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So, I been growing a Mango plant from seed, which was going quite ok I think.

Yesterday my cat found this plant and eaten or whatever the leaves of the seedling, so all of its leaves are now gone, the stem is still intact and not broken or anything.

Will my seedling have a chance to survive or is it doomed? If is has a chance, should I do something extra to save it? Will it create new leaves?

[Update]: After 2 weeks there seems not much changed, I am still giving it water and the stem and the base are still green.

Mango seedling

Mango plant

Mango seedling without leaves

Mango plant after

The killer

Cat

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  • 1
    ...I was just pruning it for you! Or is there some long-running inimical hatred between cats and mangos we are normally not aware of?
    – Ecnerwal
    Commented Jun 7, 2022 at 17:07
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    "That mango had it coming. I'd do it again in a heartbeat." -- the cat
    – Don Branson
    Commented Jun 7, 2022 at 18:14
  • BAD KITTY, very BAD!
    – Sliq
    Commented Jun 8, 2022 at 7:51
  • Cats do like to eat grass-like plants sometimes. You might need to offer some sacrificial grass to the feline menace to divert it from your mango.
    – Danila Smirnov
    Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 2:49
  • "I regret nothing! Meow."
    – Escaped Lunatic
    Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 3:37

3 Answers 3

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I can't promise it will live, but I've seem mango seedlings survive some pretty rough treatment.

The main thing is to keep your cat or anything else from inflicting more damage. I think it has a reasonably good chance of pulling through if no cats or caterpillars get a chance to defoliate it again.

If it survives, post pics.

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    I will later today also put a picture on here of the status how it looks now, if it survives i will
    – Bart
    Commented Jun 7, 2022 at 12:40
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    A couple of others pointed out that the growing tip was removed. That is a considerable disadvantage, but mangos are a bit tougher than the average tree seedling. Keep it safe and watered and it might decide that stories of its death are premature.
    – Escaped Lunatic
    Commented Jun 8, 2022 at 7:22
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Your cat has completely removed the growing tip, i.e. the bit that branches. I'm sorry to say your mango seedling will die once its energy is used up. You cat was just doing what cats do, which sometimes includes destroying things you care about! Next time you grow a mango seedling (or have anything else in your house you care about your cat not destroying), put it somewhere your cat can't get it!

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1

Firstly, your cat isn't stupid because that's normal animal behavior. Secondly, the growing part has been removed. So, it won't survive

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    – Community Bot
    Commented Jun 8, 2022 at 6:36
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    I'm glad that you affirmed that the cat isn't in fact stupid, that was a really important piece of information.
    – Mihael Keehl
    Commented Jun 8, 2022 at 11:20
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    I understand cats are carnivores. Stupid cat. ;-D
    – mcalex
    Commented Jun 9, 2022 at 3:56

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