We recently combined out home with that of my father-in-law.  He lost his
wife to cancer in August and has a few health issues of his own that are
worrisome.  His two cats and our two cats are being very good about
things, although they're still a bit territorial and the random bit of
hissing still happens.

My problem is with some large potted plants that my FIL received at the
time of my MIL's funeral.  He has them in two large urns just inside the
front entryway, and they're quite beautiful but my cats are insisting on
nibbling the ends of the large, pointed leaves.  A friend of mine quite
knowledgable in houseplants told me the name and said they are safe for
pets and children (we have a three year old girl and a baby on the way,
not to mention the cats, so of course I asked).

Irregardless of their safety for cats, I need to get my guys to stop
chewing on them.  If these plants die because of my cats, my FIL is going
to start grieving all over again for his wife.  The huge number of plants
he received are his therapy, more or less, and I would hate to have any
sort of setback that could be avoided.  He's been very understanding
about moving some of the plants out of reach of my family, but this would
be tough.

Before I go out and buy five different kinds of spray and deterrent, does
anyone here have recommendations for me?  I've never had to deter a cat
from doing this before so I know next to nothing about what's available.  
I've tried the squirt bottle trick but my two big lunkheads have never
been bothered by that before, and now they think I'm just playing a game.  
I can't use hot pepper oil or anything because my three year old will
surely get it on her hands somehow and then transfer it into her eyes.

Can anyone give me some pointers?  I'm stumped this time.

--Threnody