How can I keep my neighbor's cats from pooping in my garden?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ae.elle.em
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ae.elle.em

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Ok, so my neighbors have like 4 or 5 outdoor cats that pretty much use my garden at their own personal kitty box. Its really annoying because this is my FIRST garden and I really want it to thrive. But I come home and I can see the little piles and my outdoor entryway faintly smells like cat poo. I would talk to my neighbors, but lets be honest, what can you do about an outdoor cat really? Other than this problem, they don't bother me at all... I have 2 of my own cats who are indoor only so I am not a cat hater, I just hate this behavior and I don't think its fair that my garden has to suffer because of it. Is there anything i can put in there to deter them from going in there? I don't want to put anything in that would be toxic or hurt them, or my pretty flowers for that matter, but I am just really irritated by the situation...Any suggestions?
 
place some flagstones to reduce the square footage of digable soil
thorny branches trimmed off of roses or barberry plants can be layed across their favorite poopy spots. it will teach them not hurt them
plant catmint (walkers low nepeta) to encourage them to play there instead of using it for a potty.
several bamboo poles stuck into the ground will inconvenience them
there is a bird/multipurpose netting that comes in 50X4 ft rolls for about $15 it is plastic, you can lay it on the ground and they won't like the feel of it and won't dig there
good luck

also remove existing poo and stinky dirt because it attracts them to the area as a bathroom
 
My garden is in a raised bed with garden fabric on the soil to deter weed growth and turkey wire over that to keep the cats out. 2"X3" welded wire fencing. I've used the same pieces of wire and fabric over and over again for years. Cut holes where you need them. I take it all apart in the fall or early winter, turn compost into it, cover the bed with a good thick cover of leaves, back on with the landscape fabric and the wire with a couple of rocks to keep the pile weighted down so the wind doesn't blow it away and it's good until spring. I don't like going to all this trouble but it's either this way or turn it over to the cats.
 
you could try moth balls. It works to keep rabbits out, cats may not like the smell either. They probably wouldn't eat them because of the smell, so it shouldn't hurt them.
 
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