Hanging Planter Hack After a Move: Home Office Pine Plywood Shelf

By Sebastian Frank, Founder of CozeCats · Last updated: November 8, 2026

Moving into a new home is often when people buy new plants. A fresh home office with a window seems ideal, but a curious cat exploring a new space will investigate every pot. Hanging plants out of reach is a popular hack, though it only works if the plants themselves are safe.

This guide covers choosing plants, building a pine plywood hanging shelf, fixing it securely and positioning it so the cat cannot reach. Our cat-safe plants and indoor garden hub has more on choosing plants for homes with cats.

Why the Hanging Planter Hack Is Not Enough on Its Own

Hanging a plant out of reach reduces the chance of a cat chewing it, but cats climb, jump and knock leaves down. Fallen leaves, petals and pollen land on the floor, desk and windowsill. If the plant is toxic, the risk is still there.

That is why plant choice comes first. Treat height as an extra layer of protection, not the main one. Our cat-safe houseplants list gives a starting point for a new home.

After a move, cats are also more likely to explore and test new spaces. A plant that was out of reach in the old flat may be within jumping distance from a new bookcase or radiator cover.

Plants the ASPCA Lists as Safe

Always check each plant against the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant database before buying. A few popular hanging plants are listed as non-toxic to cats.

The ASPCA entry for spider plant lists it as non-toxic to cats. Many cats find its leaves tempting, so hang it high anyway to protect the plant. For more swaps, our guide to lookalike plants cats can live with lists safe alternatives to popular toxic plants.

Plants to Keep Out of the House

Some of the most popular trailing plants are not safe. The ASPCA lists golden pothos as toxic to cats, because it contains insoluble calcium oxalates that can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Hanging it high does not stop leaves falling or a determined cat reaching it.

Lilies are a special case. The US Food and Drug Administration warns that even a small amount of a lily leaf, pollen or vase water can cause fatal kidney failure in cats in less than three days. Keep true lilies and day lilies out of the home entirely, including in bouquets and hanging arrangements.

Our guide to holiday plants that are toxic to cats covers seasonal plants that often arrive as gifts after a move.

Building the Pine Plywood Hanging Shelf

A pine plywood shelf with hooks underneath gives you a neat way to hang several planters in a row. Use plywood around 18 mm thick for strength. Cut it to length, sand all faces and edges smooth, and finish with a water-based sealant to protect it from drips.

1. Cut the shelf around 60 to 90 cm long and 15 to 20 cm deep.
2. Sand and seal the plywood with a water-based finish.
3. Fit screw-in hooks underneath, spaced for each planter.
4. Fix two strong brackets into wall studs.
5. Load-test with full, watered pots before hanging plants.

Make sure the shelf is not a jumping platform. If the cat could reach the top of the shelf from a bookcase or desk, it may try to sit there among the plants. Mount it in a spot with no nearby launch points.

Anchoring Hooks and Brackets

Wet soil is heavy. A large hanging pot can weigh several kilograms when watered. Fix shelf brackets into wall studs, and use ceiling hooks rated for the load and fixed into a joist rather than plasterboard alone.

Check fixings monthly. A falling planter is dangerous to people and pets, and broken pots leave soil and sharp pieces on the floor. Avoid macramé hangers with long dangling tassels, which can tempt a cat to bat and pull. Our toxic plant swap for a home office refresh covers safer hanger options.

Positioning Away From Jump Points

Cats can jump surprisingly high, especially from furniture. Before fixing anything, stand in the room and look for every surface the cat could use as a launch point: desks, bookcases, filing cabinets, radiator covers and windowsills.

• Keep planters at least a long jump away from any surface the cat uses.
• Hang plants above walkways rather than above furniture.
• Keep trailing stems short enough that they cannot be reached from below.
• Avoid hanging plants above the cat's bed or food area.
• Re-check positions after you move furniture.

If your cat enjoys plants, give it a pot of its own. Our guide to growing cat grass indoors shows a simple tray method, and a catnip and silvervine windowsill garden offers another safe option.

A Shortlist for a New Home Office

After a move, it helps to start with a small, safe selection and add more only once you see how the cat behaves in the new space. A short list keeps watering simple and makes it easier to spot if anything has been chewed.

1. One spider plant hanging from a ceiling hook near the window.
2. One Boston fern on the pine plywood shelf, where it gets humidity and indirect light.
3. A calathea on a high, enclosed bookshelf rather than hanging, since it prefers stable conditions.
4. A tray of cat grass on the floor, so the cat has something it is allowed to chew.

Label each pot with the plant's common and scientific name. If a cat ever does chew something, you will be able to tell the vet exactly what it was. Keep the plant tags or a photo of each label on your phone, too.

When buying more plants, check the scientific name on the ASPCA database rather than relying on a common name. Several unrelated plants share similar common names, and a shop label may not be precise.

Drip Trays and Cleaning

Hanging plants drip after watering. Fit drip trays or self-watering inserts so water does not fall onto the desk, floor or cat bed. Standing water in saucers can attract a cat to drink, so empty saucers after watering.

Use fertilisers and plant treatments sparingly, and keep them stored away. Many are not designed for homes with pets. Sweep up fallen leaves and soil promptly, especially in the first weeks after the move when the cat is still exploring.

Settling In After the Move

For the first few weeks in a new home, keep an eye on how the cat reacts to the plants. Some cats ignore them; others become fixated. If the cat keeps trying to reach a planter, move it further from furniture or replace it with something less tempting.

Watch for signs of plant ingestion, such as drooling, vomiting, pawing at the mouth or reduced appetite. If you think your cat has eaten any part of a toxic plant, or any part of a lily, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline immediately and take the plant name with you.

Hanging Plants and Cats Questions

Are hanging plants safe for cats?

They can be if the plant itself is non-toxic and the planter is out of reach. Height alone does not make a toxic plant safe, because leaves fall and cats climb. Check every plant against the ASPCA database and fix planters securely, away from furniture the cat can jump from.

Is a spider plant safe to hang in a home with cats?

The ASPCA lists spider plant as non-toxic to cats. Many cats are attracted to its leaves, so hanging it high protects the plant as much as the cat. Keep trailing runners short enough that they cannot be reached from furniture or the floor.

Why should pothos not be used in hanging planters?

The ASPCA lists golden pothos as toxic to cats because it contains insoluble calcium oxalates, which can cause oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. Hanging it does not stop leaves falling or a cat reaching it, so it is safer to choose a non-toxic plant instead.

What should I do if my cat chews a lily?

Treat it as an emergency and contact your vet immediately. The FDA warns that even a small amount of lily leaf, pollen or vase water can cause fatal kidney failure in cats in under three days. Take the plant or its name with you, and do not wait for symptoms.