Posted by Judi on October 04, 1999 at 17:40:15:
In Reply to: Re: unwanted cats in the garden posted by Veronica on October 03, 1999 at 10:38:35:
: I haven't had the best success with this problem myself, but I can tell you that ammonia or ammonia based products will make your beds smell more like a litter box. When you clean up after cats inside the house you are always told never to use ammonia because the trace odors are similar to the cats urine. I don't see why it would be any different outside.
: : we're moving into a house where the neighbourhood cats use the garden as a litter box. Does ammonia/water work? do you spray it on the plants or the ground? what about chemical repellants? we appreciate any suggestions or experiences.(not mouse traps. not yet anyway.)thanks.
In general those chemical repellants just don't seem to work on cats. Some people have told me that by spraying a 50/50 solution of lemon juice and water on the soil repels cats. Since the lemon juice is acid you don't want to spray it on your plants. What has worked for me is to lay down chicken wire on any bare soil in the beds and then to cover it with some mulch, just enough to hide it. Cats can't dig so they will go elsewhere.