I've got a nice little patio where cats love to wander over the walls and sometimes sneak down for a nap. I don't mind their visits, but I've noticed one cat in particular has taken a liking to using my plants as a toilet. Just the other day, I found it had pooped on my new acer! While cleaning up is one thing, I'm really worried about the cat peeing on my plants, which could potentially kill them. My partner suggested putting a litter tray out, but I'm concerned that might just encourage the cat to see our yard as one big litter box. We're not even sure if this cat is litter trained, as it's a stray from next door, and they can't tell if it's male or female. I want to handle this before we start planting more next year. Since we're limited with planting anything to deter them, is there anything else I can do besides possibly encasing the whole garden?
3 Answers
Honestly, it's tricky when you want the cats to visit but not leave their business behind! Chasing them away usually doesn’t help much, especially if they're sneaking in at night. Some say to just cover any bare soil in your garden, as that's what attracts them. You might also want to try using chicken wire around your pots or laying down some prickly trimmings from your plants. Also, certain strong smells, like blood fish and bone meal, might keep them at bay—but beware, it might attract other wildlife too!
A litter tray will likely just give you more mess, especially with rain making it soggy. Trust me, those cats prefer using the soil over a tray. It's mostly about preventing bare patches in your garden—cats are naturally drawn to them. If you have fresh plants, you might want to give some lemon slices or cat repellent gels a go, but be prepared to accept their little habits. In the end, we all have to coexist with our feline friends!
That makes so much sense! I guess it's just part of having a garden where they can come around. Maybe we should just learn to manage it.
I had a neighbor’s cat issue once, and I talked to them about it. They just put an empty planter filled with dirt in their garden, and it totally solved the problem! Cats love to dig and use dirt. Maybe your neighbors would be up for that? If they aren't into it, you might even offer to set it up for them!
That’s interesting! How do you manage to cover bare soil in a pot without hurting the plants, though? I’m worried about my acer!