Cats

Does anyone have any workable solutions for keeping the little blighters off my patch , short of useing my old 4/10 im'e at my wits end
cheers Micky V.

 

Try the Iraqi solution - throw shoes at them.

 

if you see them, spray them with water - but for when you are not there - if you get some bramble cuttings you can lay them criss crossed over the patch and the cats will hate it and leave it alone. In the meantime, you could put some citrus dried fruit (strongly scented) around and across the patch - cats hate the smell of that!

Hope these help!

 

Thank's MZTROUBLE have tried water plus watering can that did not work i now need a new watering can;
perhaps ill'e try citrus peel .
Do i need to keep adding to it during the forthcomeing growing season

 

A pump-up water pistol is quite effective and not as messy or noisy as a 4/10. Though it has to be said that a 4/10 tends to be a longer lasting solution!
I've tried all sorts of the 'smelly' solutions but none really worked all that well. If I've freshly dug beds I want to protect I use netting until the seedlings or plants are established. I've also used holly and berberis cuttings scattered on the soil.

 

Thanks Dave my onion sets have just started poking there green shoots above the soil and iv'e already had to replant at least a dozen or so.
The old 4/10 may be comeing out of the cabinet yet?

 

Hey, I also use netting - horizontaly just a few inches off the floor - over areas where they are being a pain.
In smaller areas where that is not practicable, I get a big bag of cayenne pepper, or hot curry powder from an asian shop, decant into an empty "puffer" bottle (like those with ant powder) and distribute liberally.
They don't come back....! And I don't think there are lasting ill effects on the beasts.
I've heard black pepper may work too.

 

yes, spiky bramble is the way forward - that's how I protect my beds from my cat - works just a well (or better!) than net :-) but yes, citrus peel needs replacing regularly or the smell is not strong enough to keep them away!