I have a rat on my plot, or it may be more than one going on the number of burrows there seem to be. I had this idea the other day of planting catnip to attract cats to my plot in the hope that they might help deter the rats. I've just been reading various threads on cats, catnip and cat poo, and I'm wondering now whether it is such a good idea!
Any thoughts?
Hi sweet-pea :D
We have a fluffy cat that hangs around our plots early in the morning but I can`t imagine it catching much. I just planted a pot of cat nip for my own cat but its in my potting shed so the local cat doesn`t come and sit on it.
I think the cat would just poo in your seedlings.
I also use poison and I wouldn`t want the cat (or a fox) eating a rodent with poison in its system. We have rumours of a fox around our site but I never saw it and no-one has produced a picture. I `d rather have foxes that might eat the rats but eather way I don`t want rats.
I now also squirt Jeyes fluid around the edges of my potting shed which seems to be working as a deterrent. But I have a licenced rat killer visiting my plot next week. ;D
Best of luck, Col
Anything like my cat and they will trash a plant in a day, ive given up buying cat nip plants, he rolls in it, snaps pieces off, until just a stump is left!!!
Hi Gunnerbee,
I brought home creamy coloured tulips and daffs (wot I growed mesself)
my first cut flowers this year and Hailey (the cat) has killed two already.
She drags them around the flat. I`m hoping to distract her with catnip.
She loves allotment flowers `cus they have bugs on but this year I`m going to pick them as soon as I arrive and try to leave the bugs on the plot.
Col
Cats attraction to catnip is genetic. they either can't get enough of it or wonder what all the fuss is about. I always get the ones who can't be bothered so I planted some. Hello Arthur, the neighbour's cat who razed the plant to the ground even going so far as to dig up the pop-bottle cloche put there to protect it...
I'm getting the feeling that my idea is probably not such a good one! Maybe I'll try poison again.
Thanks for the comments :-)
I've been trying for years to deter cats. Funny old world.
do know anyone with a working Jack Russel? they are great ratters. My oldest dog died last year and I certainly miss him when its time to dig the compost heap out, the younger one that we have left hasn't got a clue......