Conference misery::feline

    I solved that problem with my big planters by putting pine
    cones on top of the soil.   For some reason...they don't touch
    the Pine Cones.
    
    Or I also have heard of some folks putting aluminum foil around the
    soil!!!
    
    Good luck..and welcome to the feline file.
    
    Sandy 

    I cut a piece of scrap chicken wire to fit the top of the pot a big fig
    tree is in - that deterred Nebula's digging activities.  It didn't look
    real pretty, so I put the pot in a big basket.  Now I have to deter the
    cats from scratching at the basket!
    
    /Charlotte

    My cat used to do that also - I put layers of newspaper over the soil.
    
    She can't get through the paper and she doesn't like the wetness.
    
    

    I've used the aluminum foil method with good results.  I don't cover
    the entire planter top with it.  I have a couple of 1-1/2 to 2" strips
    across the top.  I had the whole top part covered and started having a
    problem with mildewy smelling dirt.   Now the air can get to the dirt
    and the cat with the plant digging problem is no longer interested.
    
    Jan

    I tried the pinecone method with our Figgaro who just loooves to dig..
    he thinks the plants are there just for him.  It stopped him for about
    a month.... Then he started to pick a pine cone out of the basket,
    carry it to a hardwood floor (more fun than carpet) and proceed to have
    a game of hockey.  We found pinecones all over the house.  So now we're
    back to the plain dirt and so far he's stopped digging.  As my vet
    tells me "Don't play mind games or try to outsmart a cat! You'll lose
    every time.!
    
    

    On a similar note, anyone know how to keep a cat from playing with
    plants?  We have a fairly large arica palm that Zelda loves to swat at. 
    I'm afraid one day soon she's going to try her monkey imitation and
    climb to the top.  How should I go about preventing this?  (and no, the
    plant can't move to another place - it's the only room in the house
    that gets much sun)

    Oh yeah, I know this problem! Mauli digged like crazy! Now I asked
    my grandma to sew a bag which i put over the pots. So the dirt can
    "breeze" and mauli cannot dig. Looks yuk but it works. If someone
    has a more "decorate" idea, i would much appreciate it though!
    
    elke and mauli 
    from austria

    
    More decorative?  I have a friend who found a foolproof method.
    You can buy bags of those really beautiful decorative stones that
    are sometimes used in Japanese gardens or for centerpieces that hold
    one or two upright flowers in them?  They are smooth and flat, and
    heavy.  Put a thick layer of those over your dirt and they won't be
    able to get down to dig.  Also, I have another friend who uses
    seashells with good results.
    
    Nancy

Thanks for all your help...this is what I'm doing now...

for my plants that have the room, I've covered the visible soil with seashells
and stones from the beach...it works great as long as there is not enough room
between the shells and stones for miss Minnie to get her paws into...

In one of my ivys that didn't have much room for shells because of all the
places the ivy dug into the soil I have scotch taped a maze across the top,
it works like a charm!!!


Thanks for all your suggestions!

Sharon