Cats messing amid crops.

[Marb67]

When mum dies last year, we took on her two cats whom we love to bits. However, our garden is small and limited on growing space as it is so having two cats that need to toilet in this space is a very challenging, and quite depressing prospect (I am typing this while one is sat on my lap) I have made areas of bare soil for them to go, provided an enclosed litter tray indoors but of course they choose to mess in beds with planted crops, even where I have put in small spiked sticks to dissuade them. Yesterday I planted my onion sets, stuck sticks around them and provided next to them a flat, clean area of soil. Of course I come down this morning and find onions and sticks dug up and soiled. I have sprayed areas with garlic water which is supposed to work but it doesn't. I have even had a shallow belfast sink in the patio filled with clean soil and gravel which they leave alone.

It's just so depressing as they just seem to have their own mind. We had cats in the past and vowed never to have any more at this address as it's just too small a space but we couldn't see them homeless. They are about 15 so I know they won't be around forever but it would be nice to have some kind of harmony in the garden. What I will say is they leave the wildlife alone, watching birds feed nonchalantly.

[peanut]

My garden is surrounded by cats and they all use it like it is their own. I have resorted to netting all my veg beds and throwing lots of twiggy sticks over the rest, but they do tend to climb in and amongst the twigs.