Cats in my garden

[kdaisy]

How can I keep them out?

My dog used to keep them away just fine, but since she passed away they think the garden is their personal poop pile.

I am pregnant and cannot wait to get out there to garden, but worry about toxoplasmosis.

Any thoughts?

[moonlitemama]

When I gardened in town and had a couple of raised beds, I had good luck putting chicken wire across the beds and snipping holes where I needed to place the plants.

Don't know if you could adapt this idea to open beds, though.

[mosesface]

you can also try citrus peels distributed around the perimeter or by forks poke-you-in-the-butt side up every few feet.

[mindymom]

My approach this year is two-pronged. I'm trying to make the garden less appealing by putting in trimmings from my rose bush (this is in my flower garden where I don't have to dig too often) and I have given them another, more appealing spot to go. We have a large tree in back that is sort of semi-deciduous and I rake all the needle debris into a circle around the base and let them have at it in the needles.
If they are feral cats you could try trapping them - sort of depends on your comfort level with whatever action you'd have to take to get rid of them once they were trapped. Alligators do a pretty good job keeping the feral cat population down, too.

[plantmama]

Tin foil works in potted plants because cats hate the feel of it. Maybe put it down around the edges so the cats would have to step on it. I've also heard they don't like the smell of citrus so you can make a spray or put peels in.
I like the pokey sticks idea too.

[kdaisy]

Originally Posted by mindymom

Alligators do a pretty good job keeping the feral cat population down, too.

No alligators in Montana...I am sort of glad about that.

Thanks for the suggestions! My dad also recommended more tightly spaced plants, since it is the bare dirt that is appealing to them.

DH is for trapping them and turning them over to the shelter. They aren't feral, I don't believe. But in our city, it is against the law to let your cat run loose. So we would be in the right, by law, to do that. I don't know if I am to that point though.

[mattemma04]

Sprinkle pepper around the beds. Plant a bed with catnip to attract the cats to THAT bed,and away from the ones you plan to work in. I fence in a bed with plastic fencing.

I am with your dh in trapping cats.Deterents only work for so long.And I detest the smell of cat urine coming in through my windows on warm summer days!

A few trips to the pound might discourage owners from letting their cats free roam.Most have never considered building a cat run,but it is a great option for those who want their cats to experience the outside safely.

I think you have more to worry from wildlife poop than cat poop.Especially raccoons.

[Yuba_River]

We struggled with this, too-until we put a sprinkler on a motion sensor up in the garden. That got rid of the cats really quickly. Then we had an explosion in the gopher population, unfortunately--so this year I've waited to hook up the sprinkler in the hopes that the cats might take care of a few gophers.

[Lit Chick]

Our cats are currently outside - not free roaming, but they could get to the plants. We put up poultry fencing around our herb garden. It's not the most lovely option, but it keeps them out.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by mosesface

you can also try citrus peels distributed around the perimeter or by forks poke-you-in-the-butt side up every few feet.

This is what I do. And those prickly tree things. These things put some in/ around the garden and they don't want to walk on them

[kdaisy]

Originally Posted by Yuba_River

We struggled with this, too-until we put a sprinkler on a motion sensor up in the garden. That got rid of the cats really quickly. Then we had an explosion in the gopher population, unfortunately--so this year I've waited to hook up the sprinkler in the hopes that the cats might take care of a few gophers.

Ok, DH loves this idea, and was thinking of a similar thing himself. He wants to know if you would share any info on how you did it. Maybe you have a project page? (Yes, my husband is a geek.)

Thanks for ALL of the input!

[Yuba_River]

We just ordered the cheapest one we could find-- but it could be a DIY project, I'm sure. Ours has a motion sensor on a rainbird type sprinkler. You can adjust the sensitivity and play with where the jet of water actually goes. It is very effective, but you have to remember to turn it off when you come out, or it will get you, too! We didn't have to leave it on all the time as the cats got the hint pretty fast.

[MEcatlady17]

I use used coffee grounds around the perimeter of our garden. We save the used grounds to sprinkle periodically (like after rain, etc). Does the trick.

Our cats are indoor only, but we have a ton of cats that our neighbors have allowed to breed but not care for (it is rural). I may have made several trips to the shelter with the ones who spent most of their time on my property and appeared skinny and sickly (have a heart trap) ....no one ever came looking for their missing kitty so I am guessing they don't keep track of the crazy breeding they are responsible for.... I am a big animal lover and this is a big pet peeve of mine.

[moss]

lee valley sells these things: http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/p...,51555&p=10302 there's probably some diy way of doing the same thing for a lot less money

i'm loving the motion sensor sprinkler idea!