Help-Cats

[Halifax Town AFC]

I awoke this morning to find some of my onion bulbs have been lifted by a cat, it or they keep coming into my garden and crapping everywhere. this summer I planted allsorts of plants and the cats kept fouling int garden digging plants and seeds up!! I have tried cat repelants and put down pepper to burns the cats bums-still it Carry's on, can anyone help with suggestions.

Thanks Graham :'(

[Halifax Town AFC]

[the_snail]

The best tip I can tell you as I have a cat myself so I know what the problem can be. Cover the area with twiggs so the cats cannot scrape the soil or sit down and do there squirts. Another Idea is to buy a large water pistol and wait in hiding for the cat to come and do its stuff then when it is least expexting it squirt it one with cold clean water. That way it does not hurt the cat but the cat certainally does not like it. Also do not use twigs or branches with thorns as this will hurt the cat any non thornless branch will do. Just cover the earea with plenty of them.

The_Snail

[Tulipa]

I use the twig method too and find it really works, old bits of trellis too over my onion sets have worked really well.  Also if you have raised beds, some nails hammered on the outside and pea or other netting stretched over.  It is easily unhooked to weed etc.

T.

[daisymay]

we have a problem with cats too..... got so fed up with them in the end we resorted to buying one of the cat scarer alarms - it makes a high pitch noise when anything goes in front of the sensor. that is inaudible to humans (was about £40!)

It seemed to work for the majority of them but we have one horrid big white cat who must be deaf or extremely hard as it is not bothered by it. I throw water at it, squirt it with a water pistol, chase it etc.... on a daily basis..... even borrow my parents dogs for weekends!!

Have tried placing holly branches in its favourite sitting places and where it jumps over the fence but it seems immune to that too. Also running out of ideas.

[supersprout]

We have an allotment cat.
I used to try to scare it off, but felt warmer towards it when I realised it was doing a good bird scaring job and probably goes after meece too.
It prefers to crap on the woodchip and straw paths than the mulched beds, but that might also be cos I cover newly planted/sown areas with a mesh cloche til they're established. So I can easily poop scoop if I have to, a small price to pay for a useful service ::) Spent hops seem to put it right off.
In the olden days, gardeners used to rig up a length of wire down the side of a bed of seedlings, put a lead on a stray cat, and attach the loop to the wire. The cat had quite a lot of freedom to roam but scared the birds away from vulnerable plants. I think you'd go to prison for that now but it's a tempting thought :-[ ;)

[Merry Tiller]

Could try providing them with an even more attractive place to do their stuff, a small area covered with fine gravelly sand?

[OllieC]

we have a problem with cats too..... got so fed up with them in the end we resorted to buying one of the cat scarer alarms - it makes a high pitch noise when anything goes in front of the sensor. that is inaudible to humans (was about £40!)

I can hear them! The neighbours one drives me mad in the summer - like finger nails on a blackboard.

[Halifax Town AFC]

Thank you all for your replies and ideas.
I will get some twigs and sharpen them with my daughters pencil sharpener and put these around my onions.
I don't want a cat spoiling my sets, I have never grown overwintered onions and I want them to be a success.

Again thanks very much,Graham :)

[Pigface51]

I am having eactly the same issue onions vs. cats (cats winning)

I have also recently 'done some pruning' and recycled the pruned bits to protect my onions...it seems to be working.

I know that cats prefer fine gravel, but must be below 18mm daimater - usually 12-14 mm is best.

Alternatively, buy a tiger!

[delaney]

try a shotgun it works

[Halifax Town AFC]

I have an air rifle its a 2.2 BSA Supersport, use it when I go hunting rabbit ;D

[Si]

Is it easier to clean up cat mess or buy a £40 cat scarer?
All you have to loose are a few onions... Just plant something else.

[lorna]

Agree about the gravel. My front garden had small gravel on it, daughter Lorna moved in next door with THREE cats and they loved their new toilet. I had a ton of large stuff put on there that stopped their little tricks. Now I have had all the conifers removed between Lorna's back garden and mine her cats have started patrolling along the top of the fence panels, most disturbing as they are eyeing up the birds that are on my feeding station. I just open back door and let Elsa out, I am sure they will soon get the message (I hope)
Lorna

[Pigface51]

I have heard rumour that frozen sproit & catapults work well with persistant poopers...

...though any form of harm towards moggies should be discouraged - you'll only need them later next year to scare off all those d**n pigeons eating your peas!