New Potatoes- cat mess problem

valleysaver

Morning all,

I have my own plot in which I have grown my new potatoes on. They are ready for harvesting now but the only problem is that I am concerned about the food safety off the potatoes.

The problem is that next doors cat have used my veg patch as its own personal toilet several times. I have got rid of the cat's mess :mad: every time, I was hoping someone could advise if there was a potential health risk or if my batch of potatoes would still be fine to harvest.

Obliviously the cats have only done their mess on the surface but does this cause problems for the produce?

Has anyone else had similar problems?

Any information would be appreciated

Thanks,

Vallysaver.

thescouselander

Sorry to hijack the thread. I also have problems with cats pooing in my garden continuously. If anyone knows how to stop them I'd love to know.

valleysaver

Ive tried various things like Citrus peel, cat repellers and jeyes fluid; all failed miserably. I really dont mind them coming into the garden but not on my beg patch in which I am growing food for consumption :mad:

Volcano

valleysaver wrote: »

I was hoping someone could advise if there was a potential health risk or if my batch of potatoes would still be fine to harvest.

As with all garden produce, make sure you give them a good scrub under the tap and they'll be fine. The high temperatures involved in cooking would kill off any bugs in any case.

This: http://www.thepresentfinder.co.uk/tpf/1306/p/d/garden+pest+repeller+humane+motion+activated+water+spray+deterrent/pid/5572568
Seems like the answer to your cat problems, absolutely superb idea. Keep moving it around your garden to ambush the cats so they leave your garden alone, or just keep it in one place if you want to ensure a patch (such as your potatoes) is left alone.

valleysaver

Okay Thank you Volcano, I will make sure I give my potatoes a good scrub.

As for the http://www.thepresentfinder.co.uk/tp...nt/pid/5572568,
this may be a wise and humane investment :beer:

thescouselander

Volcano wrote: »

As with all garden produce, make sure you give them a good scrub under the tap and they'll be fine. The high temperatures involved in cooking would kill off any bugs in any case.

This: http://www.thepresentfinder.co.uk/tpf/1306/p/d/garden+pest+repeller+humane+motion+activated+water+spray+deterrent/pid/5572568
Seems like the answer to your cat problems, absolutely superb idea. Keep moving it around your garden to ambush the cats so they leave your garden alone, or just keep it in one place if you want to ensure a patch (such as your potatoes) is left alone.

That looks pretty good, thanks!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Or, chop back a few brambles and strew them over the particularly popular spots (or where your salad crops grow). Cats don't like it, for some reason.

greenbee

I think this query would probably do better on the Greenfingered board rather than the Green & Ethical board... other gardeners might be more useful than the eco-[STRIKE]worriers[/STRIKE] warriors over here

Volcano

greenbee wrote: »

I think this query would probably do better on the Greenfingered board rather than the Green & Ethical board... other gardeners might be more useful than the eco-[STRIKE]worriers[/STRIKE] warriors over here

If you have any better advice than that offered here, feel free to enlighten us. If not.......:rolleyes:

singlehouseholder

I had same problems with cats and have found wooden smartprice BBQ skewers to be effective, just put them in ground randomly at a height to deter cats but not poke a hedgehogs eye out!The cats like to pad the ground before they do a poo, and just the shock of the stick sents them a scurrying. Please don't think me cruel I just want to be able to eat what I've grown from seed and tended to daily. I have tried everything and found this the only thing that works.

belfastgirl23

For a cheap and sometimes fun option you can buy a water pistol