Cat stopping idea?

I have a major problem with cats. Unfortunately, they are mine, so all the 'keep cats out of your garden' measures aren't an option.
I currently have netting over my main border (which is v.unsightly), but the rockery is unprotected. I pulled up a dead plant yesterday and the soil stank of cat wee, so no prizes for guessing what killed that off! :(
Anyway, I'm thinking, cats only go on bare soil, so if I could get groundcover established, perhaps that would stop them?
To that end, I went out and bough a pack of 6 silver varigated ivy yesterday.
So, my Q really is, would this have an adverse effect on other plants in the border? I'm thinking bulbs and things will just grow through the ivy and it will provide shade/insulation for the soil?
Or is it a bad idea?

 

If you have room, I'd just create a little empty spot i your garden and put a little cat litter in it and let your cats go there - I clean it out every day (like you would a litter tray) and my cat ALWAYs uses that spot. Its solved all my plants being sug up/killed etc probs.

 

Well for me I just put large pebbles everywhere to force my cat,as much as i love her to **** in someone elses garden,She the cat has done me a massive favor as my garden because of the pebbles is now Japanese themed which i adore.Ironic that the cat is actually a Siamese:eek:






Good luck with your cats:eek:

 

Oh eck.

Cat's are supposed to use other peoples gardens...but I don't think they know that.:D

New beds...cat heaven. With my veg, I used to use chicken wire on a frame to stop them initially.

Have you tried this 'scent off'. I haven't so I can't say if it works or not. I once tried mustard powder, but my cats just eat it. Mind you, they liked curry as well.

 

Thanks for the replies guys
Things I have tried so far-cat repellents smelling of lemon and of garlic, pepper dust, lion poo.
They have an outdoor litter tray, and I put some of their used litter in it to encourage them to use it, but they never have.
I hope the ivy will work like your pebbles Slinky. They're great and such an apt theme for your siamese!
I bought 4 more plants today, asst. variagated ones. I really like them actually, which is a bonus!

 

I have bark paths etc and one local cat loves it. I have a dog too so so I just combine my poo patrol for the dog to incorporate the cat too. Dense planting of my borders means the cat(s) limit them selves to the bark - easy to spot where they bin scratching, and easy to remove. No big deal.

Whether the cats are yours or neighours - they like clear space, and somewhere they can scratch to cover. If you ain't got a dog, and cats are a problem to your new seedlings - lay thorny twigs across where your growing.

Like all garden pests its a question of know your enemy !!!

 

Well. I had a dawg that used to eat up all the cat poo....but the wee...no way, even she wouldn't touch it, heh,heh.

 

I like the thorny twigs idea fran! And dense planting is kind of where I'm going with the ivy, so fingers crossed.
I wouldn't mind if it was just a case of picking up some poo, but the wee kills things. My spring bulbs this year were pitiful due the wee and the scratching afterwards.
tweaky-your dog was a freak!

 

What a beautiful Cat ... I am sure I see either a ' smile ' or ' Smirk' on that lovely face ?

 

I agree, lovely cat!

 

gorgeous kitty! And very big!!!

 

I think the best idea is to put a sign up. Cats, please do not pee or business in this border or you will be electrocuted.

Won't make any difference, but may salve your conscious.:thumb: