cat poo in my raised bed

natlie

Hi
My neighbours cat had pooped in my beetroot! I saw a disturbed patch today - must have happened yesterday have dug it out but worried now as have children and am pregnant - and I don't know much about toxiplasmosis but am concerned about the remaining beetroot - will it be safe to eat? they have only been in about a month so won't be ready for a while yet
Thanks
Nat

J_J_Carter

You know you'll never be able to enjoy eating those veg without thinking...eurgh!

morg_monster

The most important reassurance is probably that toxo bacteria only develop more than 24 hrs after the poo has been, um, pooed out. This is why frequent litter changes are recommended, fresh poo doesn't pose a risk. So from that point of view it's probably extremely low risk. Additionally not every cat carries toxo and cat owners are no more likely to catch toxo than non cat owners.

Additionally the bacteria (if there is any) is in the soil, not the beetroot, so washing vegetables well so that there's no soil remaining should be enough to remove the remaining risk. Finally you're likely to cook the beetroot, if you do that will kill the bacteria, if any is there. (a quick google suggests 70C is the temperature to kill the bacteria in meat; and that microwaving is not sufficient).

I wouldn't worry too much, it's extremely unlikely you would catch it, but if it stops you stressing & worrying a lot (which is a more real risk to the baby than the threat of toxo!) then don't eat the beetroot :-D simple as!

I'm sure you'll get lots of advice about keeping cats off the garden - what I do with our raised bed is put sticks and garden stakes about 6-8" apart in the beds while seedlings are still small and damageable. If they can't squat comfortably they won't poo. Chilli, lemon, etc don't repel every single cat and have to be reapplied after rain. Ultrasonic devices can irritate kids and also neighbourhood dogs (causing barking). In our garden the sticks stop the local cats from pooing in the raised bed and my cats too.

Scotsbride

chicken wire also works well! as do stones and like other post has said sticks

mrbadexample

Scotsbride wrote: »

as do stones

These are best thrown.

SailorSam

Will the cat go back to the same spot ?
When you move the pooh i think you should wash the ground with water an disinfectant to try and get rid of any smell that might encourage t back.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

For what it's worth, every time I was pregnant I got the toxoplasmosis test as I have always had cats around me and nobody to deal with their nasties, but I have never even come into contact with it.

If you cover the bare soil with various plant cuttings and strimmings, sticks, bits of brambles, dry leaves, the cat isn't likely to want to try again. I actually stuck a bunch of 6 inch twigs at 5 inch intervals in one part of my veggie beds to persuade my mob to use their designated space behind the shed - and it seems to be working.

Where one of mine kept on trying to find a gap, I laid spare trellis over for the time until the plants grew and in extremes, a supersoaker/hosepipe is pretty useful at deterring them from particular areas.

As beetroot is boiled and peeled to eat it, any bacteria left on it would be long gone by the time it is cooked, so I personally don't worry about that kind of thing.



Disinfectant isn't great for the garden - but cats don't like soggy places, so watering well could also discourage them.

Hope that reassures you a bit.

Scotsbride

SailorSam wrote: »

Will the cat go back to the same spot ?
When you move the pooh i think you should wash the ground with water an disinfectant to try and get rid of any smell that might encourage t back.

Don't do this!!!! some disinfectent contain anomia which may actively incourage cats also may be taken up by plant. cats unfortunately will go for fresh dug dirt!

MaggotAJ

My fiances grandma puts plastic bottles full of water in her flower beds and swears that it keeps the cats away. Never tried it myself.

J90BMH

MaggotAJ wrote: »

My fiances grandma puts plastic bottles full of water in her flower beds and swears that it keeps the cats away. Never tried it myself.

Ive heard this aswell!?

Ever wondered why people put bottles on there lawns? You may have been told its to keep cats away and its true. But does it work and how? First of all we must half fill a clear plastic bottle with water .( Its very important to fill half full of water. ) Put lid on and place in the middle of the lawn. If you have a big lawn then put a few about. Leave out and see if it works! Cats are suppose to be scared away by the bottle, but how you ask? It works best at night and if there a breeze. Take a light say from a street lamp, car or one of your windows. This light travels through the bottle and the water which is then reflected away like laser beams in different directions giving off little flashes. The cat sees these flashes and Zap! He's away. There you have it so go out and try it out on your lawn.

GlynD

SailorSam wrote: »

Will the cat go back to the same spot ?
When you move the pooh i think you should wash the ground with water an disinfectant to try and get rid of any smell that might encourage t back.

If a moggy finds a convenient place then he/she will return time and time again. I like the chickenwire option.

Oh, and hide your shovel as well. Some cats are dead crafty