Filthy Felines! Any advice?

[LadyZoz]

Hi there

Apologies for my first post here being of a rather unsavory nature! However, I am after some advice about cats...

As if trying to grow veg in a garden which is a) tiny and b) entirely decked and / or devoid of grass wasn't enough of a display of my apparent tendency towards making my life difficult, I also live in a terrace. There are local cats EVERYWHERE and they all think my decked garden is the perfect place to socialise and sun themselves (I don't want to think about what else!) during spring and summer.

Problem is, they don't leave the place as they found it. The final straw came when my - well used! - herb garden was discovered to have a certain unwelcome "gift" planted firmly on TOP of a thyme plant. So it is war. However, I want to dissuade these disgusting invaders in a way that won't compromise the edibility of the food I am aiming to grow. Same applies to slugs, but I intend to give them a merry send off this season with the old "bowls of booze" strategy. Cats, I suspect, would prefer a Bond-esque cocktail presented on a silver tray.

So as much as I hate the filthy furrballs, I don't wish them harm either. Please, someone, anyone, help me, before I am reduced to going completely crackers and sitting up every night with an espresso machine and a hyper-powered supersoaker!!

Thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help!

[Mikey]

Whenever I dig over a bed in my garden, I cover it with some fruit netting raised up an inch or two above the surface, until the soil has settled, is wet, or plants cover the surface. This deters them from walking on it, as they catch their claws in it.

The cats around me favour sitting on top of my heathers, you can always see where they have been its crushed under their weight. I call this my sacrificial plant, if it keeps them away from my herbs and veg thats fine with me.

[LadyZoz]

Good shout on both fronts - I hadn't thought of netting. Thanks!

[KittyColdNose]

Before I moved from Yorkshire to sunny Scotland I planted lavender. Worked at keeping some of the cats away (my own included). I have 2 bull terriers now so cats stay away by choice.

[Jardiniere]

very sharp sticks at very regular intervals whilst seedlings are little ...and netting.
ps i like cats i have one of my own and there arent any others around since my neighbour with her four cats moved

[WendyC]

Cats hate citrus, so if you can bear to look at orange peel it might keep them away. I had trouble with a tom cat coming in and terrorising our cats so I used to spray him with the hose or a Super Soaker. Cats hate getting wet and it hurts nothing but their pride. They also seem to remember and avoid the place. Trouble is you have to be in to catch them. Without getting too graphic, if the cat is not burying their "present" it is probably an older cat as they do get lazy.

[Gearoid]

Get your own cat, preferably a nice big one. Or a little yappy dog. That'll keep the unwanted critters out.

[VirginVegGrower]

I was about to say orange peel too, they are supposed to hate it. There is also a plant you can buy - Shoo - coleus canina.
I recommend a terrier or two as well I'm afraid Mine can see em out of his garden in seconds - brilliant!

[Linzy]

I remember when i lived a home i dug a small hole to plant a courgette in, i turned round to pick up the courgette and when i next looked at the hole there was a cat over it having a wee, and when done she refilled the hole.

I dont mind cats but they do become a pest in the garden. I hae heard that lion poo is meant to repell them which isnt to bad for me cause i only live 1/4mile from a zoo. but i think you can order it online

[Aberdeenplotter]

I love cats which are actually some of the cleanest cats on the planet. It can be frustrating and indeed annoying to find a cat using your garden as a toilet. Nets, citrus candles, orange peel, plastic bottles half full of water are all known to work with varying degrees of success. To see folks suggesting using sharp sticks as a deterrent which could quite easily blind them is an awful thought.

[Jardiniere]

oopa sorry aberdeenplotter....i havent blinded a cat yet - just short sticks so that its uncomfortable to walk on!

[out in the cold]

I will vouch for the bull terrier approach

Get a squirty bottle, fill it with water and set it on jet nozzle setting. Declare war on any that come into your garden by soaking them.

I like the idea of putting netting on the decking, as it just makes it uncomfortable for them to walk on it.

[chris]

aaaaaaaaaaand on that note, before this descends into the usual (hurt the) cat thread I'll close it.

There's a wealth of information about deterring cats available by searching the forum.