If you don't want to cover everything around the rose with rock, you might try what I've used against destructive quail. It may or may not work for cats. I have dozens and dozens of quail who live out back in the wild gulley, and their "run" is along my back yard. In addition, I feed the damn things (they are hilarious; I call it "Quail TV", but there's a price to be paid for the TV "programs"). The quail love to make their dusting bowls right next to my roses and other plants. They can damage roots, they dust so vigorously. At first I tried pushing in bamboo stakes, which you can buy in lots of sizes, around the roses, but I was worried that I was harming the rose roots, and this method didn't stop the quail, anyway. They just squeezed in between the stakes or got even closer to the affected rose. I then discovered that simply laying the stakes all over the area around the rose really deterred the quail. If they tried to roll the stakes away, I just put them back quite easily. This worked every time with every rose, and changed the quails' habits. It's not pretty, but should be temporary. I would also thoroughly remove the mulch around the rose, which probably smells like cat poop, and replace it with new mulch. It won't hurt to try my method, and the stakes are handy for lots of other things, so you shouldn't lose money on your purchase. Good luck with this problem. Diane

A layer of thorny prunings on the soil will work if you can stand the look. Or put wood skewers with the sharp end up all over the bed. If you put them down deep enough they won't be very visible.

I've always heard that citrus peel or something with citrus scent was a cat repellant.

I totally forgot that what I use to repel quail is totally different from what I use to repel mammals. Citrus peel might be very good and also garlic or onion powder sprinkled on the ground might be good. The garlic powder worked to repel rabbits for me. I don't think mint would be a good choice (deer don't like it) because it's too closely related to catnip and catmint. Maybe using multiple methods--both barriers and smells would up your chances for success. Diane

I've heard of people using moth balls, the kind you put in your closet, to repel cats from a bed. I'm sure it's the odor they don't like.

1. Put used coffee grounds around the roses, cats don't like the smell and it will give your roses a boost of nitrogen.

2. You can put the rocks closer to the rose plant, place them 3" from the canes.

If that doesn't work then a more drastic measure...

3. Get chicken or gopher wire and make a cage around your roses.

I had the same problem. Bought that cat and dog repel ($18.00) did not work. Put down gravel, everywhere. if there was any bare soil it became their potty.

I then bought a big box of moth balls dumped the whole box ($2.00 Walmart ) now that worked. I sprinkled them the entire length of the rose bed (20ft). It smelled as you would think(not as bad as cat poop) but now those little bas#### are not going in there. I also started using small length cuttings 3" of rose bush stems, laying them around in there also. When the stem turns brown you can't really see it but it is pokey. I also started throwing the cat shi# back in there yard. It was really disgusting and she is new neighbor but doesn't care. I also had to put mouse traps on my nice lawn furniture. Well those cats don't come around much any more.

The late, great Elf kitty cat lived in three of my large rose beds. She also pooped there. But I didn't look at the way you do. From her poop I could see that she was catching lots of small critters and recycling them down to bone meal, blood meal, etc.

The cats must think the mulch/ soil is kitty litter... On the positive side the cat smells might keep rabbits etc. away...But I do understand you don't want bothered with the mess, etc. so best of luck with whatever you try...

Before I started using fencing I threw cat poop from our litter boxes around the roses to keep rabbits, etc away... It seemed to work but the fencing I made is much less work and less messy/stinky...lol

I sincerely hope no-one here is actually setting mousetraps for cats. Unbelievable. I do hope I misunderstood. If so, my apologies.

Comtesse

My cats 'fertilize' my roses all the time. The only time it bothers me is when they dig in pots or when I had a wheelbarrow of compost outside and they delighted in digging in it and knocking half of it out.

I would see if you could try some mulch made of sharp objects, like nutshells or sea shells, they won't like the way that feels. When I have pots inside, I do put saran wrap over the pot, but obviously you can't do that outside. I did see this thing sold in a catalog. It's for indoor pots, but i think you could fashion something like it for around your roses.Cat Scat Mats

Okay, I apologize if this comes across as crass or unsympathetic, but this has got to be one of the most hilarious posts I've read as long as I've been reading this.

I have two outside cats that keep critters under control without the need to use dangerous options that could affect my dogs. For this reason, I don't mind if my cats use some of my rose beds to answer the call of nature. My biggest problem is when the dogs find it and create a real mess. If you don't want the cats going in your rose beds, I would suggest NOT using mulch. Cats see mulch like nature's kitty litter (easy to dig, easy to cover up). Instead of using mulch, I would suggest ground cover material with nothing else on top. Without the ability to dig, most cats will avoid the area and move on to somewhere else they can dig up.

Good luck.

Obviously, I have to chime in. My cats rarely use the garden beds. Once cats have started using a spot as toilet they will continue because 1) it now smells like a facility and 2) cats are creatures of habit. So you should attack on two front: remove the smell and break the habit. First, remove as much of the current mulch as you can. Sprinkle moth balls all around, then put down a coarser mulch. I use cedar or cypress; you could also use pine needles or bark nuggets. You could also put out a hose contraption that will spray on a motion detector (you can buy one on Amazon). It takes 10 days-2 weeks to change a habit. Finally, give them an alternative. Find a place where it would be acceptable for them to go, make sure the soil is dig-able, add some sand if its heavy clay, and then sprinkle some of the used mulch on top. They will find it. Cats like places that are private and having a wall or fence or shrubs makes them feel more secure.

If you live in a hot climate/summer, I'd move the rocks a lot farther back from your roses. The reflected heat could burn them.

Seriously the cat droppings will not hurt your roses. They are very good at keeping critters that will hurt your roses away. Best to remove the rocks so they don't go so close to the rose. You have it good free fertilizer and mole, vole, rabbit and mouse protection. It doesn't get any better than that.

Ugh, annoying. Sorry I don't have any advice, but I share in your misery. Neighborhood strays have already killed some Nepeta I planted last year by squashing them to bits repeatedly.

A bit of a rant, but I'm not a fan of cats, and it annoys me that pet cats allowed to go outside unattended are given more of a free-pass when it comes to this behavior than other species. If your neighbor's dog kept pooping in your garden, you'd probably be more confrontational about the animal being contained. But many cat owners think nothing of opening their doors to let their pets roam unwatched and do whatever they'd like. In my case, they're wild-born strays, but it's rather more irksome to know that someone else's animal is doing damage to your property.

:-/

~Christopher

@Patty W,

Cat feces are NOT the same as herbivore feces(cow, chicken, etc), cats eat meat which doesn't break down easily into the soil. That's why the experts say NOT to include meat or feces in your compost pile. Cat feces can also carry diseases(ie toxoplasmosis).

While this doesn't pose a serious threat with roses it does if you have a vegetable garden.

Ooh, ooh. A dog vs. cat war may be emerging. so I'll put my 2 cents in on the topic. I have never had a cat poop problem in my garden, but I certainly have a dog poop problem, courtesy of my "entitled" next door neighbors. Their multiple springer spaniels have been allowed to run loose in the gulley out back. Then the dogs end up in my back yard, pooping in front of their favorite flower bed. After catching them in the act numerous times, and having nary an apology, or an "I'll be over to clean it up" said to me, I took action one day after melting snow revealed 17 poop piles in the dogs' favorite spot. I shoveled the piles into an upscale store's shopping bag, and my son in law cheerfully delivered said bag to the front of the neighbor's garage door. This solved the poop problem, though I still see those dogs loose.

I do own two cats and they not allowed outdoors.
Diane

Hilarious!

This is our upstairs tenant's outdoor cat Luna. She likes to sleep in my pots - usually ones larger than this one! This one has emerging dahlias in it, and after she slept in it for about 3 days she moved on, and the dahlias are still coming up, seemingly not bothered by being incubated by a cat. Interestingly, she mostly poops in the neighbors' yard next door, not in ours. Occasionally if I have put new mulch down somewhere though, she definitely uses it.

I would also recommend removing the mulch if it bothers you so much. However, I agree with those above that it won't hurt your roses - it will decompose into fertilizer - and it will keep away critters.

Jackie

Oh my gosh that's precious! Thanks for the chuckle. Mine was doing the same thing on cold mornings. Warmer than the ground I guess.

Years ago, I lived in a subdivision. At the time, I had three cats and two dogs. There was a privacy fence enclosing the back yard, but of course, that did nothing to contain my indoor/outdoor cats. My neighbor very much disliked all animals and complained about the cats visiting his yard. So, I had an invisible fence system installed, and after a couple of weeks training time, it worked beautifully keeping my cats in my yard. It wasn't long before my neighbor asked that I take the cats off the fence...since my cats could no longer get in his yard, he had begun having problems with chipmunks, rabbits, moles, etc. and wanted the cats back to reprise their hunting...I didn't take the cats off the fence, and he was still complaining about rodents in his yard when I moved. Now that I'm back to farm living, I currently have 4 dogs and one cat and still use invisible fence to keep my cat from venturing. I'm not sure if your neighbor would consider the expenditure, but it might be worth asking if you prefer your yard to be off limits.

We have a 4ft fence on one side and 3ft fences on all other sides of our backyard. I taught both our cats at a early age to stay in our backyard. That was in 2003 and so far so good... They are indoor cats but are outside a lot in the Spring/Summer months...

My neighbor, who had the Springer Spaniels that pooped in my garden all the time, had an invisible fence, too. Trouble was. she turned it off all the time and let the dogs roam. She even admitted it to me. So she got her dog poop returned via the shopping bag. Diane

I have two outdoor "rescues" that I have had fixed and feed, Oscar and Lulu. After putting in ten new roses with compost and mulch, the next morning, some critter(s), no names will be mentioned...dug several holes and then, did a dance in the mulch. I am going to be putting a "tea" down with fish emulsion and alfalfa per the suggestion of a board member, I am also going to put citrus peels down on top of the mulch after applying the tea. I know cats do not like citrus so a few orange peels may stop the party in our rose gardens. Oscar did help plant the roses, he tried sitting in my lap while I was on the ground putting in the roses and after all the work, it was time to nap on his back and practice his innocent look. My only suggestion would be citrus of some kind, not an odor like moth balls but not something cats like. Best of luck :)

I watched a stray cat poop in my neighbors flower/shrub beds yesterday and it made me think of this thread...

On another note I took this pic last year while visiting... Wonder if that cat pooped down their chimney?... :-O

Your never see a dog doing that...lol

This is getting better and better as the thread wheres on

My cheeks are aching... good to see all the 4-leggeds showing us how to chill out... to take life - and any good toilet opportunities - as they come. I love animals. Humans... not always so much. Tsk, tsk..

:¬)

Our two cats do less damage in the yard then our one dog... Gracie (dog) likes to run over flowers, rip out flowers, etc. So I put up small garden fencing... But she's getting better...

I'm use to our cats doing their antics in our backyard and so that doesn't bother me.

But some people are not use to that stuff so it upsets them and I respect how they feel regardless of how I feel on the subject... Esp when a stray pet soils their property in one way or another...

I have had the neighborhood cats use my raised garden beds as their personal litter boxes for the last 29 years. I have tried everything and nothing works for long. They also use the rose and other flower beds too. We have 2.5 acres way up in the Santa Cruz mts and I am use to finding all kinds of animal poo. Usually after my dog has found it and rolled in it or worse! I swear one cat is here more than he/she is at their home. He/she is always sleeping on the deck or driveway or garden and getting a drink from the birdbath. Must like bird flavored water.

Caflowerluver, that is such a great picture. I can't blame the cat for wanting to be in your garden.

Never thought this thread would be so popular.. Thanks for all the input!

Our cats like to lay under our plants for shade so they do not use those areas as a litter box but I have seen them go in other areas of the yard...

Glad someone mentioned toxoplasmosis! As a pregnant gardener, a neighborhood cat using my yard would outright stop me from any gardening for at least a season. It is not something to be messed around with and I'd be furious if I was banned from my garden because you can't be bothered to keep your pet off my property!

If the cats are wild, trap them and send them to SPCA. If they're your neighbors, trap them and give them to the animal control cops, the owners have to pay a fee to get their cats back, I think it's $45 each for my town. It's easy to say, hard to do. One of my neighbors cat always in my yard, they're good people, so the cat just becomes part of my garden......still not a cat person.