What can I do to keep cats from shitting in my flower bed?

Answer 1

Traditional 'chicken wire' placed around flowers (better if down before planted flowers). Make wire more effective lift off ground with a few rocks under it. Cats cannot scratch the dirt, don't like walking on wobbly wire that their feet can go throught the holes.

Also, plant marigolds among the other flowers. Not sure about cats but those flowers really help keep rabbits away from my lettuce.

My mother put this wire over entire bunch of whatever to keep cats, rabbits out and birds from eating certain plantings. This is not visibly attractive and your problem is only with cats.

You can try moth balls - not always a deterant and smells bad to people as well. Lemon/orange slices may help - not all cats would stay away either; some enjoy the non traditional cat deterants.

Answer 2

I hate that!!! I even have same concern. I even have tried many stuff- I even have positioned carpet tack strips all the way by my flower beds, and poured moth balls all the way by there. those innovations artwork short term, they discover ways to evade the tack strips and the rain melts the moth balls. I even have even call the city and the animal administration officer delivered a stay animal seize. The cat grew to become into taken to the pound and neighbor had to pay fines to get her cat returned- that merely pissed her off- to no longer point accessible are 4-6 offending animals. i'm no longer an animal hater- i'm a crap in my vegetation hater. Why are some human beings so stupid?

Answer 3

KathyP is right that cats like clean loose soil. You can try using coarse mulch, like bark or cocoa mulch, to make the dirt less appealing. This will work best if you put down landscaping fabric over the exposed soil and then cover it in mulch.

Please don't try to catch the cats; they may be someone's pet. A good soaking spray with a garden hose can often convince a cat that you yard is not the best place to hang out.

Answer 4

I've been there myself and it's not easy. First of all, you probably just offered them nice clean soil to use. Nothing they like better. I've used the sprays, the moth balls, you name it. To be honest.....just trap the little devils in a cage and hand them off to the local pound. (I am assuming it's stray cats, mostly) Build a fence if you can, but it will have to be high enough to deter them. Short of chasing them away or posting a dog out there all the time, I don't see a way to cure the problem. All I can say is, if the soil is nice and clean, overturned and loose, you might as well put up a sign that says "Litter box >>> this way"

If you are around when they come, try a little ammonia or just plain water in a good hand sprayer as a deterent. Get one with a good strong stream and one that streams out pretty far. I chased many a cat that way. Maybe in time, they will get the message. Otherwise, welcome to the club of frustrated gardeners.

Answer 5

They sell things at garden supplies, but they have to be put down again after a rain or after a few days have passed.

Cat owners scream too much when the county or state tries to put restrictions on them. The owners let them out and leave them alone and if you did that with a dog, the dog would be picked up and you would be fined.

Answer 6

Try putting moth balls around your garden. Cats do not like the smell. I used them to keep neighborhood cats from using my fresh turned flowerbed as a litter box and it worked. Maybe it will work for your cats. Hope so. Ain't fun to be digging around in cat poop! Good luck with yours!

Answer 7

If you have a dog you can let out the door he will train them to stay away from your place. They don't like getting shot by a BB gun either.

You could also try putting a couple of glue boards down. They will associate your place with a very bad experience.

Answer 8

There is a product called "Shake Away". It is all natural and safe for dogs, children, and plants. It is made of predatory animal urine and can be found at most pet stores or online. Here is one site that carries it.
http://www.critter-repellent.com/cat/cat-repellant.php

Answer 9

Mothballs work..but not much..
Red pepper like Cyanne or Paprika works too..sprinkled on the surface...but be careful when gardening, you can get it in your eyes...

Putpotted cactus around the garden..

My mother uses shish-k-bob skewers sticking out of the ground at different angles.
The cats stay away once they get poked.

Answer 10

If you have a citrus tree on your property, or access to one, just leave halved oranges, grapefruit, lemons or limes, scattered throughout. Replace every few days when they dry out- cats hate citrus.