That darn cat

[mrpaulbradley]

This has been discussed before I'm sure...however....
I have a feline problem.
I think it's a Tom judging by the smell and it loves nothing better than doing it's business in my beautifully prepared veg and seed beds.

Up until recently I had lain old bush clippings pyrocantha prunings etc and that was very effective but I really needed to take them off.

I've stuck in canes to try and stop it but the bugger just shrugs them aside.

I don't want to hurt the thing in any way just encourage it to leave my beds alone. I've heard about lion dung etc anyone used it to effect?
Marigolds - do they work?

Other than sitting out at night to scare the thing off, I'm at a loss :-(

[Glutton4...]

Put a net over the top of the bed. It's easily removable when you need access.

[Incy]

We use chicken wire. Seems pretty effective.

[ginger ninger]

Lion Dung is said to be great at stopping kitties from pooping in ya veg patch. I can see why...there not going to come in if they think something THAT size is living there . I have plastic coated mesh to stop Jinny from pooping in my raised beds. Failing that... a cat of your own, there brill at stopping other cat's from coming & pooping in your garden.

[Snadger]

A stuffed or live rottweiler appropriately placed is what you need............

[Nicos]

There are lots of threads by other Grapes who have similar frustrating problems.
If you check out the 'Search' facility at the top of the page, you'll find lots of ideas.


Good luck!

[Bren In Pots]

My veg beds are covered with netting and for plants that sprawl like courgettes and strawberries I cover the bed with weed suppressant then plant through that.

[Rabidbun]

High netting all the way around the beds works for me (canes and FIGO frame connectors are doing ok with my beds this year), possibly one of those ScareCrow cat repellers (motion detector attached to a hose, though expensive). Other than that, have had luck re-using those metal grids that come with the blowaways over the veggies (they grow through and cats hate standing on them). Those do get rusty after a while though.

The rest of the repellers (and I have tried all of them apart from mothballs (toddler) over the last two years) only worked for a while or for a few of the 20 we've got in our road. They're persistent too - the latest cat pooed on one of the plates I had on the beds to prevent access to the soil.

I can also recommend eternal vigilance with a super soaker filled with a mix of orange juice and water, but folks tend to notice once the sleep deprivation sets in, especially if you go running out the front in monkey slippers...

[rustylady]

I can also recommend eternal vigilance with a super soaker filled with a mix of orange juice and water, but folks tend to notice once the sleep deprivation sets in, especially if you go running out the front in monkey slippers...

I have this wonderful picture in my head!!!!!

[Bramble_killer]

I'm investing in industrial sized bag of pepper/chilli powder, apparently this works. I have used holly clippings successfully but mostly just net my beds now.

I often look our for shotgun and BB guns. I will now also plant lots of lilies. I can't keep cats (as have allergies) so that's not an option. I don't mind cats, I just hate digging up my veg patch and finding cat poo.

[Glutton4...]

I have this wonderful picture in my head!!!!!

Yup - so do I!

[smc999]

Plastic coated chicken wire put up with canes works perfectly. Keeps my cat off and the neighbours cats off mine (see pic below).

[Snadger]

There are lots of threads by other Grapes who have similar frustrating problems.
If you check out the 'Search' facility at the top of the page, you'll find lots of ideas.


Good luck!

You're starting to sound like TS, Nicos! Be worried.............be very worried!

[Florence Fennel]

I use chicken wire with canes and like Rabidbun I am using recycled shelving from the blowaways that blew away. I never had any cats while I had my dogs, but that deterrent is not now an option.

[Glutton4...]

I noticed that our neighbour's Cats no longer prowl our garden. Must be something to do with Oscar being here. Our old Cat is very happy at their disappearance, as am I, because it means she has stopped fighting them!