cat behavior problems. :P?

Question

My cat, whom I love very much but who is very... well, not so smart. She is fixed, and she is an outside cat. She has a litter box!! But our garden has a layer of tarp to keep weeds from growing, and then a layer of lots and lots of little rocks on that for decoration, and she keeps pooping in this corner of the rocks. I have cleaned up the poop and I have sprinkled this keep away stuff on it, but it only works for twenty four hours under good weather, and it isn't cheap. How can I keep my cat from pooping in our garden? And how the heck to I get rid of the smell? Even after being cleaned and sprayed with water the spot still stinks... really bad. Please help! I love my cat very much but this is not fun at all.

Answer 1

Hi Whitney...How about planting some coleus plants. They can be effective, but every cat responds differently so it is uncertain without experimenting.

Other common odours that are effective deterrents for cats are:

Citronella works best for cats as well as citrus scents such as orange or lemon (primarily towards cats), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.

"Havahart's Cat Repellent" uses capsaicin pepper and oil of mustard as its active ingredients. It repels by both taste and odor, has a lemon scent.

Every animal responds differently to each of these. Some will not be phased by them and others will be quite revolting.

For training purposes they are applied on items that are to encourage avoidance behaviours and not for use with a squirt bottle as they could harm the eyes or respiratory system. Test each substance and observe to see which works as a deterrent so that accidental injestion does not occur as some could then be fatal.

For urine odours...consider using Nature's Miracle Nature Miracle Just For Cats Stain & Odor Remover found worldwide at any pet store. It's enzymatic neutralizer and works by soaking the affected areas thoroughly and then allowed to air dry (besides litterboxes). Repeated applications are necessary if the areas are heavily soiled around the rocks/ground soil.

We have tested all the other brands in the market for our exotic cats since their urine is very concentrated compared to the domestic house cats and Nature's Miracle worked the best at eliminating the odours from both feces and urine.

Here's a photo of the product line: http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/large/June05/lg_50648_47f09.jpg

Answer 2

To keep your cat out of your garden buy some Irish Spring soap & cut it up put it where she's going they hate the smell of that & 2 get rid of the odor you'll need a spray bottle use
4c of hot water & 2Tbsp of Vinegar spray the area really good this works on your furniture as well.The smell will be gone you'll be amazed.Good Luck

Answer 3

Reads as if the priority is displaced aggression. he's responding to a pair exterior stimulus that usually would call for an aggressive reaction, which incorporates an easy cat contained in the backyard. yet there is not, so that you're the nearest component, so he's taking out the aggression on you. If his ears go decrease back, you are able to say NO right away, that would defuse the problem or wreck his chain of idea. even as a cat's ears go decrease back, it really is attack mode.

Answer 4

I'm afraid this might just be a case where you have to take the poop along with the cat. I can imagine what a pain this is for you, but it is very much to your credit that you accept/love her in spite of this problem instead of just giving up on her. We need more people like you.

Answer 5

Try putting Cat Nip in and around her litter box. I know with inside cats that don't won't to use the litter box, it does usually help. I am sure it is much cheaper than what you have been buying. It is always worth a shot.

Answer 6

Heee heee. Makes a change for a cat owner to have to deal with their own stinky poop.

So let me get this straight - you want advice on how to get your cat to go to someone ELSE'S garden to do her stinky poops. Gee thanks a bunch but you can keep them.

Answer 7

your cat has obviousely decided that this is were it is going to poop, good luck.