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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3514.0. "HELP ! Cat in neighbor's flower bed" by SIOUXI::MURRAY () Wed Apr 11 1990 18:29

    
    I need some help!! 
    
    I have a lovely female cat (Cleo - short for Cleopatra). Cleo loves 
    my neighbor, and my neighbor loves Cleo. However, with spring here, 
    Cleo is digging in my neighbor's garden. The neighbor has asked for some
    help in discouraging Cleo from digging - prior to her planting. The
    fear is that the flowers will be ruined.  Does anyone have any 
    suggestions that will work?  I just don't know what to do!!  
    
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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3514.1Wow! A king sized litterbox, just for me!BOOVX2::MANDILEWed Apr 11 1990 18:5414
    I assume Cleo has found a king sized litterbox?  
    A squirt with the hose once or twice worked for my mom when our
    cats used to "dig" in her garden.
    Or place small cups of mothball crystals throughout the flowerbed.
    Don't sprinkle them directly on the ground, as they will kill
    the flowers & plants.  The smell should discourage her and she
    will find a better smelling place to dig.  Those sprays you can
    buy like "Boundary" or things to hang on bushes were useless when
    we tried them. The spray takes their breath away, but my cats would
    go through it anyway. 
    
    L-
    
    They *adore* fresh dirt!!!
3514.2CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.Wed Apr 11 1990 19:019
    Mothballs are poisonous to cats.  Perhaps the problem won't be as
    bad as your neighbor thinks;  I have occasional "holes" in my garden
    where one of the neighbor kitties has gone, but it's no big deal.
    Plants aren't uprooted, just dirt displaced.
    
    Your neighbor probably wears gloves when she gardens anyway. (besides,
    this is the time of year to spread manure all over the garden, and, I mean,
    really, after that....)
    
3514.3achoooooooPARITY::DENISEAnd may the traffic be with youWed Apr 11 1990 20:544
    
    
               the ol' powdered cayenne trick would work, if she really
               gets to be a problem.
3514.4FILTON::GLOVER_PAnd you've looked in the mirror?Thu Apr 12 1990 13:078
    """""""""< Note 3514.2 by CIRCUS::KOLLING "Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca." >


    Mothballs are poisonous to cats."""""""
    
    HAHAHAHAHA.....At last, you understand my problem...:-)
    
    Phil Mb+Tb+Lm.
3514.5one technique - general warningFORTSC::WILDEAsk yourself..am I a happy cow?Thu Apr 12 1990 14:3729
RE: digging problem.

Buy your neighbor some chicken wire.  Bury that in the garden area, laid
flat, under approx. 2 - 3 inches dirt.  Let the cat try digging in the
garden.  The chicken wire will interfere with the process enough, in
most cases to discourage a cat from using the garden as a litter box.
Plants can be planted around/through the wire, so there is no worry.
This is a non-toxic solution - it doesn't always work.  If it fails,
you may have to consider restraining your cat or losing your good
relationship with your neighbor.

Just for the record:

Manure used for gardening is sterilized in order to prevent disease
from spreading to humans.  Cat feces are not.  There are several
varieties of worms/parasites that travel with ease from cats and
dogs to the human through skin contact with spore-laden dirt (in
particular, hook worms and tape worms).  The skin always has a few
microscopic cuts/abrasions on it - all that is required for infection.

Remember to use good gloves when digging in the dirt in your yard.  
Even if you do keep your pets in good health and restrained from 
wandering (thereby preventing them from comming in contact with 
infected feces or dirt), the odds are very good that your neighbors 
do not.

It is also wise to make sure you and your family members always wear
shoes when outside.  A very common method for people to get parasites
is through the soles of their bare feet.
3514.6Yes, but.......BOOVX2::MANDILEThu Apr 12 1990 17:407
    Re .2 - Most plants are poisonous to cats, too. 
    Maybe she could try putting the mothballs in old nylon
    socks and hang them around the garden instead.  
    
    A little hemlock, anyone? :-)
    
    L-
3514.7CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313Thu Apr 12 1990 18:506
    Someone once said that cats don't like coffee grounds or orange
    peels.  Can anyone verify this?
    
    The mothballs could work if you enclose them in a container that
    will allow only the smell out.
      Nancy DC
3514.8SUBURB::ODONNELLJTue Apr 17 1990 13:355
    I've heard the one about the orange peel, too, and Oliver certainly
    hates the smell.
    We have been telling the neighbours to chuck water over him if they 
    object to his using their gardens as a public convenience, and we've
    had no complaints so far.
3514.9SASE::MORRISTue Apr 17 1990 15:245
    I tried the orange peels to try to keep my two out of the Christmas
    tree - didn't work.  Maybe others have had better luck...
    
    Paula M.
    
3514.10Update on CleoSIOUXI::MURRAYFri Apr 20 1990 18:4512
    My neighbor has since put moth balls around her flower bed!  Yesterday
    she had fresh mulch spread around some of her planting bed and all 
    around her shrubs.  Cleo seems to be staying closer to home lately,
    but she might just be 'tired of cruising around'...and taking a
    break.  
    
    Thanks for all of the suggestions thus far.  I think the next step
    is to visit the neighbor again to see if there is still a problem -
    or was it a short-term thing.  I'll try to keep you all posted..
    
    Thanks again,
    Nancy
3514.11EN::TRACHMANExotic Babies are soooo CuteFri Apr 20 1990 20:274
    I hope the cats don't eat the moth balls - they are very
    unhealthy for cats, from what I hear.
    
    E.