So worried

14 years ago

I planted a beautiful butterfly garden with Swamp and Orange milkweed. Found Monarch cats and took 2 inside. On one enclosure I secured a paper towel because it was big and sluggish and ready to pupate. It is now in a J.

The other was slowing down, too, although a bit smaller. In the few hours it took me to check it again, it has now crawled to the top of the plastic critter box I have it in and has been up there for almost 12 hours. No J.

Can it adhere to plastic? The plastic has little holes in it. Did I kill the cat I meant to nurture?

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Comments (4)

mostone
14 years ago
I am far from an expert, but I've had them attach to plastic and even glass. So far, so good.
docmom_gw
14 years ago
They will often sit still for quite a long time between instars, or while they are molting (don't know if that's an accurate term). Just leave them alone with fresh milkweed and give it time. Hopefully it will shed its skin and start eating again.

Martha
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bedford8a
14 years ago
I think they're fine. I've even had a Monarch cat form a chrysalis while lying on its side on the bottom of the cage. When it hardened, I hot glued it to the top of the cage.
eggs3
14 years ago
I had several of my cats adhere to the plastic containers I was using. If it doesn't make it, you didn't kill it. It could have been sick. I had a cat die after half of the chrysalis was formed. Hang in there!