Cats and flowers
Janaina (Zone 6B - Maryland)
3 years ago
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pippacovalent
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Cats in Flower Pots - My Solution
Comments (6)That's a good idea! An idea that I used a while back was some old window screening pieces, loosely rolled (two 12" sections) placed on the soil around my ficus tree trunk, worked like a charm! No more pot potty-ing! Billy Rae...See MoreCat Pooping in Flower Bed
Comments (6)I've used the chicken wire laid on the ground along the back of a bed, that bare stretch between plantings and the foundation and it worked fine, but I'd add that when my mother tried it in her yard I worried about her tripping on it. I have the Scarecrow motion activated sprayer for deer and it works on cats too, also the mail carrier, PUD meter reader (I wasn't home that day but the neighbor said she really cursed, it's more than a 'spritz' of water ;)), the paper boy who found it entertaining. You don't have to spray product your curb, there are weather resistant granules that are effective you can scatter that won't stand out. Critter Ridder by Havahart 'the pet friendly people' is one, Get Off My Grass green gel cubes has worked for me too. No wandering cats in this garden and I don't miss dealing with them. I like cats, I just don't like cleaning up after someone else's.......See Morecats digging flower beds
Comments (10)Moth balls are highly toxic to the environment and animals -- please don't use them! Here's some info: Mothballs are composed of napthalene and/or paradichlorobenzene. Both are toxic substances (chemicals) and possible human carcinogens. >>>>>By law in the US, pesticides can not be used for purposes other than stated on the label. Mothballs are a pesticide. Scattering them over the yard for repelling animals is definately not on the label. Mothballs have been implicated in several poisonings of small children who mistake them for candy. The poison stays in the soil a long time. Do a search and learn more about mothballs, and hopefully you'll look for other, non-toxic ways to repel the cats or whatever animal is digging. Personally, I suspect skunks or squirrels; as someone else mentioned, cats don't tend to dig holes and leave them that open. If its your bulbs youÂre worried about, you might want to consider what I do: when I plant bulbs, I put about half the soil back over them, then a layer of chicken wire, then the remaining soil. In a few cases I put the chicken wire right on top of the soil  not attractive, but itÂs back in areas where we donÂt normally see it close up, and it saved my daffs from the squirrels. HereÂs a longer post from another GW forum about ways to repel cats IÂve tried some of the methods and although they mostly didnÂt work for me, some people have more success. Good luck!! Cat Deterrents for your Garden: Keep in mind that each cat is different (like people), a deterrent that works for one may not necessarily work for another. On the plus side, most cats will keep pesty squirrels, moles and other critters out of your garden. They're great for keeping out moles, rabbits, squirrels, and other critters which can do more damage in your garden than a cat ever will. If the cats have owners, talk to them without being confrontational. The cat owner who allows his cat to damage other peoples' property is as guilty as the cat hater who kills the cat for trespassing. Remember, cats will be cats, and it is unfair of us to blame them for being what they are and how nature intended them to participate in this world. After-all, we praise them when they catch mice or rats or other creatures we deem to be 'pests'. * amonia soaked (corncobs, etc) * aluminum foil * bamboo skewers * black pepper * blood meal fertilizer * bramble cuttings * Carefresh - "recycled" wood pulp * catnip - donated into your neighbor's yards (so they'll stay in their own yards) * cedar compost * chicken wire (metal or plastic) * cinnamon * citrus peels * citrus spray * cocoa bean shells * coffee grounds -fresh & unbrewed, not just a light sprinkling (highly recommended by MANY Gardenwebbers!) * dogs * electric fence for animals * essence of orange. essence of lemon, lime (citrus essential oils) * fresh manure(ditto) * garlic cloves * gumballs from the Sweet Gum Tree * gutter covers * hardware cloth * heavy bark mulch * holly leaves * keep the area damp, they like dry soil * lavender * liquid manure (good for your garden too) * motion sensor sprinkler * pennyroyal * pinecones * pipe tobacco * plastic forks * predator urine * red wine vinegar * river rocks over the exposed soil * rocks, crushed * rose bush clippings * rue, an herb (Ruta graveolens) (highly recommended in plant form only) * short twigs throughout the planted area about 6" apart * six-inch bamboo skewers (pointy side up) * Spray on your leaves (not the cat): fill a spray bottle with 1/2 t chili powder, 1/2 t cayenne pepper, 1 t dish soap and water * squirt gun with water * talk to your neighbors * tansy * thorny berry, lilac, hawthorn, rose clippings * toothpicks * upside down vinyl carpet * vinegar sprayed on areas where they roam * water bottle on "stream" NOT RECOMMENDED: *** chili powder, red crushed pepper, cayenne pepper (NOT recommended), it gets on the cat's paws then they wash themselves and they get it in their eyes, beware cats have literally scratched their eyes out because of this. Even if it's one cat out of 500 infected in this way, that's one too many for me. *** Don't ever use mothballs or flakes. Those little toxic waste pellets destroy cats' kidney function, could seriously harm people who handle them, and yes, contaminate your own garden soil. Their packaging even warns against using them this way. Give them their own areas: (To keep them out of where you don't want them) (If you don't mind them protecting your garden from other critters) + pick the cat up and bring it to eye level with the plant to see and smell it up close. She noted that once her cat has seen and sniffed at the plant, she usually doesn't bother with it later. + give them their own plants - i.e., pots of grass for her to chew on and a place in a large planted container on her balcony with some miscanthus grass in it (the cat likes to curl up in that for some reason) + if the cats are strictly indoors and attracted to your houseplants, grow catgrass for them. If someone forced you to remain inside one enclosed structure all your life, you might be attracted to the plants too. + Barley Grass + Any type of "catgrass" from the pet store + Carex elata 'Bolwes Golden' but put it in some shade + Catmint Nepeta mussinicultivars (Simply put, Catmints are Catnips without any culinary or feline use. In any case, they are, however, phenomenal, long flowering, hardy perennials that belong in every fairie or flower garden.) + Catnip Nepeta cataria (in your own yard) The oils of which also work as a mosquito repellent that works 10 times better than Deet! Catmint is the common name for all varieties of Nepeta. Catnip is the common name for the specific variety of Nepeta called nepeta cataria, which is the variety that cats are most attracted to. + Cat Thyme (Teucrium marum) + Flax + Oat Grass + Jacob's Ladder + Lemon Grass + Loose soil and mulch like small bark mulch + Mints + Purple Fountain Grass so the cat lays in the long leaves all day. Maybe put something in that the cats really like and - you know cats won't winky were they like to hang out. + Sandy area + Silver vine (Actinidia polygama) + Striped Ribbon Grass (can be invasive) + Sweet grass + Trificum aestivum (type of cat grass) + Various Varieties of Cat Mints (Catnips) + Wheat Grass + Wheat Berries + Valerian This list compiled by Violet_Z6, email at violetgw@care2.com for comments and suggestions regarding this list....See MoreCats in the flowers
Comments (4)The only thing I've found that really works, and isn't dangerous to children or the family pet, is bird netting. I lay it on the ground around my plants and stake it into the ground using landscaping pins (they look like giant staples). Cats hate getting their claws stuck in the netting and it prevents them from digging a potty hole. Works like a charm for me. You don't have to use alot of it ....just cut it up into sections for your specific needs and place it in any open areas around your plants. Pay special attention to areas "behind" your plantings, because cats like a bit of privacy when they do their business and will look for spots that a.) have soft dirt they can dig in easily, and b.) are a bit secluded - a spot where they feel safe. The netting is almost invisible once you have it down, but you can cover it with a light layer of mulch, if you like. You can purchase the netting at any home improvement center...same thing with the landscaping pins. I've also seen the netting at Walmart. It isn't expensive. Renee...See Morerosecanadian
3 years agobayarea_girl_z10a_ca
3 years agoBenT (NorCal 9B Sunset 14)
3 years agoJanaina (Zone 6B - Maryland)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoJanaina (Zone 6B - Maryland)
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoDiane Brakefield
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3 years agoJanaina (Zone 6B - Maryland)
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