Keeping Cats Out

[ninnymary]

I have 2 neighborhood cats that like to use my veggie bed as their toilet. This happens mainly in the fall when the bed is mostly cleared out. I have put down chicken wire and it seems to work out ok but the problem is when things like my garlic and lettuce start to grow, the wire sort of gets in the way. Is there anything else I can use to keep those darn cats out?

Mary

 

[NwMtGardener]

I think when i worked for the garden co. That we used to spread mothballs around in the beds where cats were going.

 

[thistlebloom]

There are cat and dog repellent sprays you can use.... pm me and I'll get the info for you if you want. Cats supposedly don't like citrus and I know a lady who puts citrus peels around her beds.
I can't vouch for how it's worked for her, but I do know that when I baked some fish, I put lemon slices in the baking dish and the cats wouldn't touch the pan juices, which made my dog very happy!
Dogs apparently don't mind citrus!

I'd be cautious about the moth balls in a veggie bed, I understand they're toxic .

 

[Mattemma]

I would trap the cats and let AC take them. If you are on good terms with the cat owners suggest/help build a cat enclosure.Block one spot the cats will just find another. At one house I had cats toileting around the house foundation,and let me tell you the smell was horrid every time I open the window for fresh air.Cat owners couldn't care less,because they were happy the cats were no longer peeing up THEIR house.

I am a cat owner and I feel outside cats are best kept in a fenced yard,enclosure,or even on a leash! I wasted a lot of money and frustration until I finally got to the point of relocating them. If you trap a pet for AC and the owner comes looking suggest they ask at the shelters.A few fines later an owner will keep the cat close to home. Let AC know the cat is a PET not a stray,so they will hold it a bit longer before euthanising it.

Plastic fencing anf t posts might be enough to keep the cats out.Secure the fence with garden staples.Spray some peppermint or tea tree oil on the fencing.

 

[wsmoak]

Plastic net (deer fence) works great for keeping things out. Just drape it over the bed, or if you don't want it touching, put some plastic cups or bottles here and there to hold it up off the plants.

 

[ninnymary]

I am a cat owner and I feel outside cats are best kept in a fenced yard,enclosure,or even on a leash! I wasted a lot of money and frustration until I finally got to the point of relocating them. If you trap a pet for AC and the owner comes looking suggest they ask at the shelters.A few fines later an owner will keep the cat close to home. Let AC know the cat is a PET not a stray,so they will hold it a bit longer before euthanising it.

Mattemma, we all have 6' high fences here but the cats still manage to climb up to them and over into my yard. One of the cats belongs to my neighbor who is not so nice. It is a beautiful cat and I'm not sure if it's him or the other cat who poops in my beds.

Mary

 

[smileyfacecat]

I have been told that coffee grounds help keep kitties out of the garden. I compost my grounds, so I guess they end up in the garden eventually, and I have not a problem with cats. However, we don't have many cats in our neighborhood, so I am not sure if the grounds themselves actually work it's just what I have been told. It's worth a shot, and as an extra bonus the coffee grounds will add some nutrients to your beds.
Best of luck!