How can I keep the neighborhood cats from using my flowerbed as a litter box?

Question

We've been trying to grow a honeysuckle patch in our front bed. They are coming along nicely and smell great. BUt there is a big area in the front of the bed they haven't taken over yet and it is just dirt I have to keep weeded right now. And cats p**p there! Hubby suggested some spray that would repell them by smell but the bed is right by the front door and I don't want to be repelled by the smell myself. I know gravel is the worst thing I could do, but what about small stones? Any tips that would keep my beds f***s free are greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

Answer 1

Crushed red pepper sprinkled around the area worked for me. My dog was trying to dig under the fence....I sprinkled crushed red pepper  all along the outside the fence where he was digging (it was just the kind i bought at the grocery store for cooking) and he hasn't done it since. I didn't think it would really work...but a lot of my customers had told me they do it and it works so I thought I would try it....and lo and behold....it worked. Try sprinkling it around your flower bed and see if it stops the lil poophead. I would love to know if it worked for you too

Answer 2

As another poster suggested, crushed red pepper (cayenne pepper) may work.  I get the big economy-size jug from Sam's Club.

I have 9 cats.

To keep them from pooping where I don't want them to p**p, I sprinkle cayenne pepper on the mulch/soil/plants.  They sniff, get a hot snootful, and move on.  It doesn't hurt them, and it doesn't hurt the soil or plants.

You must remove as much of the soiled dirt as possible, replace it, and then sprinkle with cayenne pepper.  Cats have acute sniffers and can smell even a bit of p**p, and they'll continue to be drawn there.

Answer 3

I agree with the posters that suggested orange or lemon peels.

My cats hate oranges.

Answer 4

a few moth balls lined along the edge

Answer 5

they do sell sprays at the pet store that will keep cats from going there. i'm pretty sure that you won't smell anything, as it has to do with pheremones. i recently bought a spray to make my animal go somewhere, and you can't smell anything, only the animal can. if not, definitely go to the pet store and talk to someone. i'm sure they make a product that will work for you!

Answer 6

I throw my old coffee grains and tea leaves in the soil, they do not like it.  Also a previous answer of throwing orange or lemon peels on the spot will help.

could you put a few bricks down temporarily on the area to keep them out?

Answer 7

tHE COFFEE GROUNDS WORK WELL ... BUT YOU CAN ALSO PLANT  RUE ..PENNYROYAL  AND OR LAVENDAR CATS DO NOT LIKE THESE PLANTS...

Answer 8

Most cats hate the smell of citrus, so maybe some lemon slices in dishes or something?

EDIT: You should ask this question in "cats", they'd probably have some great answers there:)