cats not wanted in SFG

It seems that some cats have found our garden and decided to use it for their convenience. First I replanted some of my squares for winter crop and used an organic fertilizer and more compost to enrich the soil and that night my newly seeded squares were dug up like something was digging for the prize hidden underneath. So I repaired the holes and replanted the seed, covered the garden box with a bird net and that night another box was dug into and used as a potty box. The owner of that garden box purchased bird net and covered it (we have a community garden in a senior mobile home park and there are many owners for the 20 boxes). That night these cats or cat just dug in another box so we have been setting the cat trap and so far we have removed 3 feral cats but there are more, as we just keep getting new deposits. I found out that some of the residents in the park go against the rules and feed the feral cats so they just keep on doing what cats do. Of the 250 different homes in the park, some of the residents also catch feral cats for different reasons and they get a ride to the animal shelter too, so it seems there will be no end to it until people stop feeding these animals. We started this garden in August of 2010 and fought the cut worm battle Sept and October and now it is a cat battle, not as devastating but nobody wants to grow food in a mine field. A different strategy needs to be taken here but I don't know if it will work or not as people will be people and cats will be cats so the war goes on.

Some months ago another member suggested placing upturned forks into the bed to deter the kitties using the box. something like this but with forks.

I don't know if this will help, but here goes.

Last year, I grew catnip in several large pots which I placed around the edges of my boxes. The intent was to be companion plants, but I got an added and unexpected benefit. The local feral cats were VERY interested in the catnip. They came around my garden quite a bit, and many was the morning I came out to find the pots knocked over... but after the catnip really started growing, nokitty was digging in my beds anymore. They had more interesting things to do in my garden. Apparently kitties don't think of doing their business while in the middle of a catnip freak-out. And while there is a rodent problem in the area, I only saw one sign of a possible problem all year (and that might have been bugs.)

Just look out because catnip IS a mint, and it will freely airseed and invade.

I like the way you think Megan! Trap plants for kitties, brilliant! :idea:

Hi, I happen to see this topic, and I stubled across something on the internet this morning that can be usefull too, so it is not something from my experience. On a dutch website Vreeken's Zaden (klick on the link for a picture) I saw a plant that is supposed to repel (because of the smell of the plant, and according to the writer it doesn't smell that bad for humans, but other people could have another opinion on this) cats, dogs, hares, rabbits, fox and marten. The plant is called Scardy Cat Plant (Coleus canina), and if I looked carefully at it, it is not the same thing as catnip, but correct me if I am wrong.

I must say, camprn, it looks a bit like your growing spoons instead of vegtables

Chicken wire cage with a top. It's in Mel's book. Very effective against cats, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, birds, etc.

Ok it's me again and the the digging goes on any where the garden is not protected. The traps (2) are out but no takers, they are getting smarter I guess. Now other gardeners are putting nets and covers of different material on their garden box. I gotta tell you what I did to get even with the cat digging and dropping here. I put four mouse traps in the recently used box and covered them up so you couldn't see them, I really wanted to sting a foot but that hasn't even worked, I tell you they know it's a game and they are winning. Now it is kinda like a chess game, your move