BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: My guru always said
Date: 05 May 11 - 03:28 AM

Our cat makes her home here with us and thankfully we have a fair-sized garden which is her territory. She has a cat-flap so she decides whether to be indoors or outside. She always digs and covers, all the cats I've lived with have done the same. She does bring in the odd 'friend' to play with (rarely kills them) but I usually find them and set them free when they're feeing recovered enough. This morning there was a shrew in one of my trainers, he was very happy to go back outside.

I see what a problem it can be for folks though, especially if the cats aren't trained well or if there's a stray or feral community. From the informative posts here it sounds like the citrus peel is the best method. Would advise against toxic mothballs and was about to suggest pepper around the yard but noticed a mention to Cayenne which obviously works well too.

Are dogs allowed to roam free in the USA? Here in the UK they should be on a lead when out mostly.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 05 May 11 - 08:21 AM

Lion shit is supposed to work, shortage of it where I live mind.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: GUEST,Peadar (formerly) of Portsmouth
Date: 05 May 11 - 04:48 PM

We a problem with our neighbor's herd of outdoor cats using our flower bed as a litter box, so:

I went to local hardware store...
Bought a bottle of fox urine...
Hung the little dispenser bottle...
And we haven't seen them in our flowers since.

For whatever reason, the fox urine doesn't smell as bad as the cat pee.

Good luck,

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Penny S.
Date: 06 May 11 - 05:39 AM

Have used lion poo - bought at the garden centre under the trade name "Silent Roar". Have not seen Ginger since, though there was an indication that he might have dropped onto the seed bed. That was all, though.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 11 - 10:42 PM

We're getting more rain than usual, and it's unseasonably cold, so I can't cut the grass. I cut it once, but it's out of control. I have tomato & broccoli seedlings on the porch, waiting to be planted outside, but it's just too cold. We had temps drop into the 30sF earlier in the week, and contrary to the charts & calendar, danger of frost is NOT passed.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Donuel
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:41 PM

KNow where they jump the fence or come and go.

Put those adhesive rodent pads in those areas. They are not poisonous they just stick to their paws.

As long as birds don't get ensnarled on the pads, you will be happy to notice that the cat is gone (along with a pad or two) and is probably more than happy to avoid a repeat performance in and around your garden. In this way they are smarter than dogs.


btw I have two plants that look identical to tomato plants but are already 5 feet high and growing at a remarkable rate.

Could they be some sort of look alike?

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 18 May 11 - 11:08 PM

I once read that nasturtiums would keep "critters" out of gardens. It meant wild critters but.... And what about marigolds? Possibilities?

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 May 11 - 10:21 AM

It occurs to me to ask what sort of cats these are. Out here you can find mountain lions (cougars, pumas), lynx, and bobcat in your garden as well as the neighbor's Tabby -- sometimes together, gathered into the larger cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 19 May 11 - 05:13 PM

ooohhh, I like the mouse-sticky-pad idea. A little TOO mean for me to use, but I do love the image of them trying to pad their way home with those on : )

Dani (who found muddy cat prints all over her car this morning)

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Penny S.
Date: 20 May 11 - 04:26 AM

Found another "offering" in a cleared flowerbed this morning. Fixed some wobbly plastic trellis to the top of the gate, interlaced with prunings.

I've covered young plants and seed rows with trellis which was stored rolled, and so makes cloche-like shapes, ideal to protect those areas.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 20 May 11 - 05:10 AM

You could pave over so much of the lawn leaving less to worry about, which doesn't exactly solve the problem all together and perhaps get a litter trained cat to keep the others at bay.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Goose Gander
Date: 20 May 11 - 11:28 AM

Just domestic housecats and alley cats, as far as I can tell. I put gravel down around my plants and that seems to be frustrating them. They dig a little but don't finish the job.

Once one of the neighbor's cats came into my house and got his face stuck on one of those sticky rodent traps behind the couch. He backed right up out of the house. I did track him down and remove the trap.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 06:41 PM

Since the blickie is down...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15565423@N05/5944041207/in/photostream

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: maeve
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 06:45 PM

gnu's link

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: maeve
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 06:47 PM

That's a clever strategy, gnu! (See previous link.)

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 16 Jul 11 - 07:05 PM

Thanks for the blickey m. We'll see if the the little black bas... er, cat stops digging things up. This is the third time I have planted my small patch and it's July 15. Crappy Tire has air guns on sale but I couldn't bring myself to shoot a cat. I assume there would be a big fine. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 11:01 AM

"I couldn't bring myself to shoot a cat."

So live trap it and take it to a shelter.

(Nice of you to spend your time & effort & money to save your neighbor from their basic responsibilities. Do you dispose of their trash, wash their car, mow their lawn, and clean up after their children as well?)

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 12:18 PM

Greg... tsk tsk. Do you talk to your neighbours with that mouth? I hope their cats piss on your newspaper.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 12:40 PM

No, I'll send 'em to shit, piss & dig in YOUR yard, since you're so happy to accommodate them.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 01:37 PM

Well, my neighbours are a lot nicer than you. So am I. But that's not news. Glad I could help you get yer jollies off if that's the way you do it. Careful or I'll sic my cat Fluffy on yer ass.

Of course, the logical question is why I don't sic Fluffy on the little black cat. Simple... it would be far too cruel. Besides, I don't keep any hard liqour in the house and Fluffy just don't take hits fer free. Ya gotta ply him with dry gin and catnip ta get him ta do anything.

Now, Cheucy was a different story. She woulda kicked his little black ass just fer fun. Cassie was territorial with extreme predjuice. And Maggie was just a BIG cat that took no shit from any animal. And none of my cats, even the imaginary one, ever shit in anyone elses garden more than once. Cats can be trained. Unfortunately, even tho my neighbours are far nicer than you, they have about the same IQ, so their cat(s ?) will continue to shit in my garden... kinda like you.

Hahahahaa.

Have a nice day... if you can.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 03:11 PM

my neighbours are a lot nicer than you.

How so? I don't let my animals shit, piss and destroy things on other peoples'property.

If your neighbors were in fact "nice" (and responsible), they wouldn't either.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Chip2447
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 03:55 PM

Pythons and Boa constrictors...

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: JHW
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 04:48 PM

When I worked in a garden centre we sold a plant which was supposed to discourage them, Puss Off I think it was.
Last week I fixed very flimsy trellis along the top of a friend's fence. This had worked at another house as it didn't give them a firm hold to climb over.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 07:13 PM

"How so?" Welll... read your own posts. You are a nasty loud mouth. Surely you can read your own posts and see what they say???... ABOUT YOU. I am NOT talkin outta school here. What do you not understand about fuck off asshole? Maybe I should have just said that in the first place on accounta that seems about the level of intelligence you MIGHT understand. WTF is your problem that you have to be nasty to people all the time? Crawl back under yer rock and suck it.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 07:21 PM

Oh... and I mean that as constructive critiscism in the best of ways. I am not usually nasty myself unless poked with a stick.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 17 Jul 11 - 08:32 PM

Quoth the Gnu:

What do you not understand about fuck off asshole? Maybe I should have just said that in the first place on accounta that seems about the level of intelligence you MIGHT understand. WTF is your problem that you have to be nasty to people all the time? Crawl back under yer rock and suck it.

I'm a nasty loud mouth?

ROFLMAO!

Could be worse, tho- At least I'm not shitting in, pissing in & destroying your garden, eh?

You want to apply constructive criticism, you might want to start with your neighbors, perhaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Green Man
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 10:02 AM

Connect your spinklers up to a passive infra red or motion detector. A relay and a solenoid valve are needed.

Keeps cats away and you see very few damp burgalars too.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 02:45 PM

"I'm a nasty loud mouth?"

Yes. You talk trash. Then you talk more trash. And then more trash... you have a problem with being nasty to people. You must get off on it. Get help... seriously... on accounta you just make yourself look like a nasty asshole when you post that trash.

And, yes, definitely fuck off. Why wouldn't I tell you that after you were rude to me twice? And, that is a rhetorical question on accounta you should have apologized after the first time you were nasty to me. Of course, I shant expect you even undeerstand you were rude.

POOF! You don't exist.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 05:54 PM

Rude, Gnu? You're the one hoped cats would piss on my newspaper.

I was perfectly serious with my questions- you're an interesting study.

I'm intrigued that you're so willing and happy to let other people take advantage of you, and I'm trying to find out why you enjoy being exploited..

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Greg F.
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 05:58 PM

Also, the live trap was offered in all seriousness as a possible solution.

Perhaps its you who should "seek help" for your paranoid tendencies?

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 07:24 PM

My temporary and fluid solution seems to be working. Didn't cost me anything but a bit of time and effort. Perhaps the cat problem is solved without creating any problems with the neighbours or with the cats, which is welcome as the cats provide a valuable service in keeping the rodent population at bay. And, I can easily modify it as required if my garden grows.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 07:33 PM

outdoor cats, it might be noted, are the leading cause of bird deaths in the US. An the feral cat population has tripled over the past couple of decades.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 09:34 PM

The Republican way to keep cats out of your garden is to dig a 6 foot pit and suspend a can of open cat food on two crossed pieces of thin wood. The freeloading cats will try to creep out to the can and fall in. HA! No free lunch kitty!
Voila, Now you have a big hole instead of a garden and plenty of cats that can be filled in after a week or two.
Now send your cook or maid to Whole Foods to buy your produce.

Subject: RE: BS: Keeping Cats Out of My Garden
From: Donuel
Date: 18 Jul 11 - 10:12 PM

"Toms will do what they do no matter the "status". One of mine, spayed, "refused" and was scratched severely on her hind and tail and then pissed on. Infection set in and she had a rough time of it."

Gnu, You should take this case to Cat Court, assuming the Cat police have apprehended the rapist. When will they learn that a Cat's no means NO.