Expert: Greg Simpson - 8/6/2007

Question
about a month ago my cat ate the top of my cactus and the cactus has turned yellow and soft so i cut the top part off but the rest of the cactus is turning soft and yellow what should i do?

Answer
Nichola,

Unfortunately, if your plant is fully involved, there is probably nothing that can be done at this point. It could be that is was exposed to extreme heat, or that it has started to rot. Generally, cacti rot from the bottom up. Check the soil, if it is wet, do not water until it is dry. If it is dry, when is the last time you watered? Contrary to popular belief, cacti need more than a teaspoon of water every other month. If you have not watered in a while and the soil is dry & hard, go ahead and water it and that may help. Sorry for the bad news.

Sincerely,

Greg