Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
She has now killed all of my plants. If I cannot find something that works, she is going to have to find a new owner, because the smell is horrible. Anything would be appreciated, because other than that she is a great cat!
By soon to be catless from OH
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RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
This would be a horrible problem to have. I use my flower beds for my herb gardens, mixing in here and there makes pretty gardens. Also use part of the flower garden for my cherry/grape/pear tomatoes and pepper plants. They like the flower beds better at my house (more attention?? maybe). I guess try putting the cat on a leash for a while, curtailing the straying, chicken wire across the plants? Just plain squirt bottle of water and be there when it uses the garden? Make an outside litter box available? I don't know, got a german short hair dog who opens doors, cupboards, helps herself--finally putting her treats in a glass jar--she carrries tuppeware off looking for snacks. Sometimes not as gentle in opening those!
Post by T&T Grandma
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Just a short post script. Make sure your cat has some place else to do its business. You might consider leaving a litter box outside if you wish to keep it as an outdoor cat. Otherwise you don't leave her much choice as to where to go.
Post by Needtoknow
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Cats hate the smell of citrus. Please don't use moth balls. As you found they usually don't work and they are poisonous to cats. Get yourself some oranges and scatter the peels and segments too if you want around in your garden. You can also spritz the area with orange or lemon scented water. You will have to replace the peels with fresh ones after they have dried out and no longer have any scent. Just leave the old ones there and add new. I learned this years ago and have always kept my cats out of the Christmas tree with oranges on the bottom branches. Good luck.
Post by Needtoknow
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Fencing.
Post by kimhis
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Do you have pine trees nearby? Gather up many pine cones and place them amongst the flowers.
Post by Coll3
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
I had the same probelm, and I would peel an orange and throw the peelings where the cat would go to the bathroom. Not just one orange but use about 3 or more. Good luck
Post by chammich
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
My suggestions are coffee grounds and citrus peelings. Coffee grounds the better of the two. I've also used plastic forks (big pkg for $1 or so), but skewers would look much better! I've heard bad things about using cayenne pepper - cats get it on their paws, then in their eyes and scratch their eyes -painful and cruel.
Post by gardenway
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
I went to the store and bought a few bags of bamboo skewers and placed them about 6" apart in rows next to the plants in the flower bed the cat had no room to get in between the skewers and gave up trying. I left them there for the first season and the next they had no interest in the flower bed. The plants will eventually grow and hide the skewers so you will still have a pretty flower bed. Good Luck
Post by PICO
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Try coffee grounds. Keeps them out of my plants.
Post by catastrofy
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Make a mix of equal parts of black pepper, cayenne pepper, dry hot mustard, & that pepper mix of ground peppers they use on pizza. Put in a shaker bottle & sprinkle where you don't want them It works on dogs, too. After watering you will have to replace some about every 3-4weeks, I think. I use it around my yard & on the tops of walls & fences. It works well.
Post by c t
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Hi there,
I heard that planting onion among flowers discourages the cats from the area.
Sheila
Post by Pennypacer
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Cats are supposed to hate citrus or orange smell... You might buy an orange or citrus scented room freshener at the $1 store & try spraying that on your plants. (You can also buy a high-end room spray made from REAL cirtrus at a health food store if the dollar store spray doesn't work) Also put lemon, grapefruit and/or orange peels in your flowerbed! ...Be sure to change them with new fresh peels every few days. You'll have to spray the plants once or twice a day until you cat finds somewhere else he prefers.
You could also make him an alternative place to go potty... By pouring sandbox sand in a spot fairly close to the flower bed ... I bet you cat would prefer the sand to the garden eventually!... Be sure to put his scent in the sand as a "calling card". This sand can be bought at Home Depot or Walmart... Ask for sandbox sand (it has no chemicals) the sand made for patios has a weedkiller in it.
Post by Cyinda
RE: Keeping Cats Out of Flower Beds
Try sprinkling cayenne pepper where you don't want the cat to go. Use a LOT, like enough to cover the ground thick. This was the only thing that kept cats from digging in my flowers in CA. Good luck!
Post by Wendopolis
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