How do I keep Cats out of my New Raised Beds

I am new to vegetable growing and I think will need a lot of help from you guys over the coming months. My first problem is that after building 4 new raised beds I have a cat using one as it's litter tray. I have netted covers over the other three for now but as my crops grow the netting will have to come off. The fourth bed has Tomato and Courgette's for now which are to tall for my netted cover. Are there any tried and tested humane methods for keeping the cat away from my beds. I might just add that it's probably our own cat that is causing the problem!

Again thanks in advance for any advice.

Martin

 

Cats again:D:D
Mart, you could try looking on the pests etc. section. We've had some fun discussions about cats

 

Probably not a lot of help, but I've put down bendy, spikey branches branches that I've saved from pruning hedges etc (does that make sense?) and place them around the growing plants. Cats seem not to like the lack of space and prickly feeling on their feet (and bum!). So far it's worked for me.

 

I made a mix of those water retaining crystals with water and a bit of citronella oil from the chemist mixed until it was the consistency of tapioca pudding.

You can spread this around and because cats absolutely hate the smell of oranges they don't go near it.

It works honestly !!!

 

Thanks vegmandan
Sorry to sound stupid but what are water retaining crystals?
Martin

 

They're the things they sell as water retaining gel/crystals which you add to compost in hanging baskets etc and absorb about 10000000% of their weight in water and slowly release it when the soil dries out.

You'll get them in any garden centre or Wilkos,just ask for water retaining gel or crystals.

 

Again take a chill pill vegmandan.

 

I have the same problem! I continue to use netting over most crops but make my own kind of mini-tunnel cloches using wire and canes and a bit of string, fastening the edges with bricks, or hooks on the side of the raised bed, or using pegs or wire loops. I replace the mesh with fleece over carrots to try and keep carrot flies off as well as cats! or with horticultural clear plastic for warming things up.
This year I will be planting corn and courgettes through black weed-surpressing textile, to warm the soil, retain water and stop the cats getting at it - we have no toms around here so I think that should be OK - you could probably still do this if the plants are small, alternatively by cutting slits to holes positioned where the plants are?
Alternatively, you could try what I do around my beans, which is to make a mesh "fence" using canes about 3 - 4 feet long for the corners, and edge supports if necessary. It's a bit fiddly but seems to work OK for all but the most athletic and determined cats - combined with the prickly sticks and/or citronella ideas it would likely be even better.
Going for breakfast now but I'll pop out with the camera in a minute and take some pictures, because I don't think my descriptions are that great!

 

Hi Martin although I have had cats in the past I no longer have any now although unlike some people I did make a place for my cats to 'use' instead of going and doing their dirty deed in someone else's garden.

I have stated a great many times I like cats but don't see why I should put up with their mess in my garden and yes before you get told any different it was my thread that had a huge ding-dong regarding them and ways to get rid of them.

I have tried every trick in the book some worked for a short time and then the droppings started all over again the only thing that has worked and continued to do so is a sonic cat scarer so much so I have one for all three of my gardens now, the cats hate the scarers with a passion and steer well clear of our plots now.Hel.xxx.

 

'Get Off' green gel works, so do cuttings from prickly plants- I save my rose prunings. What works best for me is raking a nice little area for the cats to use, as well as the other methods. Once the crops are grown a bit my cats lose interest. Easy access seems to be a desirable feature so any kind of barrier- sticks, bits of fleece, etc seems to help.

 

For what it's worth.... here's links to pics of my solutions!

for courgettes and corn http://flickr.com/photos/thereddragon/2516202844/

cloches / mini-tunnels (home-made, as you might be able to tell...) http://flickr.com/photos/thereddragon/2516194224/
http://flickr.com/photos/thereddragon/2515369481/
http://flickr.com/photos/thereddragon/2515368797/

and the "fence" method http://flickr.com/photos/thereddragon/2516194982/

Posting links as I don't have time to check sizes

 

After reading what Helofadigger said about the sonic scarer I got one a few months ago and it's working for me.
We had a birds nest on the wall of our house last summer and this one particular killer cat killed them all.
That covers the patio area where they used to set off the intruder alarm that sounds in our bedroom at night , dig up my pots of plants and terrorise my fish.

I also have a Heron shooter over the pond and the path .
I take great pleasure seeing the cat that dares to enter my garden get a soaking as it flies over the fence to escape. :D
I have also put mothballs all round the fence.

We haven't see or heard a cat or a squirrel in our garden for months.
Apart from the black squirrel sitting on the bottom fence yesterday.
But it didn't come in the garden .

We tried the nets and stick the cats just ripped them to bits and chewed up the sticks :rolleyes:

 

Really nice to know Lyn that the scarer still works for you. Hel.xxx.

 

LOL, I may have to get one too - came home today to find the small, agile and determined cat stretched out for a nap where it's nice and warm and dry and sheltered from the wind... ON THE VEG BED UNDER MY PLASTIC SHEETING!!!! Obviously it's doing the job of keeping things nice and warm, and forutnately there's nothing growing in that one yet... I've put some more bricks round the edges for now :D

 

I have cats myself and to stop them going on my smaller onion bed i put long wooden barbeque spears up!! Soon stopped them. And as for them on my big veg patch. I get them by the scruff (it doesnt hurt) and throw them off!!! they dont do much damage!