Frogging the garden?
You know how you start a big knitting project all full of hope and excitement? Thinking about how great the sweater will look on you, thinking of all the places you’ll wear it. How flattering it will be, etc etc? You find the perfect yarn. You even swatch, for cripes sake. You swatched! You planned ahead! Let’s say you even WASHED the swatch. So then you get to relax and just knit, right?
But then let’s say something goes off. The swatch lied, and you start to get the sneaking suspicion that the sweater is actually going to be quite a bit bigger than you’d planned. You might, in fact, be able to fit yourself, your dog, and your husband into the sweater with room to spare. But this is just a suspicion. And if you knit fast enough and don’t stop to recheck your gauge, maybe the problem will go away. But it doesn’t go away. The gauge is off. The gauge has always been off. You need to rip the damn thing out and start over.
Well… The garden. Oy vey, the garden. Let’s start by saying I used to really love cats. &^%*&%P((* Evil heartless cats.
When I turned the winter cover crop under, I found little mounds of cat poop. I cleared them out and kept working. Then each day I’d return to the garden and find more cat poop. I’d clear that out. I told myself it wasn’t much poop, and as long as I took it out of the garden it would be fine, but a niggling little suspicion that it wasn’t fine was starting to grow in the back of my mind. The next door neighbors moved out and took their cats with them, and I told myself that was the end of it, that it was THOSE cats who’d been using the garden as a litter box, and NOW everything would be fine.
But everyone in this neighborhood has multiple cats (except for us) and everyone lets those cats out. I’m still finding cat poop in the garden every day, and as I was planting those broccoli starts yesterday, I did my best to tell myself I didn’t notice that the whole raised bed actually smells like a litter box.
The garden is contaminated. It stinks like a litter box. Cat poop is not compost. It’s a nasty disease-bearing thing. (Yes, I’m calling your cat a nasty disease-bearing thing.)
Here’s what I want to ask the blog, because many of you have given me much good advice on a number of subjects over our years here together:
Bearing in mind that we’re talking about trying for the next baby sometime this summer, and bearing in mind that we’re talking about an edible garden, and bearing in mind the dangers of toxoplasmosis…
Do I need to do what I think I need to do…which is rip that raised bed out and get rid of the contaminated soil and start over? Everything I’m finding online says “DO NOT EAT THOSE VEGETABLES!”
If that is what we need to do, Billy and I were talking about doing two 4X4 raised beds a la Square Foot Gardening, and laying those square-foot grids over them, thinking cats wouldn’t want to walk on the grids. And maybe chicken wire over the beds until the plants get tall enough?
Help!
Please, help! I need advice here. Pretend I’ve knit a ridiculously large cashmere sweater. It’s feeling that dire. I’ve invested so much emotionally in this garden. (Growing food to feed your family…it’s a loaded thing, isn’t it?) I don’t want to put in all this work, only to then serve big heaping plates of poison.
Yes.
I could stop there, because really, that’s the answer. It’s not something you want to fool with, and the cats will not stop unless you deter them. I used to have them come to my whiskey barrels on the front porch in the winter. I finally figured out that pine and other evergreen boughs would keep them out, and be decorative, too. And that was just flowers — not something I and my family were eating.
Your analogy to swatching is a good one — It may seem like a big task right now, but actually once it’s done and done right, it will be so worth the time-and-materials investment up front.
Posted by: Norma
I agree that it’s best to start over. Even if you overlooked the potential diseases (not that you or anyone would) and let them continue to grow, wouldn’t you be thinking about the gross-ness of it all when the vegetables are finally on your plate? Then it would be a big waste of time (and a possible health hazard to boot).
I know it stinks to frog, but sometimes it’s for the best.
Posted by: Anna
Yes.
I could stop there, because really, that’s the answer. It’s not something you want to fool with, and the cats will not stop unless you deter them. I used to have them come to my whiskey barrels on the front porch in the winter. I finally figured out that pine and other evergreen boughs would keep them out, and be decorative, too. And that was just flowers — not something I and my family were eating.
Your analogy to swatching is a good one — It may seem like a big task right now, but actually once it’s done and done right, it will be so worth the time-and-materials investment up front.
Posted by: Norma
I agree that it’s best to start over. Even if you overlooked the potential diseases (not that you or anyone would) and let them continue to grow, wouldn’t you be thinking about the gross-ness of it all when the vegetables are finally on your plate? Then it would be a big waste of time (and a possible health hazard to boot).
I know it stinks to frog, but sometimes it’s for the best.
Posted by: Anna
Stop and fix the problem when you know it’s a problem. Don’t keep knitting knowing there’s a problem because you’ll just be mad at yourself later. It sucks now and it seems like a lot of work, but just think of all the plants/time/effort you’ll waste if you keep going now.
I don’t have any advice for you in regards to keeping the cats away, but I do know you don’t want to be eating those veggies.
Hope it isn’t too much work redoing your beds. Maybe you can get your new neighbors to help you. 😉
Posted by: nipper jenn
This is the exact reason I don’t like most cats. I guess it’s really the irresponsible owners that I should dislike. My dad’s solution was a pellet gun which doesn’t hurt them. But the more current solution is a motion detector sprinkler or cat fences on top of your current fence.
Posted by: Amy in StL
I’m not well informed on the dangers of existing cat poop, but there was some discussion of keeping cats out of gardens on not martha not long ago: http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2007/07/09/bring-it-cats/
Posted by: thursday
Ugggh! I’ve never understood outdoor cats. I guess I’ve always found that to be the appeal of cats, they stay inside and (relatively) clean.
I’m no gardener, but I’d think the best thing to do would be to start over now before you get too far along (just like knitting).
Posted by: Vicki
I agree with the others. Better safe than sorry, right? And if you can spot a cat in the act sometime and figure out who it belongs to, maybe talking to the owner wouldn’t be a bad idea…?
Posted by: Violet
Stop and fix the problem when you know it’s a problem. Don’t keep knitting knowing there’s a problem because you’ll just be mad at yourself later. It sucks now and it seems like a lot of work, but just think of all the plants/time/effort you’ll waste if you keep going now.
I don’t have any advice for you in regards to keeping the cats away, but I do know you don’t want to be eating those veggies.
Hope it isn’t too much work redoing your beds. Maybe you can get your new neighbors to help you. 😉
Posted by: nipper jenn
This is the exact reason I don’t like most cats. I guess it’s really the irresponsible owners that I should dislike. My dad’s solution was a pellet gun which doesn’t hurt them. But the more current solution is a motion detector sprinkler or cat fences on top of your current fence.
Posted by: Amy in StL
I’m not well informed on the dangers of existing cat poop, but there was some discussion of keeping cats out of gardens on not martha not long ago: http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2007/07/09/bring-it-cats/
Posted by: thursday
Ugggh! I’ve never understood outdoor cats. I guess I’ve always found that to be the appeal of cats, they stay inside and (relatively) clean.
I’m no gardener, but I’d think the best thing to do would be to start over now before you get too far along (just like knitting).
Posted by: Vicki
I agree with the others. Better safe than sorry, right? And if you can spot a cat in the act sometime and figure out who it belongs to, maybe talking to the owner wouldn’t be a bad idea…?
Posted by: Violet
I hate to say it, but you’re best off frogging the garden now, while you still have the chance.
Before you put all the time into finishing, only to find that you’re still unhappy with the results and never want to wear the thing.
Posted by: Dina
You’ve scared me. I wouldn’t risk it.
But at least the cats will keep other vermin away. The snow is thawing and lots of bunny compost is being exposed. The bunnies explain why my raspberries won’t grow. The little buggers chew up the new shoots.
Posted by: LaurieM
If you have to ask, then you know the answer.
The learning curve bites, but you are smart and savvy enough to solve problems early. Pat yourself on the back, babe.
IMHO, cats should be indoors. Poop aside, consider the poor birds.
Posted by: claudia
Yuck! I can’t think of any kitty deterent (mothballs?) that you’d use around growing foodstuffs. Perhaps container gardening? My daughter signed up for a CSA share for the first time last year. They got big bagfuls of all kinds of good veggies!
Posted by: Dorie
I’m so sorry — your excitement in your ealier post was apparent.
It’s early. You have plenty of time.
Posted by: Kathy
Note to self: Check raised bed before planting garden this summer.
I’ve heard that cats don’t like lavender. Could you plant it around the garden to deter them?
Posted by: Steph VW
I hate to say it, but you’re best off frogging the garden now, while you still have the chance.
Before you put all the time into finishing, only to find that you’re still unhappy with the results and never want to wear the thing.
Posted by: Dina
You’ve scared me. I wouldn’t risk it.
But at least the cats will keep other vermin away. The snow is thawing and lots of bunny compost is being exposed. The bunnies explain why my raspberries won’t grow. The little buggers chew up the new shoots.
Posted by: LaurieM
If you have to ask, then you know the answer.
The learning curve bites, but you are smart and savvy enough to solve problems early. Pat yourself on the back, babe.
IMHO, cats should be indoors. Poop aside, consider the poor birds.
Posted by: claudia
Yuck! I can’t think of any kitty deterent (mothballs?) that you’d use around growing foodstuffs. Perhaps container gardening? My daughter signed up for a CSA share for the first time last year. They got big bagfuls of all kinds of good veggies!
Posted by: Dorie
I’m so sorry — your excitement in your ealier post was apparent.
It’s early. You have plenty of time.
Posted by: Kathy
Note to self: Check raised bed before planting garden this summer.
I’ve heard that cats don’t like lavender. Could you plant it around the garden to deter them?
Posted by: Steph VW
Or maybe lavender deters another garden “pest”.
Sorry – I wish I had the answer for you! ’cause something tells me, I’m going to need that answer for me too!
Posted by: Steph VW
I’m usually a ‘lurker’ here, but since I have both small children and experience with icky-neighbor cats, I’ll put in my two cents. You know what you have to do–start over. Plus–please make sure you keep your son out of it. I’m heading into “too much info” here, but a long time ago I taught at a preschool with a great sandbox, and no amount of barricading would keep the neighbor’s cats out of it. One word (again with the TMI)–ringworm. Protect your little guy from the dirty outdoor kitties. Good luck!!
Posted by: Natalie
I’m starting out with my first garden this year and my heart really goes out to you. I don’t expect a cat problem, but I know I have to plan some rabbit strategy from the get go or the thing will never work. I don’t have garden advice but I do know when it comes to knitting I usually figure it’s always better to frog now than frog later. Think about it-do you want to spend another 2-3 weeks working on this garden just to find out later you need to frog it? Then you will have put even more work into the first attempt and it will be even more frustrating. At least that’s how I always feel.
Posted by: Jana
Yep, you need to start over. Cat stuff is bad. It should never be in your garden, it cannot be composted, etc. There is a plant that you can buy to deter cats. My garden center sells them and it’s called Scaredy Cat. I don’t know the botanical name. Physical barriers are tricky because cats can jump pretty high – unless you’re willing to put up with something ugly like chicken wire fencing. You can buy a motion sensor activated sprinkler that works well for keeping cats out. Good luck!
Posted by: Dotty
I have never commented before, but I just wanted to suggest that when you replant, you lay chicken wire on top of the soil and plant through that (you can cut holes for larger plants). Then use coarse mulch on top and that should solve your cat issue. Cats need to bury their business, and if they can’t dig, they’ll go poop elsewhere. I’ve found that making the area unsuitable for digging seems to work better than other deterrents, which they just figure out how to work around.
I don’t think any amount of fencing will keep cats out of your yard entirely, so redirecting their pooping away from your veggies is your best bet (plus, they will deter rodents, which is a small benefit).
Posted by: Emily
Or maybe lavender deters another garden “pest”.
Sorry – I wish I had the answer for you! ’cause something tells me, I’m going to need that answer for me too!
Posted by: Steph VW
I’m usually a ‘lurker’ here, but since I have both small children and experience with icky-neighbor cats, I’ll put in my two cents. You know what you have to do–start over. Plus–please make sure you keep your son out of it. I’m heading into “too much info” here, but a long time ago I taught at a preschool with a great sandbox, and no amount of barricading would keep the neighbor’s cats out of it. One word (again with the TMI)–ringworm. Protect your little guy from the dirty outdoor kitties. Good luck!!
Posted by: Natalie
I’m starting out with my first garden this year and my heart really goes out to you. I don’t expect a cat problem, but I know I have to plan some rabbit strategy from the get go or the thing will never work. I don’t have garden advice but I do know when it comes to knitting I usually figure it’s always better to frog now than frog later. Think about it-do you want to spend another 2-3 weeks working on this garden just to find out later you need to frog it? Then you will have put even more work into the first attempt and it will be even more frustrating. At least that’s how I always feel.
Posted by: Jana
Yep, you need to start over. Cat stuff is bad. It should never be in your garden, it cannot be composted, etc. There is a plant that you can buy to deter cats. My garden center sells them and it’s called Scaredy Cat. I don’t know the botanical name. Physical barriers are tricky because cats can jump pretty high – unless you’re willing to put up with something ugly like chicken wire fencing. You can buy a motion sensor activated sprinkler that works well for keeping cats out. Good luck!
Posted by: Dotty
I have never commented before, but I just wanted to suggest that when you replant, you lay chicken wire on top of the soil and plant through that (you can cut holes for larger plants). Then use coarse mulch on top and that should solve your cat issue. Cats need to bury their business, and if they can’t dig, they’ll go poop elsewhere. I’ve found that making the area unsuitable for digging seems to work better than other deterrents, which they just figure out how to work around.
I don’t think any amount of fencing will keep cats out of your yard entirely, so redirecting their pooping away from your veggies is your best bet (plus, they will deter rodents, which is a small benefit).
Posted by: Emily
As an owner of two of those disease-ridden neighborhood trotters (it’s a debate I lost as soon as we installed a little door for the dog to get out to the back yard, really), I’d just like to say I’m sorry.
Putting chicken wire around and over the plants might help. You might also want to look into products like Feliway – a pheremone spray that’s supposed to keep cats from spraying particular areas – although I don’t know how toxic that would be.
Posted by: Beth
As much as I hate to agree, it’s time to start over. It’s only March and we have a great lovely growing season ahead of us. You can grow broccoli until november 🙂 The motion activated sprinkler is neat, keeps the deer out of my roses, but with my kiddos playing in the yard it isn’t much fun. I’d try some deer fencing or even bird netting over bamboo poles. Easy to move when you want to work in the garden. Use staples to tack it to the sides of the raised bed, then drape over a bamboo frame. There are lots of things you can put in the beds to deter cats, but I’ve found when it comes to critters, a good physical deterrent works better than a plant based one.
Posted by: Michele
We have used chicken wire in for years to keep cats out of our gardens. We usually put it down when we first prepare an area, and either plant seeds through it, or remove small areas with wire cutters in order to transplant larger plants. You may have to go back and remove more wire as the plants grow so that you don’t strangle the plants. In some areas, like our pea garden we have been able to reuse the same chicken wire year after year. We just hold it down with rocks at the edges, and remove it in the fall when we do our big clean up, and put it right back down. In other ares, we have had to replace the chicken wire more often, depending on how many large holes we have cut in it. Even with the holes cut in the chicken wire, the cats seem to avoid it. I don’t think they like waling on it. Good luck.
Posted by: Rosa
I would start over. I know it sucks…but you knew that was the answer everyone was going to give. That’s why you asked…to get a second opinion for your gut feeling.
Our neighbors cat tries to you our front flower area as a litter box. It drives me crazy! Once it gets so it’s not too wet outside I’ll spray a hellion concoction of water mixed with several tablespoons of chinese hot mustard powder and cayenne pepper. It totally deters him. And…it’s non toxic. I saw it online somewhere….I’ll see if I can find the exact recipe. I just keep a spray bottle out there and everytime I think about it…I spray the area lightly with a mist of hell broth. This might help along with the chicken wire. Also..I know there are plants that deter cats as well. I dont’ remember what they are called…but they usually sell them at nurseries and they usually have little stakes in them saying “Cat AWAY!” Or something like that. It might be worth a look.
Posted by: Stephanie
I had this problem when I lived in downtown Seattle with 5000 cats per block!
I used 2 things to get rid of the cats i the garden…chicken wire and red pepper flakes sprinkled all over the areas chicken wire didn’t work real well. Mind you the next year, I was pulling little pepper plants, but they did seem to work.
I waited a year and then added a bunch of stuff to the garden (like small dump trunk amount) and started up again.
I currently don’t have this issue…because I have a house full of Jack Russells that view cats as prey. No cat ever strays into my yard.
Amy
Posted by: Amy
Yep, you must take all that soil out and begin again. Even when doing the 4X4 raised bed ala square foot gardening (which is the method I use) I would pplan and make a chicken wire ‘fence’ to fit around the outside of the beds. It doesn’t need to be very high at all and then make a chickn wire lid to fit over the top. You can then continue to use it after you have planted (who knows if the *&%#$*$ cats will STILL got between your plants to potty!
Posted by: knittingnurse
As an owner of two of those disease-ridden neighborhood trotters (it’s a debate I lost as soon as we installed a little door for the dog to get out to the back yard, really), I’d just like to say I’m sorry.
Putting chicken wire around and over the plants might help. You might also want to look into products like Feliway – a pheremone spray that’s supposed to keep cats from spraying particular areas – although I don’t know how toxic that would be.
Posted by: Beth
As much as I hate to agree, it’s time to start over. It’s only March and we have a great lovely growing season ahead of us. You can grow broccoli until november 🙂 The motion activated sprinkler is neat, keeps the deer out of my roses, but with my kiddos playing in the yard it isn’t much fun. I’d try some deer fencing or even bird netting over bamboo poles. Easy to move when you want to work in the garden. Use staples to tack it to the sides of the raised bed, then drape over a bamboo frame. There are lots of things you can put in the beds to deter cats, but I’ve found when it comes to critters, a good physical deterrent works better than a plant based one.
Posted by: Michele
We have used chicken wire in for years to keep cats out of our gardens. We usually put it down when we first prepare an area, and either plant seeds through it, or remove small areas with wire cutters in order to transplant larger plants. You may have to go back and remove more wire as the plants grow so that you don’t strangle the plants. In some areas, like our pea garden we have been able to reuse the same chicken wire year after year. We just hold it down with rocks at the edges, and remove it in the fall when we do our big clean up, and put it right back down. In other ares, we have had to replace the chicken wire more often, depending on how many large holes we have cut in it. Even with the holes cut in the chicken wire, the cats seem to avoid it. I don’t think they like waling on it. Good luck.
Posted by: Rosa
I would start over. I know it sucks…but you knew that was the answer everyone was going to give. That’s why you asked…to get a second opinion for your gut feeling.
Our neighbors cat tries to you our front flower area as a litter box. It drives me crazy! Once it gets so it’s not too wet outside I’ll spray a hellion concoction of water mixed with several tablespoons of chinese hot mustard powder and cayenne pepper. It totally deters him. And…it’s non toxic. I saw it online somewhere….I’ll see if I can find the exact recipe. I just keep a spray bottle out there and everytime I think about it…I spray the area lightly with a mist of hell broth. This might help along with the chicken wire. Also..I know there are plants that deter cats as well. I dont’ remember what they are called…but they usually sell them at nurseries and they usually have little stakes in them saying “Cat AWAY!” Or something like that. It might be worth a look.
Posted by: Stephanie
I had this problem when I lived in downtown Seattle with 5000 cats per block!
I used 2 things to get rid of the cats i the garden…chicken wire and red pepper flakes sprinkled all over the areas chicken wire didn’t work real well. Mind you the next year, I was pulling little pepper plants, but they did seem to work.
I waited a year and then added a bunch of stuff to the garden (like small dump trunk amount) and started up again.
I currently don’t have this issue…because I have a house full of Jack Russells that view cats as prey. No cat ever strays into my yard.
Amy
Posted by: Amy
Yep, you must take all that soil out and begin again. Even when doing the 4X4 raised bed ala square foot gardening (which is the method I use) I would pplan and make a chicken wire ‘fence’ to fit around the outside of the beds. It doesn’t need to be very high at all and then make a chickn wire lid to fit over the top. You can then continue to use it after you have planted (who knows if the *&%#$*$ cats will STILL got between your plants to potty!
Posted by: knittingnurse
After you frog the garden, a thought about how to prevent future cat problems. Aluminum foil. My cats used to want to sleep in my baby’s crib (before she arrived and made all that noise, that took care of that). I read that cats hate aluminum foil–the texture or the noise it makes when they walk on it.) I lined the crib with it for a week or two, that’s all it took to keep them out for good. You might want to line your beds for a little while just to deter them before investing in planting.
Posted by: Megan
Agree with the start over comments. We had a huge problem with this and did two things. First, we invited my friend’s cat-hating Australian Shepherd over for a “yard tour” several times a week. He marked out the perimeters and we saw an immediate drop in “traffic”.
Then we installed chicken wire, which worked okay, but what worked wonders was a bunch of shishkabob sticks (cut into pieces a few inches long) and stuck into the beds at regular intervals. Apparently, all the cats in our neighborhood have delicate behinds and they decided not to risk it.
They also sell predator urine (or something that smells like it) at garden stores, and that also seemed to help. I can dig up the name of the product if you want it.
Good luck!
Posted by: Alyssa
Hmmm…we have a rule in our kitchen that goes something like “when in doubt, don’t eat it”. I think that would apply here. I think it is also like that little nagging suspicion that something is wrong with your lace knitting and you ignore it and later it is a huge glaring error but by then it is too late. The fence we built last year around our garden with chicken wire and posts helped quite a bit with keeping things out of our garden (bunnies). You need a post digger though and probably two strong guys. A manual post digger will do the trick just fine.
Posted by: Knittripps
I love our cats, but they can be bad for plants. If cats pee in your garden, there is no way the plants will survive. In my opinion as a gardener and cat owner, you need to get new garden soil, fence around the garden plots, and put some wire over the top of the soil for good measure. Cat are great jumpers. Good luck!
Posted by: Kathy
So I’m one of those jerks who lets her cat roam outside. It seems counter-intuitive, but that actually prevents the problem. Cats are very territorial and it is easier to deal with one cat with a couple of preferred litter spots than the entire neighborhood. I have vast amounts of rosemary that I use for mulch, and that does seem to deter cats and squirrels. I did have to lay chicken wire down in one spot. I mitered the corners and bent the sides to provide several inches of clearance between the ground and top.
Posted by: Andi
After you frog the garden, a thought about how to prevent future cat problems. Aluminum foil. My cats used to want to sleep in my baby’s crib (before she arrived and made all that noise, that took care of that). I read that cats hate aluminum foil–the texture or the noise it makes when they walk on it.) I lined the crib with it for a week or two, that’s all it took to keep them out for good. You might want to line your beds for a little while just to deter them before investing in planting.
Posted by: Megan
Agree with the start over comments. We had a huge problem with this and did two things. First, we invited my friend’s cat-hating Australian Shepherd over for a “yard tour” several times a week. He marked out the perimeters and we saw an immediate drop in “traffic”.
Then we installed chicken wire, which worked okay, but what worked wonders was a bunch of shishkabob sticks (cut into pieces a few inches long) and stuck into the beds at regular intervals. Apparently, all the cats in our neighborhood have delicate behinds and they decided not to risk it.
They also sell predator urine (or something that smells like it) at garden stores, and that also seemed to help. I can dig up the name of the product if you want it.
Good luck!
Posted by: Alyssa
Hmmm…we have a rule in our kitchen that goes something like “when in doubt, don’t eat it”. I think that would apply here. I think it is also like that little nagging suspicion that something is wrong with your lace knitting and you ignore it and later it is a huge glaring error but by then it is too late. The fence we built last year around our garden with chicken wire and posts helped quite a bit with keeping things out of our garden (bunnies). You need a post digger though and probably two strong guys. A manual post digger will do the trick just fine.
Posted by: Knittripps
I love our cats, but they can be bad for plants. If cats pee in your garden, there is no way the plants will survive. In my opinion as a gardener and cat owner, you need to get new garden soil, fence around the garden plots, and put some wire over the top of the soil for good measure. Cat are great jumpers. Good luck!
Posted by: Kathy
So I’m one of those jerks who lets her cat roam outside. It seems counter-intuitive, but that actually prevents the problem. Cats are very territorial and it is easier to deal with one cat with a couple of preferred litter spots than the entire neighborhood. I have vast amounts of rosemary that I use for mulch, and that does seem to deter cats and squirrels. I did have to lay chicken wire down in one spot. I mitered the corners and bent the sides to provide several inches of clearance between the ground and top.
Posted by: Andi
I would frog it, and put up a fence. Chicken wire would do, stapled to small posts. The cats and bunnies and deer (don’t forget the deer) will not care a hoot about grids!
Posted by: anna
So, welcome to Portland. For being such an environmentally conscious area, it’s hard to believe they have such disrespect for not only their neighbors but the birds and other small wildlife that’s effected by releasing their non-native pets into the area.
We moved into our first house here a year and a half ago, and thought we could just scare the cats out of our garden(s) by shouting and clapping our hands at them. They like to go right under our bedroom window as well as the vegetable garden. I got some sand which was mixed with coyote pee to sprinkle around the area (not ON the garden), and that only worked for as long as it took the rain to wash it away.
My garden is one of the “square foot” gardens with the grid – the grid did nothing to deter the cats on its own. We finally graduated to mouse traps (no bait, you just want them jumpy enough to not want to walk through) set throughout the garden. That worked the best – every now and then I would find a mouse trap that’d been set off (no one walked – or ran – away with it). After a week or so, we stopped finding poo in the garden. Every now and then a new family moves in and a new cat has to learn that our yard is not its potty. Good luck with whatever method you choose to use…
Posted by: Sue
You already know you have to scoop all that contaminated soil out of there and throw it away. Then go to Cedar Grove (see: http://www.enviromom.com/2007/04/buy_local_cedar.html) and get some good soil and dump it in your bed. Yeah. Sorry. You can then congratulate yourself on getting it over and done BEFORE June, when it would break your heart.
Then get some of that netting that goes over fruit trees to deter birds. You can garden through it more easily than through chicken wire because the squares are bigger and flexible. Cats hate the stuff. OR
Run a classified ad (Craig’s List? to do outside daycare for a small or medium dog. Seriously. Many, many working people would jump at the chance to have their dog hang in a backyard where sometimes a little kid was around and also an Italian greyhound. You still have the one, yes? You wouldn’t do anything but provide the yard. A covered deck or dog house (set it right by the garden) would work fine. Figure a middle-aged dog (4 years+), well socialized. Cats will smell the dog and won’t be so eager to frequent your yard even at night.
– Catherine
WSU Extension Certified Master Gardener
Dog Rescue Veteran
Posted by: Catherine
oh bugger. you’re probably doomed (sorry). i used to have this tiny little garden where we didn’t even try to grow vegetables, just some flowers, and the cats (our own!!) weren’t even deterred by the pointy-shishkebab sticks. the best bet would probably be a. start over and b. fence the whole thing in in chicken wire, with a chicken wire lid.
i think i wouldn’t throw away the plants, though, just rinse them thoroughly and plant them in new soil. and my dad would laugh at me for being a terribly sentimental person – he’s a ruthless pruner and away-thrower, even if he does have a real green thumb.
cats. monsters, they are. and i say this as a life-long cat person.
Posted by: marrije
Your posts had been making me–also in Oregon–want a garden. But I didn’t even think about the damn cats. I don’t even have a garden and they love my yard. Oh well! Here’s a link to the products some people have mentioned. I haven’t tried them because they’re rather expensive. http://www.contech-inc.com/products/
Posted by: Alison
I would frog it, and put up a fence. Chicken wire would do, stapled to small posts. The cats and bunnies and deer (don’t forget the deer) will not care a hoot about grids!
Posted by: anna
So, welcome to Portland. For being such an environmentally conscious area, it’s hard to believe they have such disrespect for not only their neighbors but the birds and other small wildlife that’s effected by releasing their non-native pets into the area.
We moved into our first house here a year and a half ago, and thought we could just scare the cats out of our garden(s) by shouting and clapping our hands at them. They like to go right under our bedroom window as well as the vegetable garden. I got some sand which was mixed with coyote pee to sprinkle around the area (not ON the garden), and that only worked for as long as it took the rain to wash it away.
My garden is one of the “square foot” gardens with the grid – the grid did nothing to deter the cats on its own. We finally graduated to mouse traps (no bait, you just want them jumpy enough to not want to walk through) set throughout the garden. That worked the best – every now and then I would find a mouse trap that’d been set off (no one walked – or ran – away with it). After a week or so, we stopped finding poo in the garden. Every now and then a new family moves in and a new cat has to learn that our yard is not its potty. Good luck with whatever method you choose to use…
Posted by: Sue
You already know you have to scoop all that contaminated soil out of there and throw it away. Then go to Cedar Grove (see: http://www.enviromom.com/2007/04/buy_local_cedar.html) and get some good soil and dump it in your bed. Yeah. Sorry. You can then congratulate yourself on getting it over and done BEFORE June, when it would break your heart.
Then get some of that netting that goes over fruit trees to deter birds. You can garden through it more easily than through chicken wire because the squares are bigger and flexible. Cats hate the stuff. OR
Run a classified ad (Craig’s List? to do outside daycare for a small or medium dog. Seriously. Many, many working people would jump at the chance to have their dog hang in a backyard where sometimes a little kid was around and also an Italian greyhound. You still have the one, yes? You wouldn’t do anything but provide the yard. A covered deck or dog house (set it right by the garden) would work fine. Figure a middle-aged dog (4 years+), well socialized. Cats will smell the dog and won’t be so eager to frequent your yard even at night.
– Catherine
WSU Extension Certified Master Gardener
Dog Rescue Veteran
Posted by: Catherine
oh bugger. you’re probably doomed (sorry). i used to have this tiny little garden where we didn’t even try to grow vegetables, just some flowers, and the cats (our own!!) weren’t even deterred by the pointy-shishkebab sticks. the best bet would probably be a. start over and b. fence the whole thing in in chicken wire, with a chicken wire lid.
i think i wouldn’t throw away the plants, though, just rinse them thoroughly and plant them in new soil. and my dad would laugh at me for being a terribly sentimental person – he’s a ruthless pruner and away-thrower, even if he does have a real green thumb.
cats. monsters, they are. and i say this as a life-long cat person.
Posted by: marrije
Your posts had been making me–also in Oregon–want a garden. But I didn’t even think about the damn cats. I don’t even have a garden and they love my yard. Oh well! Here’s a link to the products some people have mentioned. I haven’t tried them because they’re rather expensive. http://www.contech-inc.com/products/
Posted by: Alison
You have to switch out the soil. Sorry, but you’re going to be eating those veggies. We have many neighborhood cats and as such have rigged a very annoying (to us) system of chicken wire fencing. The cats can’t get in. You have to be very tenacious and place the chicken wire fencing with about 2″ horizonally on the ground, folding it at the spot where the garden starts, and making it at least 3 feet high. Then, use zip ties for any small opening. For the main opening — the one you’ll walk through, use a long, thin piece of bamboo or rebar or something and weave it in and out of the chicken wire for a makeshift door.
Posted by: LeAnne
motion activated sprinklers are the bomb. They make big ones for scaring away deer (and humans) and smaller ones for cats and raccoon.
The only problem might be that kids of a certain toddling age find them really funny…so watch out for Thumper trampling the garden to make the sprinkler “go”.
Posted by: lyssa
Frog it, frog it, frog it. Bad things can definitely happen (way worse than having your 6’4” partner try your sweater on and still have it be too big). My mum’s had luck with red pepper flakes / cayenne. Good luck!
Posted by: Cath
My cats can’t stand oregano (it’s the only way I could keep them away from my indoor parsley plants!) and I am pretty sure that cats and mice both hate tansy and somewhere in my brain marigolds also come to mind. Not sure if tansy is little-kid friendly, though.
Good luck!
Posted by: Heather G.
Unfortunately, I think you already know you have to start over.
For future try this:
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=2=10302=2,51555
or something similar. The Cat Scat Mat is just flexible stakes – I’d say use bamboo stakes, but I’d hate to see Thumper playing around them – they could be dangerous, Something flexible and pointy that will make the garden uncomfortable for the beasts is the key.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Sandra
You have to switch out the soil. Sorry, but you’re going to be eating those veggies. We have many neighborhood cats and as such have rigged a very annoying (to us) system of chicken wire fencing. The cats can’t get in. You have to be very tenacious and place the chicken wire fencing with about 2″ horizonally on the ground, folding it at the spot where the garden starts, and making it at least 3 feet high. Then, use zip ties for any small opening. For the main opening — the one you’ll walk through, use a long, thin piece of bamboo or rebar or something and weave it in and out of the chicken wire for a makeshift door.
Posted by: LeAnne
motion activated sprinklers are the bomb. They make big ones for scaring away deer (and humans) and smaller ones for cats and raccoon.
The only problem might be that kids of a certain toddling age find them really funny…so watch out for Thumper trampling the garden to make the sprinkler “go”.
Posted by: lyssa
Frog it, frog it, frog it. Bad things can definitely happen (way worse than having your 6’4” partner try your sweater on and still have it be too big). My mum’s had luck with red pepper flakes / cayenne. Good luck!
Posted by: Cath
My cats can’t stand oregano (it’s the only way I could keep them away from my indoor parsley plants!) and I am pretty sure that cats and mice both hate tansy and somewhere in my brain marigolds also come to mind. Not sure if tansy is little-kid friendly, though.
Good luck!
Posted by: Heather G.
Unfortunately, I think you already know you have to start over.
For future try this:
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=2=10302=2,51555
or something similar. The Cat Scat Mat is just flexible stakes – I’d say use bamboo stakes, but I’d hate to see Thumper playing around them – they could be dangerous, Something flexible and pointy that will make the garden uncomfortable for the beasts is the key.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Sandra
Oh, chica, I’m sorry, but yeah, you’re going to have to start over. Better now, though. It’s still super early and you have plenty of time to replant and get things ready.
Use chicken wire and pepper flakes to keep them away. When the plants start getting bigger, spray them with a mixture of water and cayenne pepper. It burns their little noses and paws and teaches them to stay away. Cats aren’t big fans of citrus, so some peels or lemongrass oil is supposed to help. I never tried the citrus thing, but I can attest to the cayenne pepper trick. Just be careful if the little one is helping you in the garden. Good luck!
Posted by: Sharon
yes.
When I was growing up my mom would lay bricks out in the larger areas – the smaller the “free” spaces (ie without plants) the less likely they were to dig and poop. Chickenwire is a good alternative, as is a hearty black plastic with holes cut out for seedlings. (I can’t find a link to what I’m referring to, but it helps with early plantings because it warms the soil at the same time…)
Does your dog get a chance to run around in the yard and “claim” it as “taken” space? We never had cat problems until our family feline died – then the neighborhood cats moved in on the “free” territory. Perhaps letting your dog (who’s name I cannot recall, much to my dismay) run around outside will help them to realize it’s not a garden up for grabs.
(I’m doing all I can to keep my cats inside, but one of them has escaped several times. She doesn’t go very far, but the look in her eyes is nothing but determined when I come and go and/or get the mail.)
Posted by: Kristen
Would it be feasible to put in a little greenhouse for yourself? Then you could grow things in the cooler months, too?
Posted by: Heather
I have no advice because I am not a gardener (and it looks like you’ve got plenty of good advice from everybody else), but I just wanted to weigh in with some sympathy. Sheesh, what a pain.
Never thought about it before, but it makes me glad my feline has always been an indoor girl.
Posted by: Lizbon
I echo pretty much all of the above comments – you should replace the soil if you plan to eat what comes out of the ground.
As for deterring the little monsters, you can use products available at your local garden centre (chemical products, generally), or I’ve seen little metal cut-out cats with reflective eyes. You put them in the garden, and cats think you’ve already got a cat in the yarn and slink off. Your yard is already claimed as another cat’s territory. I don’t know how well this works, but it may be worth a shot in conjunction with the other barrier methods. We used a product on the garden (just a flowerbed arrangement, no food plants) which worked wonders, but I don’t know that I’d want that stuff on my food plants.
Posted by: Jen
Too bad I don’t live closer. I would let you borrow my dogs. They will kill a cat if it gets in the yard and my husband doesn’t get out there in the first 5 minutes after they have found it. Of course, this has happened twice in the middle of the night and last time he didn’t get there.
Other than that the best thing I can come up with is to put an electric wire on the perimeter of your yard at the top of the fence (much, much higher than the child). One bad thing about that is if a cat manages to get through that they might not be able to get out of the yard.
I have read that they don’t like the herb rue. Or coffee grounds, blood meal, cayenne pepper, lavendar oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil or eucalypus oil.
Definitely replace the soil —- ewwwww
Posted by: theresa
Oh, chica, I’m sorry, but yeah, you’re going to have to start over. Better now, though. It’s still super early and you have plenty of time to replant and get things ready.
Use chicken wire and pepper flakes to keep them away. When the plants start getting bigger, spray them with a mixture of water and cayenne pepper. It burns their little noses and paws and teaches them to stay away. Cats aren’t big fans of citrus, so some peels or lemongrass oil is supposed to help. I never tried the citrus thing, but I can attest to the cayenne pepper trick. Just be careful if the little one is helping you in the garden. Good luck!
Posted by: Sharon
yes.
When I was growing up my mom would lay bricks out in the larger areas – the smaller the “free” spaces (ie without plants) the less likely they were to dig and poop. Chickenwire is a good alternative, as is a hearty black plastic with holes cut out for seedlings. (I can’t find a link to what I’m referring to, but it helps with early plantings because it warms the soil at the same time…)
Does your dog get a chance to run around in the yard and “claim” it as “taken” space? We never had cat problems until our family feline died – then the neighborhood cats moved in on the “free” territory. Perhaps letting your dog (who’s name I cannot recall, much to my dismay) run around outside will help them to realize it’s not a garden up for grabs.
(I’m doing all I can to keep my cats inside, but one of them has escaped several times. She doesn’t go very far, but the look in her eyes is nothing but determined when I come and go and/or get the mail.)
Posted by: Kristen
Would it be feasible to put in a little greenhouse for yourself? Then you could grow things in the cooler months, too?
Posted by: Heather
I have no advice because I am not a gardener (and it looks like you’ve got plenty of good advice from everybody else), but I just wanted to weigh in with some sympathy. Sheesh, what a pain.
Never thought about it before, but it makes me glad my feline has always been an indoor girl.
Posted by: Lizbon
I echo pretty much all of the above comments – you should replace the soil if you plan to eat what comes out of the ground.
As for deterring the little monsters, you can use products available at your local garden centre (chemical products, generally), or I’ve seen little metal cut-out cats with reflective eyes. You put them in the garden, and cats think you’ve already got a cat in the yarn and slink off. Your yard is already claimed as another cat’s territory. I don’t know how well this works, but it may be worth a shot in conjunction with the other barrier methods. We used a product on the garden (just a flowerbed arrangement, no food plants) which worked wonders, but I don’t know that I’d want that stuff on my food plants.
Posted by: Jen
Too bad I don’t live closer. I would let you borrow my dogs. They will kill a cat if it gets in the yard and my husband doesn’t get out there in the first 5 minutes after they have found it. Of course, this has happened twice in the middle of the night and last time he didn’t get there.
Other than that the best thing I can come up with is to put an electric wire on the perimeter of your yard at the top of the fence (much, much higher than the child). One bad thing about that is if a cat manages to get through that they might not be able to get out of the yard.
I have read that they don’t like the herb rue. Or coffee grounds, blood meal, cayenne pepper, lavendar oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil or eucalypus oil.
Definitely replace the soil —- ewwwww
Posted by: theresa
Having seen, in my professional life, the consequences to a child whose mother contracted toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you definitely would not want to take any chances with that.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
We just moved into a house with a very neglected garden which we are hpoing to have raised vegetable beds in – however there is cat poop everywhere (both neighbours have cats) so I know how you feel.
In our old house the flower beds were full of cat poop until I totally filled them with plants (no room for cats to scratch).
I reckon start again with the soil and then cover with chicken wire / use lemon or citronella oil as well until the plants are covering the ground and then there should be no problem as the soil will not be exposed.
Unless you deter them as my boyfriend says – you are just cleaning the toilet for them!
Good luck.
Posted by: Zoe
We have the same problem with domestic and wild cats in FL. Also with rabbits and deer that like to eat the plants. We have 2 huge gardens all year long. My husband finally put a simple wire fence around the garden with a rigged side that opens. This has kept the pesky #@$*(@#*$(@# cats and other animals out.
Go ahead and change the soil. The ammonia will kill just about everything and get your PH out of balance. It is very hard to correct that.
Posted by: Sara
tear out the soil. It’s contaminated. It’s not good.
Cat deterrent? dogs. 🙂 Or poison, either way.
I had this happen ALL the time in ALL of my garden boxes. I HATE cats and can’t stand the fact that they think my garden is their litter box. I’ve seen what cat poo does to children who survive the pregnancy and trust me, don’t eat those vegetables. You don’t want anything to do with cats or cat poo when pregnant. It’s simply unsafe.
I don’t know what keeps cats away. The cat next door went away (the neighbors moved), so now our only concern is that our dogs not eat our vegetables before we get to them.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Abbey
All good suggestions, but–just for fun–I can’t help wondering about all the other animals (native and wild) that have been pooping in the dirt of this planet for eons. I know about toxoplaswhatsis and that cat pee stinks, but…what about skunk poo? Raccoon, possum, bunny? Garden dirt is outside. I routinely put well-composted chicken droppings on my vegetable beds. (Maybe the “well-composted” part of that is what makes it okay, I dunno.) Of course, kitty poo is not for composting.
Not that you shouldn’t start your garden over, but I’m just sayin’. And I think the chicken wire might work. Good luck!
Posted by: KristenJ
Having seen, in my professional life, the consequences to a child whose mother contracted toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you definitely would not want to take any chances with that.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
We just moved into a house with a very neglected garden which we are hpoing to have raised vegetable beds in – however there is cat poop everywhere (both neighbours have cats) so I know how you feel.
In our old house the flower beds were full of cat poop until I totally filled them with plants (no room for cats to scratch).
I reckon start again with the soil and then cover with chicken wire / use lemon or citronella oil as well until the plants are covering the ground and then there should be no problem as the soil will not be exposed.
Unless you deter them as my boyfriend says – you are just cleaning the toilet for them!
Good luck.
Posted by: Zoe
We have the same problem with domestic and wild cats in FL. Also with rabbits and deer that like to eat the plants. We have 2 huge gardens all year long. My husband finally put a simple wire fence around the garden with a rigged side that opens. This has kept the pesky #@$*(@#*$(@# cats and other animals out.
Go ahead and change the soil. The ammonia will kill just about everything and get your PH out of balance. It is very hard to correct that.
Posted by: Sara
tear out the soil. It’s contaminated. It’s not good.
Cat deterrent? dogs. 🙂 Or poison, either way.
I had this happen ALL the time in ALL of my garden boxes. I HATE cats and can’t stand the fact that they think my garden is their litter box. I’ve seen what cat poo does to children who survive the pregnancy and trust me, don’t eat those vegetables. You don’t want anything to do with cats or cat poo when pregnant. It’s simply unsafe.
I don’t know what keeps cats away. The cat next door went away (the neighbors moved), so now our only concern is that our dogs not eat our vegetables before we get to them.
Good Luck!
Posted by: Abbey
All good suggestions, but–just for fun–I can’t help wondering about all the other animals (native and wild) that have been pooping in the dirt of this planet for eons. I know about toxoplaswhatsis and that cat pee stinks, but…what about skunk poo? Raccoon, possum, bunny? Garden dirt is outside. I routinely put well-composted chicken droppings on my vegetable beds. (Maybe the “well-composted” part of that is what makes it okay, I dunno.) Of course, kitty poo is not for composting.
Not that you shouldn’t start your garden over, but I’m just sayin’. And I think the chicken wire might work. Good luck!
Posted by: KristenJ
I work in infection control, so here’s my suggestion: ain’t no way to get rid of all the potential pathogens in soil. There are bugs in soil you’ve never even heard of that can do quite a bit of damage to humans, given the right circumstances. Dilute 1/4 C bleach in a gallon of water and use it to wash your veggies. Your veggies will be quite sterile, and you will have nothing to worry about.
Posted by: Lee
any help you need in shoveling out the old stuff, or in the new stuff — k and i can help. you’ve also convinced me that we need to put a grid and perhaps a wire cap on our garden as soon as we fill the planter box so we don’t just repeat your experience. ugh – sorry lady, that’s a total pain in the ass.
Posted by: heather
Although I have no helpful suggestions I know just how you feel. Last year I had MANY flats of seeds started inside my home. My evil bitch-cat left them alone for weeks until they were just ready to go outside, and then dug them all up and peed in several one afternoon while I was at work. Yup.
Posted by: Paula
I am with Lee (though I disagree with soaking your fruits & veggies in a bleach solution as traces of it can remain on the produce and that is no good to ingest). Cat excrement doesn’t really contaminate soil since animal parasites cannot penetrate the plants via roots. It’s only a topical issue and vegetables, if thoroughly washed (I read that a vinegar solution can help purify them), should be fine. Of course, wearing gloves & washing your hands thoroughly is key too, but that’s a no-brainer. What can contaminate soil, however, is lead which does penetrate plants. That may be something to look into. Here, for example. Of course, I have never tested our soil for lead and since I’m a lazy gardener and a lazy person in general, I’ve never done anything to keep cats away from my garden and never had a problem…
Posted by: Tereza
Here is the lead link I mentioned above. The html code didn’t work.
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/lead.html
Posted by: Tereza
I work in infection control, so here’s my suggestion: ain’t no way to get rid of all the potential pathogens in soil. There are bugs in soil you’ve never even heard of that can do quite a bit of damage to humans, given the right circumstances. Dilute 1/4 C bleach in a gallon of water and use it to wash your veggies. Your veggies will be quite sterile, and you will have nothing to worry about.
Posted by: Lee
any help you need in shoveling out the old stuff, or in the new stuff — k and i can help. you’ve also convinced me that we need to put a grid and perhaps a wire cap on our garden as soon as we fill the planter box so we don’t just repeat your experience. ugh – sorry lady, that’s a total pain in the ass.
Posted by: heather
Although I have no helpful suggestions I know just how you feel. Last year I had MANY flats of seeds started inside my home. My evil bitch-cat left them alone for weeks until they were just ready to go outside, and then dug them all up and peed in several one afternoon while I was at work. Yup.
Posted by: Paula
I am with Lee (though I disagree with soaking your fruits & veggies in a bleach solution as traces of it can remain on the produce and that is no good to ingest). Cat excrement doesn’t really contaminate soil since animal parasites cannot penetrate the plants via roots. It’s only a topical issue and vegetables, if thoroughly washed (I read that a vinegar solution can help purify them), should be fine. Of course, wearing gloves & washing your hands thoroughly is key too, but that’s a no-brainer. What can contaminate soil, however, is lead which does penetrate plants. That may be something to look into. Here, for example. Of course, I have never tested our soil for lead and since I’m a lazy gardener and a lazy person in general, I’ve never done anything to keep cats away from my garden and never had a problem…
Posted by: Tereza
Here is the lead link I mentioned above. The html code didn’t work.
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/lead.html
Posted by: Tereza
I’ve been told that cayenne pepper sprinkled liberally around plants will discourage cats. After a rain, the pepper needs to be re-sprinkled. Also, my mother swears by Irish Spring soap as a deterrent for rabbits. She places slices of the soap at the base of the plant. Maybe it would work for cats too.
Posted by: Robin
here’s an article that quotes Washington State Extension Service:
http://www.sacbee.com/165/story/164254.html
And just FYI – whenever you have a gardening question you can generally get good local info from your local extension service (find out where the office is and go by and check them out/or online OR just preface anything you google with the word ‘extension’ and you should get good quality research based information. LOOK – you can go see the new lambs – just 90min away – FIELD TRIP – http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=522=news
Do remember that once the plants cover the soil (and a lot of what you’re planting will do that fairly quickly) it is no longer an attractive litter box. The gutter cap idea sounds like a good one – you’d just cut it into appropriate lengths to lay between your rows.
I think the motion activated sprinkler is probably going to be the most effective AND if you get one of those things that lets you have 2 spigots from 1 you can turn it off when you and the kid are in the garden and easily turn it back on when you leave AND again, as your plants cover the bed, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Posted by: robin
Here’s a link from Cornell. The human health stuff is at the bottom.
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/toxo.html
Also, with Thumper sharing a yard with the dog, please make sure you’re deworming the dog monthly. As a veterinarian I really try to get all dogs living with toddlers dewormed regularly. Just like toxoplasmosis, the risk is small but the consequences can be serious.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/Toxocara_announcement.pdf
And talk to your doctor. He/she may test you for toxoplasma antibodies. If you’ve already been infected at some point in your life, you are very unlikely to become infected again while pregnant.
Posted by: Heather Haakstad
Sorry this is not a comment with a helpful solution, but I must say the thought of you shooting cats with a pellet gun to protect the veggies is absolutely absurd. I just can’t picture it. And I know you love your veggies. Please, people, don’t shoot the cats.
And keep the fragments coming. I feel like I’m back on the couch in Jim’s class.
Posted by: Reyna
YES. It’s a disease easily handled by adults, but the mother’s immune system does not protect the fetus. You totally do not want to risk it.
Chicken wire might have to be a permanent solution, too (if it works). Cats are creatures of habit. Do one bed first – cover the others with plastic – see what solution works before you do them all.
I have cats and I love them, but they are indoors, where I am the only one that has to deal with their poop, and they can’t kill birds. People with outdoor cats make me angry, it’s so irresponsible. Pregnant women should be free to garden in their own yards, and nobody should be forced to deal with strange cat poop! Yuck!
I think you have good farmer’s markets there, so you can take your time with this. 🙂
Posted by: Patti
Hello,
I’ve never posted before… but I’m a fellow knitter and mom of a two month old baby boy. We live on a horse farm and my husband is the director of horticulture. For your future gardens he recommended these two sites to help with the cat problem. Hope they help. Leslie
http://www.gardeners.com/
http://www.spray-n-grow.com/
Posted by: Leslie
I’ve been told that cayenne pepper sprinkled liberally around plants will discourage cats. After a rain, the pepper needs to be re-sprinkled. Also, my mother swears by Irish Spring soap as a deterrent for rabbits. She places slices of the soap at the base of the plant. Maybe it would work for cats too.
Posted by: Robin
here’s an article that quotes Washington State Extension Service:
http://www.sacbee.com/165/story/164254.html
And just FYI – whenever you have a gardening question you can generally get good local info from your local extension service (find out where the office is and go by and check them out/or online OR just preface anything you google with the word ‘extension’ and you should get good quality research based information. LOOK – you can go see the new lambs – just 90min away – FIELD TRIP – http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=522=news
Do remember that once the plants cover the soil (and a lot of what you’re planting will do that fairly quickly) it is no longer an attractive litter box. The gutter cap idea sounds like a good one – you’d just cut it into appropriate lengths to lay between your rows.
I think the motion activated sprinkler is probably going to be the most effective AND if you get one of those things that lets you have 2 spigots from 1 you can turn it off when you and the kid are in the garden and easily turn it back on when you leave AND again, as your plants cover the bed, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Posted by: robin
Here’s a link from Cornell. The human health stuff is at the bottom.
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/toxo.html
Also, with Thumper sharing a yard with the dog, please make sure you’re deworming the dog monthly. As a veterinarian I really try to get all dogs living with toddlers dewormed regularly. Just like toxoplasmosis, the risk is small but the consequences can be serious.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/toxocara/Toxocara_announcement.pdf
And talk to your doctor. He/she may test you for toxoplasma antibodies. If you’ve already been infected at some point in your life, you are very unlikely to become infected again while pregnant.
Posted by: Heather Haakstad
Sorry this is not a comment with a helpful solution, but I must say the thought of you shooting cats with a pellet gun to protect the veggies is absolutely absurd. I just can’t picture it. And I know you love your veggies. Please, people, don’t shoot the cats.
And keep the fragments coming. I feel like I’m back on the couch in Jim’s class.
Posted by: Reyna
YES. It’s a disease easily handled by adults, but the mother’s immune system does not protect the fetus. You totally do not want to risk it.
Chicken wire might have to be a permanent solution, too (if it works). Cats are creatures of habit. Do one bed first – cover the others with plastic – see what solution works before you do them all.
I have cats and I love them, but they are indoors, where I am the only one that has to deal with their poop, and they can’t kill birds. People with outdoor cats make me angry, it’s so irresponsible. Pregnant women should be free to garden in their own yards, and nobody should be forced to deal with strange cat poop! Yuck!
I think you have good farmer’s markets there, so you can take your time with this. 🙂
Posted by: Patti
Hello,
I’ve never posted before… but I’m a fellow knitter and mom of a two month old baby boy. We live on a horse farm and my husband is the director of horticulture. For your future gardens he recommended these two sites to help with the cat problem. Hope they help. Leslie
http://www.gardeners.com/
http://www.spray-n-grow.com/
Posted by: Leslie
In France I understand they test for it I wanted to be tested here in the UK, as once got you are supposed to be immune & immune seems a better option to me ! But the UK won’t test. I’ve probably had it parasites are all around us & we have evolved to cope, although some are nastier than others. There is an argument auto immune problems are results of lack of parasites
In France I understand they test for it I wanted to be tested here in the UK, as once got you are supposed to be immune & immune seems a better option to me ! But the UK won’t test. I’ve probably had it parasites are all around us & we have evolved to cope, although some are nastier than others. There is an argument auto immune problems are results of lack of parasites