Garden has become a cat litter

gabbro86

Hi all,

We've been living in our house for 4 and a half years. We have a pretty small 50 sq.ft. rear garden, which we've left to itself pretty much... I cut the grass every couple weeks from May to September, but that's pretty much the extent of the maintenance.

Our two cats started ignoring the indoor cat litter about two years ago and started using the garden for their needs. This has not been much of a problem historically... up until now: our son is starting to walk and I'm guessing in a couple months he'll want to go play in the garden! We of course don't want (and wouldn't be able to) keep him out of the grass, so we need ideas on what to do... should we just remove the whole top layer of soil and plant new grass? Is there any grass that would be "cat-repellent"? We really don't want anything synthetic so that's not an option. Also, how would we keep the cats out of it after we've done the work? Anyone have any experience with this?

CurlySue2017

gabbro86 said:

Hi all,

We've been living in our house for 4 and a half years. We have a pretty small 50 sq.ft. rear garden, which we've left to itself pretty much... I cut the grass every couple weeks from May to September, but that's pretty much the extent of the maintenance.

Our two cats started ignoring the indoor cat litter about two years ago and started using the garden for their needs. This has not been much of a problem historically... up until now: our son is starting to walk and I'm guessing in a couple months he'll want to go play in the garden! We of course don't want (and wouldn't be able to) keep him out of the grass, so we need ideas on what to do... should we just remove the whole top layer of soil and plant new grass? Is there any grass that would be "cat-repellent"? We really don't want anything synthetic so that's not an option. Also, how would we keep the cats out of it after we've done the work? Anyone have any experience with this?

Ah the age old question of how to stop cats sh*****g all over your garden.  At least this time it's the owners garden affected, it is usually someone elses!

I have no answer for you OP I'm afraid, myself and my neighbours have been trying to keep other neighbours cats away from our communal garden for years and nothing has worked, it is basically their giant litter tray and it's disgusting. 

My remedy is to shoot water at them whenever I see them, but of course they always come back.

But if you do come across a cat-repellent grass please share, as I am sure it would be very popular

Dustyevsky

The answer is to give the cats a better place to go than a lawn. I have always kept areas under hedges covered with a layer of composted bark or similar, and as it's dry there the cats appreciate the favourable facilities. You'll always get the odd rogue cat or fox that will go on the grass, but if you keep it mowed, that will be easy to spot.

littlemoney

I have problems with foxes and other peoples cats. I keep the grass short and walk around the garden inspecting the grass, all beds and pick up the mess each day. Some mornings it's 8 lots of poo.

Pigeons and magpies also leave big poops are another mess problem which I have to clear up.

Having one problem family in the area who leaves food waste accessible which attracts foxes etc doesn't help. I've have to clear up remains of fox stolen takeaways as well.

Unfortunately the perfect deterrent for cats and other animals is illegal, a shotgun.

Animals establish habits which can be difficult to break after being allowed for 2 years to  mess wherever they want.

MalMonroe

I can't believe some of these hateful comments. 

I love all animals and foxes and cats and anything else is welcome to come poop on my grass if they want to. But they don't, and I live in the countryside. In the case of foxes, I love to see them and they or their ancestors were all probably here years before we humans were - but were pushed out of their natural habitat by guess who? Us. They have fewer and fewer places to go because of humans. And then we persecute them for what we've done. Hideous.

I've owned cats for over 30 years and there have always been cats in the neighbourhoods I've lived in and I've never, ever known one (ever) to use grass as a toilet. Soil, yes. Grass, never. Because they like to dig a hole, do what's necessary and then cover it up. If you've ever known cats who use litter trays, you will know that's true. They won't use grass because it's too difficult for them to dig up. There are easier options (soil).

But our last few cats were indoor cats. And used litter trays. We thought it was safer for them to stay indoors since there are some really weird people out there.

What I'd suggest, OP is that you keep your cats inside for a couple of weeks. That will encourage them to use the litter trays since they won't have any other option and cats are very clean animals, so will use them.  When you do let them go out, ensure that there are a couple of litter trays outside for them to use and they will do. That's how to get your own cats back on track. Cats aren't daft and they can be trained to use a litter tray again, you just have to keep them in for a short time and only give them the option of a litter tray. They'll use it. Unless of course you don't want your cats inside. Which is a shame.

Just keep the grass short and ensure you're with your child in the garden, there really isn't a problem here. It's not as if cats are doing poos all the time. Once a day, if that. Unless they're ill. (And is it really your cats anyway? - because cats don't usually foul their own territory.)

FreeBear

MalMonroe said: I've owned cats for over 30 years and there have always been cats in the neighbourhoods I've lived in and I've never, ever known one (ever) to use grass as a toilet. Soil, yes. Grass, never. Because they like to dig a hole, do what's necessary and then cover it up.

Have (had - PTS last week) a cat that would do her business on the grass and not cover it up. It was her way of saying "my domain" to all the other cats in the neighbourhood.

twopenny

If it's just your cats make sure they are wormed (that's a barrel of laughs!) And inoculated against what you can.
If they live on cat food and are restricted to your garden it's unlikely they will pick up anything. While precautions are very wise the alerts to disease do overstate but also inform.
It's mainly while you have a baby or toddler that you need to be cautious because of a developing immune system so not forever. The crawling, stuffing things in mouths and rubbing eyes.
Retraining and then putting the trays outside sounds like a good idea as does an area off dry bark somewhere out of the way.
I put gravel over the soil my neighbours cats took a liking to. That worked. Would deter small child too.

CurlySue2017

MalMonroe said:

I can't believe some of these hateful comments. 

I love all animals and foxes and cats and anything else is welcome to come poop on my grass if they want to. But they don't, and I live in the countryside. In the case of foxes, I love to see them and they or their ancestors were all probably here years before we humans were - but were pushed out of their natural habitat by guess who? Us. They have fewer and fewer places to go because of humans. And then we persecute them for what we've done. Hideous.

I love animals too, it doesn't mean I want other peoples animals wrecking where I live!  I have my own animals, but I don't allow them to poop on other peoples property.

Foxes were not mentioned at all in the OP or my post.  I love wildlife too so foxes would be welcome, along with any other wildlife. 

Cats are domesticated pets - very different - you can't lump the two together.  In fact, cats are a danger to a lot of wildlife and are part of the cause of the decline in wildlife

I've owned cats for over 30 years and there have always been cats in the neighbourhoods I've lived in and I've never, ever known one (ever) to use grass as a toilet. Soil, yes. Grass, never. Because they like to dig a hole, do what's necessary and then cover it up. If you've ever known cats who use litter trays, you will know that's true. They won't use grass because it's too difficult for them to dig up. There are easier options (soil).

That's great for you, but I assure you that our communal lawn is covered in cat poo.  The old tale of "cats bury their poop" is just that, an old tale.

But our last few cats were indoor cats. And used litter trays. We thought it was safer for them to stay indoors since there are some really weird people out there.

Totally agree.  Keep your pets under control like ALL other pet owners have to

What I'd suggest, OP is that you keep your cats inside for a couple of weeks. That will encourage them to use the litter trays since they won't have any other option and cats are very clean animals, so will use them.  When you do let them go out, ensure that there are a couple of litter trays outside for them to use and they will do. That's how to get your own cats back on track. Cats aren't daft and they can be trained to use a litter tray again, you just have to keep them in for a short time and only give them the option of a litter tray. They'll use it. Unless of course you don't want your cats inside. Which is a shame.

Just keep the grass short and ensure you're with your child in the garden, there really isn't a problem here. It's not as if cats are doing poos all the time. Once a day, if that. Unless they're ill. (And is it really your cats anyway? - because cats don't usually foul their own territory.)

Nothing hateful in my comments at all, as I say I too love animals but roaming cats are a total nightmare

Dustyevsky

littlemoney said:

Unfortunately the perfect deterrent for cats and other animals is illegal, a shotgun.

 I don't think shotguns are illegal, if registered, held under licence and stored securely.

There are certain deterrents in that line, more freely available and less likely to land someone in prison, but if you or others would consider using them on cats, I'd better not say any more!

littlemoney

I don't mind cats and foxes as long as they are not in my garden ruining beds of soft fruit and vegetables that I have worked hard to grow and they now fail to grow or are pooped and peed on.

I grow edible foods to keep costs down and get annoyed when they are made inedible or fail to grow. If a cat lover would come and make my garden cat proof I would welcome them and offer them any surplus I grow.

A shotgun is in jest but I am so frustrated now.

CurlySue2017

littlemoney said:

I don't mind cats and foxes as long as they are not in my garden ruining beds of soft fruit and vegetables that I have worked hard to grow and they now fail to grow or are pooped and peed on.

I grow edible foods to keep costs down and get annoyed when they are made inedible or fail to grow. If a cat lover would come and make my garden cat proof I would welcome them and offer them any surplus I grow.

A shotgun is in jest but I am so frustrated now.

I know what you mean. 

I would never do anything to hurt any animal (including neighbouring pest cats) but it is incredibly frustrating that they are just allowed to roam and ruin other peoples property with no consequences for the owners

There was talk of this changing and the rules on roaming cats being changed, which IMO can't come soon enough