Preventing cats from sh*tting in my garden?

it really depends. When i moved into a house with 5 cats for neighbours, they used all of my garden, including the lawn! no digging!

if you are puting out seedlings, new plants, disturbing soil in any way, there are shortish sticks you can get from the garden centre that you can snap into short bits and poke into the soil.
old cuttings of shrubs especially rose cuttings put over the freshly dug over,prepared seed bed lovingly sown with brought on seedlings,until they are established will help.

Also a well aimed water pistol, or a dog that reacts to "CATS" worked for me ;D. My god they can move when they want to.

A lot of the time cats do what they do at night, but it will cut down the problem. Remember to wear marigolds when weeding

Had the same problem when we moved to a new area, bloody cats they're not even mine. Anyway i tied all old cd's around the edges of the garden from the bottom branches of trees, put netting down on all exposed beds and therefore can't dig / scratch after they've done their business and bought one of those cat lookalikes from Kleeneze or Betterware and stook that in the garden aswell. Everytime I saw a cat on the street i made a "hissing noise" like a snake which they don't like. You could buy one of those cat repellents which make a high pitched sound to scare them off, and don't forget the high powered hosepipe to water them everytime they are in your garden.

LOL, Shelly,

I was hoping someone else would say this before me, I thought they'd think I was mad ::)

But I have to agree, my mum does this as well, and I thought she was mad. LOL but the laughs on me now, cos it works for her ;D

Our neigbourhood cats seem a bit dim, we leave the hosepipe across the garden and they dont go near it. A freind said they thing its a snake! I think they have been at the wet end once to often.
To protect seeds etc, short sticks or an upside down metal hanging basket. Use tent pegs to secure!

If you have a fence around the perimeter make it difficult for them to climb by attaching string an inch over the top, they can't judge the distance and won't try and jump!

I have the same problem, and it really makes me mad when you run over it with a mower. >:(.
I have found that usage of a catapult makes them get the message that they're not welcome in your garden, but its not too long before they come back.

My best method was obtained from a hilarious scene in 'Cool Hand Luke' in which Paul Newman gets some kids to sprinkle chili powder on the ground to put off some tracker dogs. If you sprinkle chili powder in areas where cats like to mark their scent, and around where they access your garden, they soon back off. I know this worked for my friends mum in Hong Kong. this has also worked for me, for dogs whos owner let them sh*t outside my hedge where I also use the mower. And before any animal rights people start writing in, why dont they have a go at the owners first.
And I do like your comment alared. and incidentaly, there is a Poop scoop area by my house, with a £1000 fine. I think include a bill for a £1000 with the letter would be in order aswell.