June 21, 2009

Dear Obie,
I don't like cats. I especially don't like my neighbor's cats that are always in my yard, destroying my garden and making a mess in my flower beds. How can I keep cats out of my yard?
Signed, Tom
Shaw, Oregon


Dear Tom,
First off, let's make it clear that cats are not the problem at your house. The problem is your neighbor, who doesn't keep his cats inside. Cats are explorers, and will roam far and wide if they are allowed to wander outside. And we are territorial, using our urine and feces to mark territory. In many cases, this natural tendency causes problems with neighbors who don't appreciate that cats will "do their business" in gardens and flower beds, and then bury it. The fault is not with the cats, who are only doing what comes naturally. So your email to me should have started with, "I don't like my neighbor because he is irresponsible in keeping his cats indoors."

Be that as it may, there are still many cat owners who ignore the myriad dangers lurking out there and allow their cats to run free. So what can a homeowner like Tom do to keep unwanted cats out of his yard? The most important thing to remember is to not use extreme measures, like poison. Not only is it cruel and inhumane to poison a cat, you might also end up poisoning other domestic animals and wildlife, and could potentially poison your neighbor's children! And in many communities, putting down poison is also illegal. Luckily, there are numerous ways to keep cats out of your yard that are humane. So what can you do?

The main goal is to discourage animals from being in your yard or garden, in a humane way. You can plant things that will discourage cats from entering your garden or flower beds, such as rosemary, geraniums, pennyroyal, rue, lavender, garlic, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, and other plants with strong scents that cats don't like. Talk to your local garden center about these types of plants. A friend of mine in Utah uses a mixture of rosemary and water in a plastic spray bottle, which she sprays in her gardens and around the perimeter of her lawn, and she tells me that she has virtually eliminated the problem!

I have also heard that laying chicken wire in your garden helps, because cats do not like walking on chicken wire, and we can not dig through it to bury our "offerings." Lay the chicken wire down before you plant, then use wire cutters to cut openings for your plants. The same concept goes for egg shells and coffee grounds, which, by the way, make great fertilizer! You can also try ground-up pine cones and nut shells, or orange and lemon peels. I would recommend against using mothballs, because they are toxic, and a small child could eat them.

A method used by some people to keep all animals out of their yard is to place a sprinkler on your grass that is hooked-up to a motion sensor. When a cat (or dog or raccoon or squirrel) enters your yard, the sprinkler goes off, soaking the animal and sending it scurrying away. This is called using "cat psychology." Cats do not like water, especially when it hits them unexpectedly. Moving the sprinkler around the yard keeps the animal from learning where it is and circling around it. Plus, it waters your yard and garden! A good commercial system might cost about a hundred dollars, but it's better than being aggravated or doing something that could hurt or kill a neighbor's pet, or put you on the wrong side of the law.

There are commercial cat repellents on the market that work by releasing a scent that cats hate, and most pet supply stores carry them. Spraying them on the places where the cats are doing their business usually keeps them away. Remember, cats have very sensitive noses, and we don't like things that hurt our noses. I've even heard people suggest sprinkling pepper on gardens and flower beds, but I would advise against that. Pepper can cause permanent harm to a cat's eyes.

For those of you who don't really mind having a cat or two visit your yard, but don't want them doing their business in your garden, try planting a patch of catnip in another part of your yard. Not all cats like catnip, but the majority of us do, and they might claim that as their own and leave your other gardens alone. Or put a small sandbox at a far corner of your yard to act as a litter box. Yes, you will have to clean it out, but at least you will know where the feces is located.

Tom, I hope this helps with your concern. And please don't hate the cats for just being cats. We can't help what we are!

Your friend,
Obie

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Happy Father's Day!

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This past Friday, my sister Meeshka debuted her column in the St. George, Utah, Spectrum newspaper! Later this week, after the Spectrum updates their website, her column can be seen by going to thespectrum.com and clicking on "St. George Neighborhoods." Scroll down almost all the way to the bottom of the main page, and "St. George Neighborhoods" will be on the right-hand side of the page.

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"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior."
-Hippolyte Taine - 1828-1893 (French critic and historian)

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Folks, please remember that I am a cat. I am not a vet, or a gardener. Please talk to your vet before making medical decisions for your cat, and please talk to a gardener before attempting to cat-proof your yard!