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Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 1:35 pm
by andreab
My neighbor's cats have decided my veggie garden, flower beds, and driveway are good to use as a litter box. I tried putting down mulch to stop them from pooping in my flower beds, it didn't work, then stuck barbeque skewers pointed side up in my garden, that didn't work. I broke down and bought a critter repellent - not cheap, but it seems to be working. I threw blood meal in the veggie garden and on top of the repellent, so far so good. I am hoping to just use the blood meal as a repellent, but can too much hurt my plants? Their new place to poop is my driveway right next to my car, the driveway is covered thinly with stone, but they dig the stones away and go there. I am trying to see if the park will put more stone on the driveway, but they haven't called back. Does anyone know a cheap, humane way to keep the cats out of my yard and driveway, especially the driveway. I do have a dog, but he has to be tied up (or he will take off chasing the cats), so they sit a few feet away from where his line ends and torture him, which starts the barking chain. I am so frustrated with these cats and the neighbor (her one cat just gave birth to 8 kittens too). The thing that bothers me is that as a dog owner I am expected to keep my dog tied up and/or on a leash, pick up his poop in the yard and on walks, why aren't cat owners expected to do the same? Why can't my dog poop in your yard, but your cat can poop in mine?

Thanks!

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:35 pm
by Greg
We have the same problem here. I would like to see the state do a required licence program, just like dogs, that would put a stop to these people that insist on having 10 cats!!
Try a super soaker with water when you see them, they may get the message if they are wet enough time, plus you get some target practice.

There may some plants that repel cats also. Greg

Re: Cats using flower beds as litter box!!!

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 7:05 pm
by Greg S
Cats :evil:

It's a never ending battle to try to convince the little old ladies to stop feeding strays.
The only saving grace is we have plenty of foxes and fishers to control them somewhat or we would be over run.
Unfortunately neighbour complaints are regularly made regarding cats. Plenty of barking dog complaints too so they don't get off scott free either.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:34 pm
by bobfather99
My Mom used to plant lavender.
Ive also heard a few lemon/orange peels also repel cats(they dont like the smell) but I dont know if it works.
Resist the urge to use extreme measures like engine coolant or moth balls. The chemicals are toxic to most pets, and you can be charged with animal cruelty if caught.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 5:23 pm
by bilbar25
"and you can be charged with animal cruelty if caught."
bobfather99

Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:09 am

I suppose that rules out shooting them, then!!
Can you tell that I'm NOT a cat lover? lol

Re: Cats using flower beds as litter box!!!

Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:10 pm
by Greg S
Not really cruel if done humanly with one shot but discharging a gun in a residential area is probably against the law in most areas outside of Texas.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:05 am
by andreab
I was thinking a bb gun. Would that be wrong even if they are pooping right next to my car door? (I am kidding, I would never shoot any living thing unless it was to protect my family) I am going to fence in my little yard, so I won't have to tie the dog up. I can't wait to see the first cat that comes into the yard thinking the dog is still tied up and gets chased out. BTW, my dog is not vicious, but he is a dachshund/black lab/golden retriever mix with a one track mind when the chase is on.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:07 pm
by japa
Maybe you could talk to the Park Office about the cat problem. Our Park does not allow dogs at all and only allows inside cats. Occasionally you will see a cat that probably got out when someone opened the door, but that's rare. It does make for a nicer neighborhood without barking dogs and cats going in the garden.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litter box!!!

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:04 pm
by Greg S
I wish my park could have a no dog policy.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 5:30 pm
by Greg
It's not the dogs, (or cats) it's the owners!!! PETS REQUIRE RESPONSIBILITY!!! Greg

Re: Cats using flower beds as litter box!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:13 am
by Greg S
I've seen dogs that are more responsible than some of the owners in our park.
Unfortunately park owners have difficulty determining which applicants are responsible enough to let in to the community and the power to prevent those that are not.

Re: Cats using flower beds as litterbox!!!

Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:07 pm
by joedirt63
got the same prob here too, but my dog is smaller than most of the cats. my wife tried pins in a piece card board, like they used for pigons , that worked only once, heard that sucker step on them too that night, but the next day there was a pile neatly placed right between the 2 pieces of pin tainted cardboard. that s.o.b. has got to go.