I Hate Cats

[rogesse]

I moved house this week so my precious seedlings (too many to mention) and plants have been at the mercy of kitty. So far she has dug up 3 huge boxes of salad (I've been using lined fruit trays from the local grocers) and poo'ed twice in them all. She's poo'ed twice on my fantastic 8ft weeping fig, eaten all my mange tout, broad beans, tomato and aubergine and shredded two expensive mexican pine side tables

Anybody got a patern for a fur handbag?

[Iamhanuman]

i know that's awful simply awful and it gives me the shivers but kitty is just doing what she's been trained to do - use a litter tray
in her mind she's being a good little girl and not going on the floor
kind rogesse has provided her with the perfect little soil toilets to save going outside

please forget the handbag and try out of the way places to hide seedlings

[rogesse]

But there is nowhere else to hide the seedlings! She has a litter tray and 150ft of garden! I do concede that soil is nicer than kitty litter (scratchy school tracing paper loo paper v. double velvet) but I just had to vent after finding yet another disaster this morning!

She has just gone upstairs to harrass my son (can meow for England) - he fancies a new pair of slippers.....

[SarzWix]

My 2 were on the brink of being turned into slippers for trashing every chilli seedling I had managed to grow (And there was NO excuse but evilness as they were a mere metre or so away from a clean litter tray at the time.) They'd have made fab matching slippers too...

So (((big hugs))) Rogesse, I feel your pain. Try putting some kind of mesh or netting over the boxes, stretched tight and tucked under, they really hate getting their feet tangled in anything!

[quark1]

Apparently citrus peel is a natural deterrent which will not harm them or your produce.

Scatter some chopped up peel amongst the seed trays' surfaces.

Kitty is only obliging her nice mummy by doing what is required in what she sees as a freshly provided litter tray. In fact I've always noticed with my lot that they will use any freshly-turned earth as a new toilet provision!

[rogesse]

Thanks Sarah I needed that! Yes she is pure evil - the fig already had chicken wire covering the soil but it didn't phase her - and she had a clean litter tray....

[SarzWix]

Mine managed to get the lids off TWO propagators to trash my seedlings! And prior to that they dug up, chewed and threw on the floor every single one of my overwintering chilli and pepper plants... Daren't sow any more yet, my only 'safe' windowsill is in the porch (only safe if everyone remembers to shut the door ), and it's full!
I spent yesterday trying to clear the greenhouse, wobbling around on one foot, I have to try and sweep it, scrub it and get the heater out there this afternoon... Should be fun

[nelliegemini]

Mine's just dug up a leek - and why? Because I was making a fuss of the soil, well actually I was weeding, feeding and sowing - but as far as he's concerned, I was making a fuss of the soil.

[HayleyB]

Our geriatric Alf (18) who can also howl for England has a thing about my peas, it's been driving me mad, fortunately it's only between the rows as there is twine crisscrossed across them. Thankfully he has managed to steer clear of all the onions

[BarleySugar]

I have a VERY thorny climbing rose. I saved all the prunings, and strew them over my fresh dug earth. It was funny (or so I thought, though DD scolded me for laughing), when Teddy tried to pick a spot, and failed. If it wasn't a paw it was his ****. I put a large tray with fresh compost in outside, and so far they seem to see that as a good alternative, if they can't be bothered to meow to come back in for the litter.

[blue411]

I have two cats (and an 8 stone dog) and i had the same problem, all my beds are covered with netting and i have support sticks dotted in the bed too but the main thing that stopped them was to dig a small patch of grass up (in a hidden area) and loosen the soil and they always make a bee line for that spot and leave my beds well enough alone, i clean up after then and its no worse than the mess my dog leaves for me

[DavidM31]

My local Indian takeaway/restraunt could help all you cat people out.

There doing a special deal this month on Chicken C(h)at only £2.99.

I have not tried it personally, but one of my neighbours told me it had him purring.

[Iamhanuman]

giving an alternative tray of soil with nothing growing in it is a good idea to draw the kitty away from your precious growth

i know it's tempting to cook and eat the cat but i think you might regret it afterwards

[MaureenHall]

How about putting a load of cocktail sticks (or similar) sticking up and sprinkle some chilli powder or curry powder over them in the seed trays you don't want her to disturb and leave 1 un-sown and unsprinkled without sticks?

[Iamhanuman]

How about putting a load of cocktail sticks (or similar) sticking up and sprinkle some chilli powder or curry powder over them in the seed trays you don't want her to disturb and leave 1 un-sown and unsprinkled without sticks?

perfect idea Maureen!