How can I get my own cat, out of my garden??

Question

I'm going to have my own flower garen out in front of my house, the only thing is that my cat JJ, use it for to do his business, how can I get him to stay out of my garden and dont dig it up?

Answer 1

Hi there again...Many people believe mothballs work, however they are considered toxic and should NOT be used. Here's more information on this:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=89
MOTHBALLS are toxic to cats which contains the ingredient Naphthalene. Mothballs are approximately twice as toxic as paradichlorobenzene, and cats are especially sensitive to naphthalene. Signs of ingestion of naphthalene mothballs include emesis, weakness, lethargy, brown-colored mucous membranes and collapses. Paradichlorobenzene mothballs may cause GI upset, ataxia, disorientation, and depression. Elevations in liver serum biochemical values may occur within 72 hours of indigestion.

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.

Coleus plants can be effective, but every cat responds differently so it is uncertain without experimenting.

Answer 2

In the early spring before the flowers come up, lay chicken wire in the soil. The plants will be able to grow up through it, but cats and squirrels will not be able to dig.

Answer 3

Cats sometimes don't like to dig in woodchips so put a layer of those around the flowers.

Answer 4

Simple: Don't let him outdoors.

Outdoor cats have a far shorter lifespan than indoor cats. Very, very, very few indoor cats are hit by motor vehicles, poisoned by chemicals, abused by other people, attacked by other animals, etc.

There is no good reason for allowing your cat outdoors to roam free.

Answer 5

At last!
Suffer.
And begin to know what a pest you keep.

Later:
It occurred to me that your question is addressed to the problem of getting the cat out of YOUR garden, so it is, presumably free and welcome to continue being a pest in anybody else's garden.
I read your responses, and can tell you that I have experimented with virtually every "solution" to the problem.
Some of them work, for limited periods, with some cats. Most are totally ineffective. In any case there is a limited benefit because the animals get used to whatever peaceful deterrent you use, and come back to make further pests of themselves. In the meantime, whatever methods you are using are ineffective against some of their fellow pests. So you always have a problem.

Answer 6

U sprinkle pepper or curry powder over the garden. It will not effect ur pretti flowers but cats and dogs hate the small it makes them sneeze.
goodluck

Answer 7

I think the wire netting suggested is best.If pressed into soil it will not be too obtrusive. I'm going to try it with my daft pup, along with mulched tree bark.

Answer 8

I've -heard- that leaving citris peelings on the dirt will keep cats away. They dislike the smell or something. If this doesn't work, try laying rocks down.

Here's the face my cat makes when smelling grapefruit:
http://www.geocities.com/hemp_kitten/irl/ewgrapefruit.jpg

Answer 9

Moth balls would work! Apparently, they don't like the smell of moth balls. That happened to me once and I was advised to put the moth balls near your garden. It's suppose to redirect your cat to go elsewhere! It worked! Hope this helps?

Answer 10

Maybe you could make a smalll garden just for J.J and "his business (smile) It just might work.