Any advice? Cats in neighborhood using un-planted area as litter box.

[Paper Roses]

I am taking care of a spot between my house and a neighbors. Actually, it is hers but she never cares for this area because it is hidden. I see it all the time and recently volunteered to clean up the area and plant some flowers.

I thinned out the wild growing Day lilies, split and replanted some Iris and just yesterday bought a bunch of flats to plant forward from the lilies to a brick border. The area is only about 2 feet wide by about 25 feet long.

When I did the plantings yesterday, I had to get out the dogie bags and clean up the piles of 'Cat poo'first. Maybe it is a raccoon or skunk. I don't know but in the process of covering their business, they pull up the plants.

Any suggestions as to what I might spread in the area to keep these critters away?

I tried moth balls but that did nothing. I have not looked this AM, hope everything is still in the ground.


THanks for any suggestions.

[japple]

1. Orange, lemon, grapefruit skins. Cats and other critters don't like

citrus. Maybe orange oil will work, too. I also read/heard that cats don't like banana peel either. I'd try that first. Putting up a temporary wire fence might work until the plants are large enough to hold their own. Good luck.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. I seem to have found something that works... and it's free

I was having trouble w/ cats and squirrels digging in the beds. I tried chicken wire laid flat on the ground, that worked, but you can't weed under it and I don't have that much of the stuff laying around anyway. What I do have lots of is twigs..

I grab a bunch of twigs, break them into 6 or so inch pieces and stick them in the ground in the bare areas, about 4-5 inches apart.

I haven't had any more trouble. :)

Anything that makes it uncomfortable for the cats to walk on will work. since you have such a long bare spot, try laying the branches on the ground long-wise so they don't leave any large bare spots that look like a comfy spot to squat.

[Paper Roses]

5. Thanks for the good advice. This AM, I spread a ton of wood

shishka-bob sticks all over the area, leaving about 6 inches between sticks. There is really no place left that is wide enough for an animal to dig-and-go. By tomorrow AM, I should be able to tell if this worked. I think I may scrounge around for more sticks to make the area even less accessible.

I love cats but not in the garden. I'll let you all know how it works as soon as I find out.

Free works for me too.

[beac]

3. Viva's twig idea is a good one.

I've done something similar with used takeout chopsticks. I save them all year and use them to mark plantings as well as keep curious felines out of planters.

[Zoigal]

4. Cats don't like vinegar. Maybe mix with water and spray around the plants??? But don't

Or set out some in small containers in the area? Good luck. Let us know if you find something
that works.....z

[badgerpup]

6. Think I've read that putting down a piece chicken wire...

...think the stuff they use for bunny hutches- about an inch or two below the actual surface discourages cats.

They don't like catching their claws on that and will take their...er...business elsewhere.
Good luck! :hug:

[GoCubsGo]

7. Chicken wired does help.

Only, my problem is squirrels, not cats. They dig the heck out of everything. I have also seen robins digging around in planters that I was trying to get established.

[Pryderi]

8. Make a smaller version of the "chicken dome"

http://adventuresinsidewaysliving.blogspot.com/2009/01/making-chicken-dome-day-4.html

You can move it in order to weed and keeps animals and birds off the ground.