cat pooping in the soil

[Annpan]

My cat has decided that her litter tray is no longer good enough and has taken to pooping in a bit of soil next to my herbs.

I am not too bothered about stopping her doing this but can anyone suggest how I can use that soil now - as I assume it is contaminated with pathogens???

Would it be good to plant some shrubs there?, lavender or something?

[Thomzo]

I have a patch of ground just outside the back door, closest to the cat flap, that mine use. I suggest you grow something ornamental rather than edible for the reasons you suggest. You might find that some plants don't grow. I've had trouble establishing some things there but it might be the location, sun etc rather than the poop.

Zoe

[red]

in my experience.. they always want to poop in your lovely fine seed beds - which is why i have carrot plants scattered instead of nice lines. and if you dont have a cat.. next doors will do it for you.

i just remove anything i find, otherwise.. i try not to think about it too much.

[Wombat]

and if you dont have a cat.. next doors will do it for you.
.

Ain't that the truth!

[SueSteve]

You could try planting cat grass, or cat mint!!

[Wombat]

You could try planting cat grass, or cat mint!!

or my favourite - land mines!

[Millymollymandy]

I shouldn't laugh really!

[ina]

Oy, oy.... PEACE! (- between cat lovers and haters, I mean! )

Nev, I suppose I'd better not get myself another cat before you come next year.

I just cover everything up that's susceptible to being dug up by any creature, cat, rabbit, dog or pigeon. And if it's a particular are of the garden that cat prefers to use, I would go for ornamentals in that site, as has been suggested before...

My cat, when she was still alive, was extremely useful in the garden. I never had a rabbit near my veg when I still had Frankie. And that bit of poo was easy to put up with. This year I have to stick everything I want to survive in a rabbit proof safe...

[Wombat]

Please don't get me wrong! I love cats (we have two) and the price of putting up with the little buggers is cat crap where you don't want it. But it really steams me when the other neighbourhood cats come in and add to the pile!

Nev

[ina]

But it really steams me when the other neighbourhood cats come in and add to the pile!

Next time you get yourself a cat, choose one that's a bit more territorial and defends "her" garden!

[Millymollymandy]

I'm sorry you lost your cat Ina. I lost my Daisy a year ago too (not sure whether you were around on this forum at that time).

Anyway..... now that I have a fenced veggie patch I don't have much problem with cats in it - but previously I had to always use lots of little sticks and twigs (often forsythia prunings) criss crossed around to keep cats off. Made weeding a nightmare of course.

[eccentric_emma]

even though my mum has left a bit of the garden to go wild so the cats can have their fun, they still insist on balancing on the edge of plantpots and seed beds to do their business - however, she has found that marigolds put them off and i've also heard that black pepper sprinkled around the area will keep them away although we havent tested that one yet.

[ina]

I'm sorry you lost your cat Ina. I lost my Daisy a year ago too (not sure whether you were around on this forum at that time).

Thanks, MMM - I still miss her. I think a year ago I was staying away a bit because of our stupid connection... It's always hard to lose a friend, isn't it - and not even at the "normal" end of a long and happy life. And to me Frankie was a good friend; the only one I've ever shared a house with for three years.