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BS: Garden cat deterrent
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Subject: Garden cat deterrents? From: GUEST,Terry t.kingston@post.com Date: 25 Mar 02 - 03:34 PM Having just come into possesion of the first garden that I've ever had in my adult life, and having lovingly prepared, mulched, etc. my plot, I am dismayed to find that it is now the local cats' toilet of choice. A quick search of the 'net and various books come up with all sorts of wierd and wonderful suggestions to combat this: orange peel, curry powder, various electronic ultrasound devices etc. etc. Anyone have any tips that work (apart from a gun) Terry P.S. the gun bit was a joke (in case any oversensitive cat lovers were upset) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: RichM Date: 25 Mar 02 - 03:51 PM It's a vexing problem for gardeners, and there is no simple solution. I sympathize--I am a gardener AND I have 4 cats. My solution? I have put up angled netting at the top of my 5 and a half foot fenced perimeter. It discourages neighbor cats from entering, though it doesn't stop the most persistent ones--until they get in and realize that getting out is problematic until I open a gate for them. They usually avoid my yard after that. And it keeps my cats from disturbing neighbors. The ultimate solution is for cat owners to control their pets. But don't hold your breath... Rich McCarthy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: ciarili Date: 25 Mar 02 - 03:54 PM I'm just being a smart-aleck, but the first thing that leapt to mind was, "DOG!" Seriously, cats don't like to eat where they "go," so maybe mulching with Friskies would work.... OK, I'll stop torturing you now! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:27 PM Good lateral thinking, ciarali. Or is the word cateral in this case?
But "the ultimate solution is for cat owners to control their pets." You can't control cats except within very strict limitations. (Leaving aside those vicious bastards who do things like de-claw their pets - any vet who did that here would be catfood if the news leaked out.)
We once had a visiting cat who used to wait till the door was open, and he'd sneak in and use our cats' litter tray. I've never known another cat with that kind of toilet training!
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Gareth Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:30 PM Mmmm !, Kevin, a cat wot hangs around other cats conveniences - at the risk of sounding terribly Un-PC, is that a pouffy cat ! Gareth ;-) - and running for the pub. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: RichM Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:47 PM Sure, you can control them. Keep them inside. Dogs used to be a neighborhood nuisance here many years ago. Now no one tolerates loose canines. Just extend this to moose, buffalo, zebras and ahem...cats :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Bobert Date: 25 Mar 02 - 04:48 PM Now, if you are real serious, there is a device which is made that you hook your garden hose to that has a motion sensor. Ahhh, you guessed it. Now nothing makes a cat madder than getting squirted witha hose. And, heck, the garden will get a few exrta drinks before the cat figures it out. If you are interested, PM me and I'll get you the details on ordering one... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Sorcha Date: 25 Mar 02 - 05:09 PM Love the garden hose one! Mothballs will help, but they only last a few days. Nothing really helps except a cat proof fence.......(oxymoron??) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Terry t.kingston@post.com Date: 25 Mar 02 - 05:10 PM Thanks Bobert, I presume that you mean a device such as this one Unfortunately, neither my budget or the size of the garden could justify it. Are the 'traditional' orange peel/curry powder type solutions completely useless? How long do cats take to 'get the message?' Will throwing stones at them work? Terry (In case I'm taken the wrong way, I only mean tiny pieces of gravel that wont hurt them. You have to be so careful in the Internet age)
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Mark Clark Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:33 PM Okay, help me out here. As a native Iowan, I've seen my share of gardens, even won a blue ribbon at the state fair as a boy. So what I don't understand is why cat poop would hurt a garden. Before farmers started using toxic chemicals for fertilizer, everybody used manure. An Italian gardner my dad knew used to put a dead fish in the hole with each tomato plant. If cats don't eat the vegitables, why do you care if they add nutrients to the soil? In my neghiborhood, the problem is deer. Keeping the deer out of ones garden is a much bigger problem. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Bobert Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:34 PM Yep, Terry, that is the device. Throwing rocks, no matter how small, will only teach the cat what your working hours are and not much more. Actually, back to the water torture treatment that cats hate, a squirt gun is a purrr-fect low budget cat deterant. Good luck. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Gareth Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:44 PM Actually - would it not be more effective if it was an automativ "Spayer !" Gareth |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Liz the Squeak Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:50 PM Cat and dog poo has little or no vegetable matter in it, which is why it doesn't do the garden much good... all the nutrients in it are meat related, and not so great for feeding up plants.... that's why it's not nice in a garden LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Terry t.kingston@post.com Date: 25 Mar 02 - 06:53 PM Mark, It's not the 'poop' that's the problem. It's the digging up of seedlings, and the digging up of everything in sight... Some people love cats better than dogs because they cover their 'poop' Dog 'poop' is easy to clean up, a ruined row of lettuces isn't Terry (somewhat anti cat today, I'll take deep breaths and try to be better in the morning) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: artbrooks Date: 25 Mar 02 - 07:03 PM There are some answers here: Cats in Garden I like the one about Zoo Doo myself, but haven't tried it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: CarolC Date: 25 Mar 02 - 07:25 PM When you say this: Unfortunately, neither my budget or the size of the garden could justify it. Are you saying your garden is too big or that it's too small? If it's small, you maybe could put wire mesh down on the ground around the plants. I'm guessing the cats would prefer to do their business in loose dirt rather than on wire mesh.
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: raredance Date: 25 Mar 02 - 07:41 PM A couple possibilities: Add dilute ammonia to the squirt gun. Effective against most any animal. I knew someone years ago that carried one on bike rides in the country to repel chasing dogs. Get a live trap and bait it. Maybe your city or county will even loan you one if you tell them you have a nuisance raccon to remove. Catch the cat then either take it to the pound where the owners will have to pay to get it back or get the garden hose, turn it on full blast up close at the cat for 15 minutes. then let the cat go, it likely won't come back to your yard. The even bigger problem with wandering cats (bigger than digging in the garden) is the extraordinary number of song birds that they kill. rich r |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Anahootz Date: 25 Mar 02 - 09:18 PM Us Alaskans have our own unique set of problems protecting our gardens from marauding pests, including deer and bears. I have tried a few things, such as the hose-sensor thingie and netting over the seedlings, but they have not met with the success of my latest deterrent, which are land mines. Sure, you get a neighbor kid now and then, but nothing keeps pesky fauna out of the beanfield like a well-placed claymore. 'Hootz |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Lynn Date: 25 Mar 02 - 09:35 PM Invest in a supersoaker. Then stake out a post near the garden in some unobtrusive spot. My wife will throw clods of dirt at any of our 7 cats that trespasses on her garden. It gets them out for the moment, but a more permanent solution is a puzzlement. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Lin in Kansas Date: 26 Mar 02 - 12:05 AM My herb garden (4 raised beds) belongs to the three cats and the dog as much as it does to me. They love to keep me company out on the garden bench, and as for squirting them with the hose, they consider that great fun and have a ball playing in the water. The only plant any of them have ever bothered was the catnip (DUH!) and Woofie ate the tops off all the asparagus. Don't ask me why, he can't stand cooked asparagus... I thoroughly enjoy having the furry children share the shade, and the plants with me. AND they help me dig when I'm adding new plants. Good kids, good company, good fun. Lin |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST Date: 26 Mar 02 - 04:36 AM Catwatch |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:42 AM Cayenne pepper. I get the cheap stuff at the dollar store, sprinkle it around the beds about once a week until the cats have learned. Sprinkle it AFTER you're done weeding, or you'll be sneezing it, too! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Peter from Essex Date: 26 Mar 02 - 07:06 AM
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: jimlad Date: 26 Mar 02 - 08:00 AM I have been plagued for years now by bloody cats.I am watching this thread with interest.Many of my neighbours keep cats,or is it the other way round,most are almost sane in all other respects,so why keep a creature that is suited to hunting in its native SE Asian jungles?.In urban areas like the one in which I live hunting is too easy for the buggers.We once had song birds,frogs and field mice now it is a wasteland thanks to the verminous creatures. Another thing is that they don't crap in their own garden,or that of any of their cronies,oh no! they congregate in my plot. I have tried everything from sneaking up on them and emptying a Water Pistol on them (they have amazing hearing you know) to Tiger S*** and nothing works so keep your suggestions coming folks |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Dave the Gnome Date: 26 Mar 02 - 08:13 AM To turn the thread to song - Perhaps you should find out what the line is Spanish Ladies means? "Let go your cat stoppers and let go your shank painters..." Cheers:-) DtG |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Mr Red Date: 26 Mar 02 - 10:03 AM Red setter - well I would say that wouldn't I. FWIW cats don't bury their poo if it is at the territorial boundary. Then every cat in the neighbourhood tries to claim the boundary and don't I know it? Fortunately the next door siamese (twins probably) have moved away but the dogs seemed to have filled that hole & become competetive! I wouldn't mind so much but this is on the grass and it is only postage stamp size. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Grab Date: 26 Mar 02 - 10:06 AM Kevin, if an owner can't control their pet to stop it being offensive to other people then they have no business owning that pet. If you let your cat out of your garden, you are explicitly giving it permission to shit in other people's gardens and dig up their plants (never mind the health risks of kids playing in gardens full of cat shit). That means you may as well go and shit in the garden yourself, you've got that level of responsibility. The cat doesn't know any better, but the cat owner bloody well should. I really want to find who owns the cat which shits on our garden. If I do, they'll have every cat shit I find deposited on their doorstep. I think that's the best solution - make the owners realise how antisocial they're being, and maybe they'll come up with a solution themselves, ie. keep the cat inside. It's certainly more humane than the non-lethal option I'm very tempted to resort to, which is lying in wait with a powerful catapult loaded with clods of earth. Short-term, just keep watch for the cats and throw things at them - we have a rubber ball kept near the back door to throw at them. You don't have to hit them, you just have to scare them. They may learn that they can only come in during certain times when you're out, but at least they'll stay out of the garden for the rest of the time, and that cuts down on the amount of cat shit you have to clear up. Just be sure to never let a cat come into the garden unchallenged, or they'll think you're allowing them to be there. Graham. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: InOBU Date: 26 Mar 02 - 10:57 AM Playing Wyane Newton CDs loudly in your back gardin will keep the cats and most everything else away... though you may get an infestation of wealthy American dowagers... then switch to Sorcha Dorcha CDs for a while to send them packing... when that attracts cats (Mcats for example...) switch back to Wayne Newton. Cheers and good luck,Larry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Morticia Date: 26 Mar 02 - 01:10 PM Orange and lemon peel does work,I've used it for years.It's also a damn good excuse for another gin and tonic, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Mrrzy Date: 26 Mar 02 - 01:10 PM About the deer - if you eat meat and then pee around your periphery the herbivores won't cross the line into a predator's territory - doesn't work with vegetarian pee, and doesn't work against cats, either. And it isn't just that cat poop isn't good fertilizer, it contains things which are highly detrimental to human health and in which you ought not be digging. I have heard good things about cayenne or black pepper, both of which will deter anything which sniffs its way around. Wash your hands before touching your face (or other sensitive body parts) if that is what you use! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Paddy Joe Date: 26 Mar 02 - 02:52 PM One thing a Cat can`t abide is good old Horse or Cow Manure, and my wee Jack Russell eats the ass aff the Cats . And my own wee Ginger Tom has the good grace to dung in next doors Garden. Paddy Joe |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Lyle Date: 26 Mar 02 - 03:26 PM The best thing I've found is to go to a sporting goods store that sells hunting and trapping supplies and buy a small bottle of Fox urine. It is concentrated, so it only takes a few drops on the edges of the garden, and will almost always keep cats away. The only trouble with it is that you need to re do it after each rain. Skunk urine will also work, but not as well as fox. Lyle |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Lepus Rex Date: 26 Mar 02 - 03:29 PM Won't you have foxes pissing all over your garden, though? :) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: MMario Date: 26 Mar 02 - 03:34 PM the horse and burro manure never seems to have bothered our cats! They are of the opinion (being cats) that the only reason we mulch our gardens is to give them spots to "go". they do NOT use the main pile of mulch - becuase they prefer to sunbathe there - but any mulch that's been spread seems to be fair game. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Áine Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:01 PM Hey there Terry! I can guarantee that the cayenne pepper and fox urine works! I've used both with great success to discourage not only the neighbor's cat, but the neighborhood skunks, squirrels, gophers and other assorted varmints. Both the pepper and the fox urine are relatively cheap kitty cures. It really depends on how much time and money you want to spend on the problem. If you have another spot in the yard -- far enough away from your garden -- you could plant some catnip just for the kitties. Besides keeping them away from your flowers, it will serve to calm their little fuzzy bums down. Good luck to you and your garden, Áine |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: lamarca Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:41 PM I have had some success with a noxious smelling compound called "Ropel" which is sold at our garden stores. It is a pump spray bottle that is designed to spray onto bulbs before planting to prevent the squirrels from digging them up and snacking on them (the name stands for ROdent RePEL,lant). Because you don't want this crap on your lettuce, vegetables, etc, what I've done is soak some cotton balls in it and placed them in strategic spots around the garden where the neighbors dog or cat has been digging. You need to renew the treatment every week or so, but it seems to keep the buggers away. (BTW, don't get a noseful of the stuff yourself - it sortof burns in the back of your throat...I wear gloves and do my flower bulb or cotton ball treatments outside) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: lady penelope Date: 27 Mar 02 - 05:06 AM Don't, whatever you do, use amonia based liquids to keep cats away. It won't! Anything with a chlorine or amonia base just tells kitty that another cat has peed there so they must go and re-spray that area! Bit of a viscous circle! Lemon peel, paprika or cayenne pepper or a 'supasoaka' full of water with a dollop of lavender oil in it. I don't know any cat that likes the smell of lavender all over themselves. It can be amusing to watch a cat try and run away from itself! And of course it tastes awful if they try and lick it off. The fox urine sounds fun! TTFN M'Lady P. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Nigel Parsons Date: 27 Mar 02 - 05:18 AM The comments on deer being a problem brings to mind a short article in the Telegraph recently. A couple in England were having trouble with deer trampling their garden, and were advised that Lion shit would keep them away. Having obtained a supply from a local zoo, they found the solution worked and kept the deer away. Unfortunately, it did not repel their pet Labrador, who insisted on rolling in it! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Guessed Date: 27 Mar 02 - 05:19 AM FWIW In the UK cats are legally wild animals and as such the owners are not legally responsible for their shitty antics. Dogs, on the other hand, as pack animals are trainable and obey the pack leader. They can also be more danger so their owners are responsible in law for anything a dog does. I was told that the RSPCA were asked by an irate garden owner what was considered humane. He was told "water" so he rigged up an automatic sprinkler system (water pressure unspecified) and apparently there was much fun to be had when a new cat triggered the jets and turned summersaults as they triggered the adjacent one, and the nest one, and the next....... His garden was, by and large, cat free. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Menita Date: 27 Mar 02 - 05:30 AM I've just very quickly come into this thread and haven't time to read all the comments but have you tried a water pistol (please forgive if someone has already suggested it) It's great fun and harmless!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Little Hawk Date: 27 Mar 02 - 01:47 PM Cat deterrent? Who needs to deter cats? I've lived in places with gardens and have never found cats to be any problem at all. Dogs are a problem! Cats have the decency to bury their droppings in soil, thus providing some handy fertilizer. This is a problem? Not for me. Dogs drop it everywhere and anywhere in plain sight. That's a problem. Dogs are far more dangerous and destructive (some of them). Dogs are noisier (aside from the odd cat fight at night). Dogs are pestier. Man, I could go on forever. I have never complained about neighboring cats, and I think that people who do have WAY too much time on their hands...! Now that I've pissed off the cat-haters and dog lovers, I will go and lie in a nice sunbeam and regard you all with the bored ennui and lofty disdain typical of a sophisticated feline, nature's fairest creature. :-) Oh, and if you really want to keep cats irrevocably off your property...pave it over with asphalt, spread noxious chemicals around, and saturate it with radioactive material. Either that, or spread pig manure everywhere. Cats are smart and have good taste. They will not go near the place. The pig manure method, however, will attract every dog for miles around... - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Mac Tattie Date: 27 Mar 02 - 02:01 PM Far better than a water pistol....a wsed washing up liquid bottle. Fill with plain water and have a bit of target practice, you should mannage two possibly three powerfull long range squirts. A couple of direct hits (especialy if they are running away from you )should see off most cats. Is this unfair to cats? I would far rather have no cats and be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of birds in and arround my garden. cheers. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Little Hawk Date: 27 Mar 02 - 02:08 PM Well, of course, the shocked and aghast look on the cat's face makes the water pistol method almost irresistible, I suppose! :-) - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Fibula Mattock Date: 28 Mar 02 - 08:48 AM Backing up what Nigel said about lion shit: BBC News online. I like Morticia's gin-and-tonic solution though. Besides, after a few gin-and-tonics cat shit just won't matter anymore - a win-win situation! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Les from Hull Date: 28 Mar 02 - 09:09 AM Better than lemon peel is lemon essential oil. Cats hate that smell. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: GUEST,Terry t.kingston@post.com Date: 28 Mar 02 - 09:18 AM Thanks for all your thoughts, people. I think I'll take a 'belt and braces' approach and try a few methods concurrently. Thanks again Terry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: lady penelope Date: 28 Mar 02 - 10:09 AM I like the high pressure sprinkler answer, I nearly wet myself with the images of a soggy feline flipping through the air. I don't know that I'd blame cats for a lack of birds in your area though. There seem to tons of cats up my street and no shortage of birds ( it's bloody loud round here at dawn! ). The recent study into the London sparrow have shown that pollution killing off the myriad bugs sparrows feed on and people cutting down privet hedges etc. and replacing them with fences ( removing the cover that sparrows nest / hide in ) have done far more to curtail the sparrow population than any moggy. Carion birds ( crows and magpies especially ) will also tend to drive off smaller birds by mobbing them and knicking their eggs etc. My cats seem far more interested in frogs and moths, so much so, they keep bringing them in to show me! Yech!
The mighty hunter ( From Morty's list of cat haiku she sent me, from whence she got them I don't know ) TTFN M'Lady P.
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Little Hawk Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:32 PM Yes, cats catch the occasional bird, but man destroys them by the millions, in pursuit of some worthless thing he invented called "money", which cats are completely uninterested in. We need a "people deterrent", not a cat deterrent. - LH |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: Penny S. Date: 28 Mar 02 - 05:04 PM I had the problem once. I noticed that the local cats picked out my recently dug seed-bed for their deposits, so I dug an area away from the veg - this in a large shared garden which no-one else was gardening, and out of the way, and then put cut nettles over the veggies. These were a particularly ferocious type which had flourished where a neighbour had fertilised their patch with the treated sludge from the local sewage works. I expected to have to keep replacing the nettles with fresh, but the cats changed their habits fairly quickly, and I only needed to do it once. Penny |
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Subject: RE: BS: Garden cat deterrent From: E.T. Date: 29 Mar 02 - 12:26 AM Cats used to use the house plants instead of the litter box - so we used a plant mister on "stream" and also HISSED dissaprovingly (SSST)! They got the idea with the verbal addition a lot faster. I had read using sycamore balls to mulch works but that won't do unless you have a tree. So what about trying the other repellent - oyster grit. Iit's used for slugs because it's sharp and unpleasant to crawl/walk on. Should work for cats too. You're smart enough to use a knee-pad or shoes. Luck! E. |