I am interested in an organic method to prevent neighborhood cats from using my bushes for their "dumping" grounds. I almost loose my cool when I step out for a nice cup of tea on the front porch swing only to be knocked back by the stiffling smell.


HELP!


TIA,

Ryan

There is a spray available at most garden shops that you spray on the ground. Works like crazy to keep the critters away and has a citrus smell to it.

Reapply after a rain. Soon, they stay away for good -- at least they do in my yard.

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...Bill

Also, put Lava Gravel in your beds (not lava sand). They don't like the sharp edges & tend to stay away. I've seen it in black & also red colors so you can suit your landscape. The black is sometimes cheaper.

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The "soap" you use is normally chemicals, etc. Use real SOAP !!

You can also lay chicken wire on the ground around shrubs and perennial plants and cover with mulch. Cats can't dig into the dirt to take care of business if chicken wire is on top of the layer of dirt.

Check out the videos for the Scarecrow at the following address.

http://www.scatmat.com/Products/Scarecr ... videospage

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David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum

Add rose bush cuttings (complete with thorns) to the list of materials which can be placed in the problem areas. As with the sharp edges of the lava rock, the thorns make the beds inhospitable for the felines.

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Keeping it clean and green here, Boss.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Thank you all very kindly. I will apply several of these suggestions and I am sure it will resolve my problem.


Ryan

I wanted to add a little from a cat owner. We have five cats, three of which are inside/outside. I have no odor problem EVER. (At least not outside ) The trick is to mulch all bare areas, even under bushes.

I learned this when I began keeping chickens. When you keep mulch under animals their droppings are deodorized by the wood. Cedar is the king in this department because it is an air freshener as well as deodorizer.

I'm not saying the other suggestions won't work because they will. I just figure I should mulch anyway and I don't mind animals adding organic fertilizer to my plants as long as my nose isn't offended!

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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Well, all I can say is that the cat next door loved my cedar mulch (which I overlay fresh every Spring), then it stunk like h#ll in the afternoon sun.

The spray has kept him away.

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...Bill