Cat using my raised bed as a litter tray !

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by jasonlamont, Mar 20, 2011.

  1. jasonlamont

    jasonlamont Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3
    Ratings:
    +0
    This is the 1s time i have built a raised bed - i have some purple sprouting broccoli that i have moved into the bed from pots but have just noticed today the neighbours cat has used my bed as a toilet !:mad:

    I have removed the offensive item :cry3:

    But is my bed now ruined ? Do i dig out a cple of inches of the bed and start again ?

    I'm considering covering it with mesh ??

    Any advice gratefully received ?
     
    jasonlamont, Mar 20, 2011
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    Had the same problem with the onion sets I planted yesterday.

    Just put mesh over the bed. Twigs help keep them off too.
     
    Phil A, Mar 20, 2011
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,838
    I've got two cats but only grow herbaceous and not veg's, but having said that my moggies use the litter tray and not the garden - they know better - other cats can't get in as the fences are 8' in height.
    Other people's cats can be a real pain, the trouble is once visited you'll get them returning.

    This is a much discussed subject!, But I reckon Jason's advice seems to be what you need to do - or a shotgun!
     
    ARMANDII, Mar 20, 2011
    #3 Quote in Conversation
  4. lukenotts

    lukenotts Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2011
    Messages:
    443
    Occupation:
    Self Employed Landscape Gardener
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire - UK
    Ratings:
    +5
    Its as though you took the words right out of my mouth.

    :paladin:
     
    lukenotts, Mar 20, 2011
    #4 Quote in Conversation
  5. Louise 1

    Louise 1 Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2011
    Messages:
    48
    Ratings:
    +0
    Make the fine mesh a small mesh too, like chicken wire, because it'll not be as good a deterrent if it's a larger, more open square.
     
    Louise 1, Mar 20, 2011
    #5 Quote in Conversation
  6. jasonlamont

    jasonlamont Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2011
    Messages:
    3
    Ratings:
    +0
    Many thanks for the advice. Have covered with a fine white mesh....sprinkled coffee grounds around the bed....and poured some cat repellent jollop bought from local garden centre.

    The shotgun is next on the list. Although i do like my neighbour.....might consider a silenced Walther PPK
     
    jasonlamont, Mar 20, 2011
    #6 Quote in Conversation
  7. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    32,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +48,979
    Isn't that James Bond's preffered weapon?

    :heehee:

    [​IMG]
     
    JWK, Mar 20, 2011
    #7 Quote in Conversation
  8. Lyn

    Lyn Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2006
    Messages:
    1,582
    Occupation:
    Industrial carpet machinist
    Location:
    West Midlands
    Ratings:
    +77
    We must have clever cats round here an 8' fence would not deter them.
    I have seen them climbing a house wall well over 8' to get to bird nests.
    They are a pain , they spoil everything you try to grow.
     
    Lyn, Mar 20, 2011
    #8 Quote in Conversation
  9. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,838
    Sorry Lynn, I should have been more descriptive of the fence. It's 6 foot lengths of 2" X 4" timber dropped horizontally between concrete posts up to a height of 8' plus a three foot extension in height of fairly slack chicken wire, and that's the thing the cat's don't like to climb as it gives towards them and they're "leaning" backwards in the climb.:what:

    I did this to keep my cats in and not other cats out! The younger of the two cat's, Jenny, would get up on the garage roof, and couldn't get down, so I was repeatedly getting up there to get her down. She was born on a farm and used to roaming . Then she'd be over the ordinary 6' fence I had into other people's gardens and also in danger of going onto the road and getting run over.:cry3:

    I spent weeks trying to find ways to keep her in until I got the idea of the slack chicken wire, and even then spending more weeks because I was fixing sections where I thought she was climbing, only for her to find somewhere else she could climb over. I had one experience of being up a ladder on one section of the fence putting up the chicken wire, and having finished and congratulating myself, when I found her looking at me sitting on the top of the timber fence from the other side of the chicken wire. I could have sworn she had that "you idiot" smile on her feline face. She'd found another gap I'd missed and walked along just to mock me.:scratch:

    Anyway, after much trials, she is now longer able to wander into danger. But I think she still eyes up the fence trying to work out how to defeat the slack chicken wire. If I see here carrying a shovel I'll start to worry again:D
     
    ARMANDII, Mar 20, 2011
    #9 Quote in Conversation
  10. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    Anti Cat measures now in place and onion sets re planted.

    [​IMG]

    The american shovel is only a last resort.

    Having done that, I returned to the home plot to find somethings eaten nearly all the leeks I planted out last week:DOH:
     
    Phil A, Mar 20, 2011
    #10 Quote in Conversation
  11. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2019
    Messages:
    48,096
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +100,838
    Sorry, Ziggy, I was hungry!":heehee:
     
    ARMANDII, Mar 20, 2011
    #11 Quote in Conversation
  12. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2006
    Messages:
    6,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Anything I fancy and can afford!
    Location:
    Tay Valley
    Ratings:
    +3,035
    Over the years I've tried just about everything and the only thing that works 100% is a physical barrier over the beds until plants are established.

    Luckily the local cat population over the past couple of years has been quite reduced ("it wasn't me gov' honest") and cat excrement hasn't been much of a problem - touch wood.
     
    Dave W, Mar 20, 2011
    #12 Quote in Conversation
  13. wozwoz

    wozwoz Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2011
    Messages:
    71
    Occupation:
    gardener
    Location:
    Southern Cornwall-lucky me!
    Ratings:
    +17
    Hello my lovely , I have been told that a pheremone spray that u can get from the vets can be effective : )[/size][/font][hr]
    Hello my lovely , I have been told that a pheremone spray that u can get from the vets can be effective : )
     
    wozwoz, Mar 20, 2011
    #13 Quote in Conversation
  14. lb7110

    lb7110 Gardener

    Joined:
    May 18, 2010
    Messages:
    44
    Occupation:
    Gardener
    Location:
    Rustington, West Sussex
    Ratings:
    +0
    Or try slicing a lemon and adding to the soil as they dont like the smell!
     
    lb7110, Mar 25, 2011
    #14 Quote in Conversation
  15. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    And there was me thinking it was stupid pidgeons :heehee:
     
    Phil A, Mar 25, 2011
    #15 Quote in Conversation
Loading...
Similar Threads - Cat using raised
  1. ETAF

    just started using cordless secateur

    ETAF, Jul 29, 2022, in forum: Tools And Equipment
    Replies:
    20
    Views:
    2,365
    ETAF
    Feb 26, 2023
  2. Richie2

    Unidentified caterpillar type pest causing leaves to die back?

    Richie2, Jun 24, 2018, in forum: Pests, Diseases and Cures
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    467
    Richie2
    Jun 24, 2018
  3. alex-adam

    Interesting and amusing seed catalogue.

    alex-adam, Dec 30, 2011, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
    Replies:
    5
    Views:
    800
    ARMANDII
    Dec 30, 2011
  4. L plate gardener

    my cat using veggie patch as toilet!

    L plate gardener, May 3, 2011, in forum: Edible Gardening
    Replies:
    4
    Views:
    583
    Fidgetsmum
    May 4, 2011
  5. PeterS

    Using signature to show location

    PeterS, Mar 9, 2011, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
    Replies:
    16
    Views:
    1,261
    Marley Farley
    Mar 11, 2011

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...
    Dismiss Notice