cat poo in my raised bed

Limey

I had one of these in my garden and they are fantastic:

http://www.stopcatsanddogs.co.uk/STV-Water-Jet-Spray-Blaster-Repeller/17.htm

The jet is remarkably powerful so if your garden's small (like mine) and the spray goes over the fence onto the neighbours laundry you can replace it with a length of hose and a rose sprinkler, this will not only deter the cat but water your plants at the same time. :cool:

Although it has since been replaced with a Staffordshire Bullterrier, who is just as effective.

rabidbun

I now net my beds to four or so foot using FIGO connectors and bamboo canes after other repellants have failed (only takes one cat to ignore it, like a previous poster mentioned ). Am pretty sure one will jump in at the top from a fence or something knowing my luck!

The one bed I haven't netted of the three (it was pooed in year before last so I am not actively growing in it apart from onions and shallots that I had planted before I got pregnant, just to be sure), I have currently covered with flower pots and those metal grills that you get for the plastic blowaway greenhouses. The plants have just grown through them and seem fine. I figured that the cat would hurt its paws if it tried to walk on them, and so far that has worked. I am also using it for some beans and peas that I want to save seed from as well, rather than for eating.

The bed that was pooed in this year was one I had covered with plates (no bare soil). The cat pooed on the plates (which then partly ran onto the soil) so I am not growing in that one at all apart from plants that have gone to seed this year and I will be saving the seed from it. I won't be digging in that soil though.

Although logic says that I should be fine using gloves and still gardening and growing and eating the produce in the beds, I decided against it, as I knew I would worry if I did. I also have not had toxoplasmosis (they tested me for it last time and it came back negative), so have chosen not to put myself at risk in this area. It's not the only place you can catch it from though, so it's all about minimising the risks, and thus worries, of your choice. I do still garden, mainly in containers, but I use tools and gloves and avoid the front garden completely (20 cats in the area, all of whom like digging up the hardcore on the drive, the gravel, the grass and the border to leave their poo, usually unburied).

I can also recommend the soaker that you attach to the hosepipe, but you do have to leave it on regularly to catch the lil blighters!

If you don't feel like eating it at the moment will the beetroot be ok to eat still after you have finished being pregnant ? You could also get someone else to harvest and prep it for you perhaps and then store it frozen and roasted, or pickled, or in some other form so you can eat it after the birth?

Linda_D_2

J_J_Carter wrote: »

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

:rotfl:But it is good fertiliser

gazza975526570

Whilst i understand peoples thoughts cats do go into farmers fields and do exactly the same you know!

I cant see a farmer throwing away grown veg for the sake of some cat poo

As long as you wash the veg i cant see an issue

dickydonkin

For areas where I planted young seedlings, some lengths of carpet 'gripper rods' did the trick although I appreciate I wont be allowed to state that a catapult can me more effective.

a1cat

I imagine a row of traditional sprung mousetraps baited with cat food would nip that nose and deter

cootambear

any mods watching?

WE REALLY DO NEED A CAT S??T AND SLUG CULLING STICKY

and if we`re at it, a strawberry one, to stop me having to dart around

natlie

Ewwwwwwwww have just been out to check my beetroot this morning and there were 6 fresh poops in there - in spite of it having been covered with a frame and zipped cover- they must have lifted the corner of it to get under there????? Makes me think of that cat with thumbs cravendale advert ARGH

I have chucked the poops away but thinking now that I may use these beetroot to make chutneys to sell at xmas time or the harvest market as eating them myself is getting less and less appealing and what you don't know won't hurt you etc! If I eat veg from a farmer which has poop on it at least I have not seen the poop

I have now put a layer of thick insect netting over the veg and under the covers but I imagine they may poo on the cover as most of the poo this morning wasnt even covered! dirty moggies

Enterprise_1701C

I had problems with cats pooping on my lawn. I tried a few things then, despite my misgivings, I bought a sonic deterrant. From the first time it was set up I have had so little cat poop it is now a pleasure walking on my lawn again. I still see cats, but they never hang around. Only problem is that this one is also meant to deter foxes but still seem to get them in the garden. And they dig deeper holes! Mind you, their poop is easier to clear up!