Gardening/cat advice

kreenish · 06-01-2004, 08:22 PM

Howdy! I actually need some advice about how to gently keep my neighbour's cats out of my garden. I don't want to cause any harm to the cats, of course. I am constantly having to remove smelly poops from around plants, some of which are quite tender shoots yet. I also do not like the idea of having cat feces or urine on plants and herbs that we will one day be eating.

Also, I'm trying to think of a nice way to suggest to the neighbour that they provide their own space outside for the cats to "use." Any suggestions? I have considered going to the garden store and picking up some cat mint, cat thyme, and catnip plants as a "gift" to the neighbour. Would that be a bit too obvious?

Thanks for the help!

suzoo · 06-01-2004, 08:47 PM

Here's a few websites about this issue...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/advic...deterrents.asp

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...180817299.html

www.gardenguides.com/articles/cats.htm

Alot of them suggest ground up lemon, grapefruit or orange peels OR sprinkling cayenne pepper around (but you have to do it every few days especially if it rains)

greencolander · 06-01-2004, 09:42 PM

Lee Valley Tools sells a "motion-activated aiming water sprayer" (or something like that) for about $86 Canadian. I'm going to get one -- the motion sensor aims and shoots a strong spray of water at the moving target. I'm hoping the 5 to 10 cats that use the "cat highway" behind my apartment stop making detours in my garden....

Then when the cats have been deterred, I can aim it at my neighbours.....

suzoo · 06-01-2004, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Then when the cats have been deterred, I can aim it at my neighbours.....

Good one!

kreenish · 06-01-2004, 11:23 PM

Thanks! The problem with Lee Valley Tools is that I never leave with "just" one thing, and always spend far more $ than I plan.

I checked out the links, too, thanks Sue! There were some good ideas there. We have plenty of blackberry bushes around, and I can make little squares of cut pieces around my seedlings. Hmmm, if you could only build into the sprayer WHICH neighbours to aim it at!