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Non-Tulsa Discussions => Chat and Advice => Topic started by: Ed W on June 17, 2011, 08:22:49 PM

Title: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Ed W on June 17, 2011, 08:22:49 PM
I'm married to a Crazy Cat Lady.  Dunno how it happened.  She wasn't like this when we were younger.  She finally stopped feeding every cat in the neighborhood, but now our neighbor is complaining that the cats are using her flower bed as a litter box.  They're not even our cats! Ours are indoor cats, though in truth they try to escape to a larger world of fun and adventure every now and then.  This leads the Crazy Cat Lady into wandering around the yard in the dark murmuring, "Here Kitty, Kitty!"  That's clearly normal behavior, isn't it?

Anyway, is there a product that will keep cats out of her flower bed?  Anything short of nuclear weapons, anti-personnel mines, and mustard gas, that is?
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: RecycleMichael on June 18, 2011, 12:10:09 AM
Take a bag of oranges and cut them into small pieces and spread around.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Breadburner on June 18, 2011, 01:32:25 AM
Daisy Red Rider....
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: YoungTulsan on June 18, 2011, 03:29:13 AM
Rottweiler
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: nathanm on June 18, 2011, 05:31:04 PM
Quote from: Breadburner on June 18, 2011, 01:32:25 AM
Daisy Red Rider....
You'll put your eye out!  ;)
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Ed W on June 18, 2011, 05:58:23 PM
Quote from: RecycleMichael on June 18, 2011, 12:10:09 AM
Take a bag of oranges and cut them into small pieces and spread around.

Thanks, Michael.  I'll try that.  Any idea how long it remains effective?

...and as for the Daisy Red Ryder...I have a Gamo Compact - tons more accurate and quiet enough to be discrete.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Breadburner on June 18, 2011, 06:46:38 PM
Quote from: Ed W on June 18, 2011, 05:58:23 PM
Thanks, Michael.  I'll try that.  Any idea how long it remains effective?

...and as for the Daisy Red Ryder...I have a Gamo Compact - tons more accurate and quiet enough to be discrete.

Wow....I just wanted to sting them...... ;D
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Ed W on June 18, 2011, 07:27:30 PM
Quote from: Breadburner on June 18, 2011, 06:46:38 PM
Wow....I just wanted to sting them...... ;D

The Compact is only about 400 fps.  That's why it's quiet.  I don't think that flat nosed wadcutter pellets would break the skin, especially on a cat or a dog where the fur would slow it.  But pointed field pellets are another matter.  We've had an occasional rat show up trying to get to the dog's food.  They'll hide under the dog house.  But a field pellet dispatches them cleanly.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: RecycleMichael on June 18, 2011, 10:21:33 PM
Quote from: Ed W on June 18, 2011, 05:58:23 PM
Thanks, Michael.  I'll try that.  Any idea how long it remains effective?

Cats really hate strong citris smell. Lemons would also work. I bet you could even use some lemon scented dish soap from the dollar store.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: sauerkraut on June 19, 2011, 02:16:26 PM
Quote from: YoungTulsan on June 18, 2011, 03:29:13 AM
Rottweiler
Yep, buy a doggie! it works every time. :D
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: nathanm on June 19, 2011, 02:56:15 PM
Quote from: sauerkraut on June 19, 2011, 02:16:26 PM
Yep, buy a doggie! it works every time. :D
LOL, my cats and dogs are inseperable.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: rdj on June 19, 2011, 08:45:34 PM
What about moles?  They are driving me crazy!
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Breadburner on June 19, 2011, 09:26:19 PM
Quote from: rdj on June 19, 2011, 08:45:34 PM
What about moles?  They are driving me crazy!

Kill the grubs...Or trap them...or save a bunch of urine then pour it on the tunnels...
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Townsend on June 19, 2011, 09:55:15 PM
Quote from: Breadburner on June 19, 2011, 09:26:19 PM
Kill the grubs...Or trap them...or save a bunch of urine then pour it on the tunnels...

Finally,  I have a reason.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Conan71 on June 20, 2011, 09:22:36 AM
Quote from: nathanm on June 19, 2011, 02:56:15 PM
LOL, my cats and dogs are inseperable.

My cat is twice the size of my dog.  And yes, they get along just fine.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Gaspar on June 20, 2011, 09:40:20 AM
Quote from: rdj on June 19, 2011, 08:45:34 PM
What about moles?  They are driving me crazy!

Gopher Gassers.  They work and they are fun for the whole family!

(http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/51545894/Gopher_Gasser.jpg)
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: patric on June 20, 2011, 12:53:52 PM
We use CatScat Matts
http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/cat-scat-mats-set-5-reviews
to keep cats out of potted plants and trees, but an entire garden might be difficult to cover.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: rdj on June 21, 2011, 11:16:57 AM
My lawn company suggested using special worms that have pesticide in them.  They were quite expensive. 

How are the gassers?
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: dbacks fan on June 21, 2011, 01:02:12 PM
Quote from: rdj on June 21, 2011, 11:16:57 AM
My lawn company suggested using special worms that have pesticide in them.  They were quite expensive. 

How are the gassers?

They just choke them until they die.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Gaspar on June 21, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
Quote from: rdj on June 21, 2011, 11:16:57 AM
My lawn company suggested using special worms that have pesticide in them.  They were quite expensive. 

How are the gassers?

I always use the gassers.  They have never failed me.  My father swears he can stick a hose down the mole/vole hole and run water until the critter starts to dig out one of the little shafts, then he whacks it with a shovel, but I don't have that kind of patients.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Ed W on June 21, 2011, 04:48:40 PM
Quote from: Gaspar on June 21, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
I always use the gassers.  They have never failed me.  My father swears he can stick a hose down the mole/vole hole and run water until the critter starts to dig out one of the little shafts, then he whacks it with a shovel, but I don't have that kind of patients.

A friend and I tried the water hose method in an effort to dislodge a black snake from under the slab on my patio. Do you know how fast a pissed-off five foot long black snake can move?  Did you know that two middle aged guys can move faster?
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: Red Arrow on June 21, 2011, 09:16:30 PM
Quote from: Gaspar on June 21, 2011, 01:12:31 PM
I always use the gassers.  They have never failed me.  My father swears he can stick a hose down the mole/vole hole and run water until the critter starts to dig out one of the little shafts, then he whacks it with a shovel, but I don't have that kind of patients.

Our yard is like walking on a sponge.  It would take several fire trucks feeding 2-1/2" (diameter) hoses to flood those suckers.
Title: Re: How to keep cats out of a flower bed?
Post by: heironymouspasparagus on June 21, 2011, 09:19:56 PM
Hmmmm...guess the Admin didn't like my comment - it's no longer here.

Well, it may have been a little harsh for a cat lover, anyway....