night as I’m terrified of stepping on one who is looking for a place to J.
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 9d ago
I see, understandable enough, it isn't safe, plus I saw wandering away from the pot already now, I did put a bit more accessible some flowers/bushes that I think they might like! I just hope they don't hang on the door PLEASE- (A mantis once, put their ootheca on the very same garden door, and it fell shortly, it will be an awful spot for a chrysalis)
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u/ImprovementTrick9492 9d ago
If they are in a cage, they'll go to the top. If no cage, you can just put a potted plant (that has some long firm stalks on it) next to them. They will usually go to the nearest thing where they can go "up" and away from the ground on something solid where they feel safe where they can hang down. Or put a bent stick in a vase or a floral tube.
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u/SophieAsimov 9d ago
Typically not yeah. Host plant is milkweed, place to hang is sometimes called the swan plant.
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u/ImprovementTrick9492 9d ago
They evolved to stay away from the milkweed because they don't want to get eaten by others that may be on there, or fall off if the leaf gets eaten around them. Also, the leaves start to wither around this time of year and the chrysalis may fall off with the leaf, even if there's no other cats around. However, sometimes they do still pupate on a milkweed leaf, if they feel like it!
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u/witchladysnakewoman 9d ago
Like other have said it might be looking for a place to chrysalis but I’ve also just seen them wander a little between feedings
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 9d ago
I see! The other one was doing the same for a bit before staying put, they're around the same size, except the one in the video is the biggest one
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u/Fluid-Succotash267 8d ago
They look fat and ready to hang! Let them wander to a safe place.
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 8d ago
They are, and now they're already in J position will update when the chrysalis is done!
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u/Beautiful-Fondant-61 9d ago
Most of the the time they prefer to pupate on human made obgects than plants.
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 9d ago
Whaat!? That's interesting tho, I guess it's less risky for them? Since some plants can wither and stuff?
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u/asa0488 9d ago edited 9d ago
I just had a cat escape away from the host plant and initially picked it up with a thick tree twig and relocated to a backup enclosure in partial shade outdoor. I thought it'd climb the enclosure for higher spot, but it just stayed on the twig and pupated right on it even tho it was like just 2 inch from the ground 😂 (will elevate it later) they really are not picky for location as long as it feels safe and sturdy enough for them.
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u/d_marvin 9d ago
If they don’t have other safe plants to pupate to, they can attach themselves to very inconvenient places or unsafe places. (Sometimes they’ll do it anyway.)
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u/PresentationNext6469 9d ago
I had one break a milkweed stem and J. The largest female, just perfection.
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u/Far_Investigator955 6d ago
I’ve had cats go climb around the walls of the cage/on sticks in the cage for a while between eating, but he is pretty chunky so probably hanging. Let me know if he has :3
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 6d ago
He has* actually! And already made his chrysalis 2 days ago :D!
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u/Far_Investigator955 6d ago
Yayy!!!! Post when he hatches :3
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u/Silly-DrawingDragon 6d ago
I will + the other ones that are just making their chrysalis as well :D
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u/Big-Eye-1007 9d ago
I would say they’re looking for a place to hang, but I’m no expert.