Keeping Cats Out of Beds!

WLeClair · February 27, 2017

Hi, everyone. We have three cats and they notoriously use our beds (especially the raised ones) for litter boxes -- right after I loosen it up and plant the seedlings, of course. I have tried pest deterrents (I'm currently trying Bonide Repels-All) and none of them have kept them out. Are there any tried and true methods out there? Maybe a sensor sprayer?

brownrexx · February 27, 2017

I would think that the best thing to do would be to place something like chicken wire flat on the surface of the soil to keep them from digging.

Many people think that doing things like sprinkling hot pepper on the soil will keep them out but they will get this on their paws and then when they bathe or rub their eyes later it will burn. They will NOT know where it came from, it will just hurt.

Something that they don't like the smell of might work but I don't know what that would be. Sorry.

hoefarmer · February 27, 2017

Several mousetraps. They generally do not come back after they snap a couple.

Deborah · February 27, 2017

That's a vet bill for an injured paw. And cruel. Shame on you.

AlittleSalt · February 27, 2017

We have both raised beds and a regular garden. Our cats prefer the raised beds too. Last year, I did notice that they quite using the raised beds after we planted out tomatoes and peppers in them - I also used oak leaves as a mulch. That's when they quit using the raised beds as a litter box.

Down_South · February 27, 2017

Motion detector water sprinkler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHYV6nJksw

ddsack · February 27, 2017

I've used pieces of chicken wire weighed down by rocks to keep my cat from digging over freshly planted dahlia rootballs. I remove it when the sprouts start coming up, by that time the cat has lost interest in the spot. Black plastic for mulch could also help.

Worth1 · February 27, 2017

This is complicated but I know it would work.
Get an air compressor and wire the valves to motion detectors.
Then pipe air nozzles to the garden spots.
When the cat or other critter triggers the device it will hiss like a snake.
Guaranteed to run off any critter around.

Worth

My Foot Smells · February 27, 2017

i had some welded wire I put over a few beds and it worked.

brownrexx · February 27, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoefarmer

Several mousetraps. They generally do not come back after they snap a couple.

I can't believe that anyone would even suggest such a cruel thing for an animal just performing a natural bodily function.

Whether you like cats or not is no excuse for such behavior.

BigVanVader · February 27, 2017

Just cover them with burlap/plastic/thick mulch etc. My neighbors cats used to poop in my beds till I started covering them with plastic mulch. Now Idh to worry about it.

Cole_Robbie · February 27, 2017

My mom is a cat-lover and has 6-8 of them at any given time. The last time they left to go out of town, I noticed they left mouse traps on the counters. I asked if they had mice, and she said it was to keep the cats off the counters. So far, so good, regarding cat injuries. It would take a freak event to injure a cat from them, I think. Also, you can bend the bar that snaps down so that it won't close all the way and trap a paw.

Worth1 · February 27, 2017

I read in a dog training book it was also a good way to train dogs the stay out of the trash to put mouse traps in the trash can.

I always had good luck just smacking them on the rear and yelling, NO BAD DOG!!!!
Soon NO BAD DOG is all you need.
Cats can be trained to respond to words to.
Smokey is.

Worth

BigVanVader · February 27, 2017

Unless you have hounds, then you realize resistance is futile and just let em eat the trash if they want. (This is sarcasm)

Worth1 · February 27, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Unless you have hounds, then you realize resistance is futile and just let em eat the trash if they want. (This is sarcasm)

There are several breeds I would never own hounds are one of them.
Stock dogs like border collies are the other.
Not that I dislike them they are what they are and I cant give them what they are bred for.
I have owned both on the farm.
Worth

February 27, 2017	#1
WLeClair Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Bakersfield, CA (zone 8b / 9) Posts: 38	Keeping Cats Out of Beds! Hi, everyone. We have three cats and they notoriously use our beds (especially the raised ones) for litter boxes -- right after I loosen it up and plant the seedlings, of course. I have tried pest deterrents (I'm currently trying Bonide Repels-All) and none of them have kept them out. Are there any tried and true methods out there? Maybe a sensor sprayer?

February 27, 2017	#3
hoefarmer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 110	cats in beds Several mousetraps. They generally do not come back after they snap a couple.

February 27, 2017	#4
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	That's a vet bill for an injured paw. And cruel. Shame on you. __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

February 27, 2017	#6
Down_South Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 93	Motion detector water sprinkler. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHYV6nJksw __________________ ~Aaron

February 27, 2017	#7
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	I've used pieces of chicken wire weighed down by rocks to keep my cat from digging over freshly planted dahlia rootballs. I remove it when the sprouts start coming up, by that time the cat has lost interest in the spot. Black plastic for mulch could also help. __________________ Dee **************

February 27, 2017	#2
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I would think that the best thing to do would be to place something like chicken wire flat on the surface of the soil to keep them from digging. Many people think that doing things like sprinkling hot pepper on the soil will keep them out but they will get this on their paws and then when they bathe or rub their eyes later it will burn. They will NOT know where it came from, it will just hurt. Something that they don't like the smell of might work but I don't know what that would be. Sorry.

February 27, 2017	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	We have both raised beds and a regular garden. Our cats prefer the raised beds too. Last year, I did notice that they quite using the raised beds after we planted out tomatoes and peppers in them - I also used oak leaves as a mulch. That's when they quit using the raised beds as a litter box.

February 27, 2017	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	This is complicated but I know it would work. Get an air compressor and wire the valves to motion detectors. Then pipe air nozzles to the garden spots. When the cat or other critter triggers the device it will hiss like a snake. Guaranteed to run off any critter around. Worth

February 27, 2017	#9
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	i had some welded wire I put over a few beds and it worked.

February 27, 2017	#11
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Just cover them with burlap/plastic/thick mulch etc. My neighbors cats used to poop in my beds till I started covering them with plastic mulch. Now Idh to worry about it.

February 27, 2017	#12
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	My mom is a cat-lover and has 6-8 of them at any given time. The last time they left to go out of town, I noticed they left mouse traps on the counters. I asked if they had mice, and she said it was to keep the cats off the counters. So far, so good, regarding cat injuries. It would take a freak event to injure a cat from them, I think. Also, you can bend the bar that snaps down so that it won't close all the way and trap a paw.