How to skin a cat. (Or at least keep him off the garden!!!)

This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
hoomin_erra
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:50 am
Location: Scotland

How to skin a cat. (Or at least keep him off the garden!!!)

Post: # 83777Post hoomin_erra »

Ok, i have a flower bed that has been completely destroyed by my cats. It took me 2 hours yesterday to clear out all the crap (literally).

I know they won't go there once the plants have covered the ground. It's the fresh soil they like.
I'm reluctant to cover it in pebbles, and they will keep destroying anything before it has a chance to grow.

Apart from covering the beds in wire mesh until the plants have established. Are there any plants (Aprt from spiky cactus!!) that will keep them away?

farmerdrea
Living the good life
Living the good life
Posts: 346
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 10:25 pm
Location: New Zealand
Contact:

Post: # 83785Post farmerdrea »

This may sound weird, but I discovered quite by accident that chicken manure (non-composted) spread on the ground kept the cats from using it as a toilet. I had spread it thickly on an area where I'd planted brassica seedlings, as I'd been told that it would help combat clubfoot in the caulis and broccolis. It was the ifrst freshly dug and planted areas that the cats (our cats) have avoided, and continue to avoid each year where I spread it.

Just avoid getting the manure (assuming you can get ahold of some - we have our chooks, so I always have a bin of manure stored somewhere) directly on the plants, and it makes a fine fertiliser as well.

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

Wombat
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5918
Joined: Tue Nov 23, 2004 8:23 pm
Location: Sydney Australia
Contact:

Post: # 83787Post Wombat »

Claymore mine! :wink:

Nev
Garden shed technology rules! - Muddypause


Our website on living more sustainably in the suburbs! - http://www.underthechokotree.com/

User avatar
mrsflibble
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 3815
Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:21 pm
Location: Essex, uk, clay soil, paved w.facing very enclosed garden w/ planters

Post: # 83817Post mrsflibble »

if you have a local zoo then lion poop works.
so does elephant poop.
oh how I love my tea, tea in the afternoon. I can't do without it, and I think I'll have another cup very
ve-he-he-he-heryyyyyyy soooooooooooon!!!!

hoomin_erra
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:50 am
Location: Scotland

Post: # 83877Post hoomin_erra »

Poop isn't really an option. I have a 3 year old, and soon a set of twins that will be in the garden.

Knowing the penchant for wee ones to put things in their mouth...............

User avatar
Milims
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 4390
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:06 pm
Location: North East

Post: # 83880Post Milims »

Apparently if you fill plastic bottles almost to the top with water, put a slight twist in them and then leave them in your garden, cats think they are snakes and stay away! Apparenty............
Theres aways the super soaker method too :evil2: A well aimed squirt with a powerful water pistol will teach them pretty sharpish that your flowers aint a toilet!
All this from a cat lover too!! :oops:
Let us be lovely
And let us be kind
Let us be silly and free
It won't make us famous
It won't make us rich
But damn it how happy we'll be!
Edward Monkton


Member of the Ish Weight Loss Club since 10/1/11 Started at 12st 8 and have lost 8lb so far!

Martin
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 2029
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 8:50 am
Location: Nr Heathfield, East Sussex
Contact:

Post: # 83881Post Martin »

a Jack Russell (or 2!) :mrgreen:
http://solarwind.org.uk - a small company in Sussex sourcing, supplying, and fitting alternative energy products.
Amateurs encouraged - very keen prices and friendly helpful service!

hoomin_erra
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:50 am
Location: Scotland

Post: # 83905Post hoomin_erra »

Hmmm, Super Soaker!!!! :wink: :wink:

ina
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland

Post: # 83927Post ina »

hoomin_erra wrote:Poop isn't really an option. I have a 3 year old, and soon a set of twins that will be in the garden.

Knowing the penchant for wee ones to put things in their mouth...............
Sp what? Makes them grow big and strong...

No, honestly - I think folk are too uptight about not getting anything nasty in their mouths. When I was working in France, the then toddler regularly tested chicken poop with his mouth. He's now a big strong 20-something - never did him any harm (nor his siblings). Any child growing up in farm environment had that experience, and was none the worse for it.
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)

User avatar
Green Aura
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 9313
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:16 pm
latitude: 58.569279
longitude: -4.762620
Location: North West Highlands

Cat poo

Post: # 84002Post Green Aura »

My mother puts canes, pea sticks etc criss-crossed all over her new beds. The little beggars are too lazy/dim to shift them and don't have room to squat and scratch - works a treat.
Maggie

Never doubt that you can change history. You already have. Marge Piercy

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. Anais Nin

User avatar
mrsflibble
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 3815
Joined: Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:21 pm
Location: Essex, uk, clay soil, paved w.facing very enclosed garden w/ planters

Post: # 84038Post mrsflibble »

smear poop up the fence?
oh how I love my tea, tea in the afternoon. I can't do without it, and I think I'll have another cup very
ve-he-he-he-heryyyyyyy soooooooooooon!!!!

ina
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 8241
Joined: Sun May 22, 2005 9:16 pm
Location: Kincardineshire, Scotland

Post: # 84069Post ina »

I also always try and cover everything up until the plants are big enough... Might not look too attractive in a flower bed, though. :?
Ina
I'm a size 10, really; I wear a 20 for comfort. (Gina Yashere)

QuakerBear
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 582
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:24 pm
Location: Surrey

Post: # 84245Post QuakerBear »

If you have a three year old, why not give them a water pistol?
QuakerBear

QuakerBear
A selfsufficientish Regular
A selfsufficientish Regular
Posts: 582
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:24 pm
Location: Surrey

Post: # 84247Post QuakerBear »

Or instead of a water pistol a washing up liquid bottle filled with water.
QuakerBear

hoomin_erra
Barbara Good
Barbara Good
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:50 am
Location: Scotland

Post: # 84365Post hoomin_erra »

QuakerBear wrote:Or instead of a water pistol a washing up liquid bottle filled with water.
Because after the few times of me blazing out the back door, any time their is someone in the Garden, they're as good as gold.

And i don't want to punish them when they're not doing anything. They won't learn anything that way.

I thing i've solved it tho, i put wire mesh on the soil in the beds so they can't scratch. Now i just need to get foliage growing to cover it.

Post Reply