4 Footed Problems

[AShadyElm]

What is the best garden fencing system to keep cats & dogs OUT of the garden beds? I want it to be moveable after the growing season so that we can till and somewhat economical since we have about 1/4 acre to fence in but also animal proof.

The reason: my cats and dogs seem to think that garden beds (especially those covered with hoops) are THEIR beds and they will scratch through the agribon/plastic and lay on my plants! :( They have already destroyed two beds this way and I don't want to plant out more of my seedlings only to have them crushed. Any suggestions?

--A

[drobinson]

Chicken wire coverings on the beds have worked for me, at least until the plants are up and growing. The wire need not be fastened permanently, just held up with 'T' posts, etc. It comes in different widths and will last for many years. My second suggestion may offend some of our animal loving friends (I too love animals) but an inexpensive electric dog fence will keep coons out of corn in a fine order. No harm is done to the coons because the shock is mild. I assume it will work for dogs and cats. Were talking about elect. fencing for dogs, not that for cattle and horses. I tried everything and nothing worked for the corn but the elect. fence. Place two wires six inches and twelve inches off the ground on PVC pipe.

[lovetogarden]

Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the area where they dig.

[desert gal]

In the past I've sprinkled cayenne pepper around the area I do not want dogs or cats. This takes a few doses especially after you water. Just in case you dose your self or your pet gets a real snoot full or in the eye. Wash out with milk. An enzyme in the milk stops the burn of the pepper.
s

[AShadyElm]

Thanks for the ideas! I really appreciate the feedback!

--A

[Jodi]

there is a section in the book "The Grape Grower; A Guide to Organic Viticulture" by Lon Rombough that covers electric fencing with a variety of animals and also experiences with different types of chargers. It also has some other tips on critter control in the chapter, "Animal and Bird Pests". Great book. If you can't afford to buy it, consider getting it through your local library on inter-library loan usually a few dollar few for the S&H.

[TomatoLover]

What is the best garden fencing system to keep cats & dogs OUT of the garden beds? I want it to be moveable after the growing season so that we can till and somewhat economical since we have about 1/4 acre to fence in but also animal proof.

The reason: my cats and dogs seem to think that garden beds (especially those covered with hoops) are THEIR beds and they will scratch through the agribon/plastic and lay on my plants! :( They have already destroyed two beds this way and I don't want to plant out more of my seedlings only to have them crushed. Any suggestions?

--A
I have the same problem. What I do is put up some of that vinyl snow-fence type stuff. It's not too expensive, is lightweight and easy to handle, and rolls up into a compact roll for easy storage. I take it down when the plants are tall enough that the cats and dog won't bother them. My raised beds stay permanently fenced with chicken wire though, because the cats seem to think they are giant litter boxes. See photo taken a couple of days ago below.

TL

[Mary]

There is a product called " Liquid Fence" for cats and dogs, they also have one for deer and rabbits. I use the one for deer , I spray it about two feet outside of the garden all around it and it works , the deer don't eat my plants now.Farm and fleet and Menards sells it.Its in a bottle with a sprayer attached.So much easier then putting up a fence.You might want to look into it.Hope this helps.

[Cliff Timmons]

Run a little hotwire around it.
Just buy a cheapy set up and get a quick disconnect so you can take your tiller in there. At then end of the season it'll come down quickly.

[Mary]

:D The liquid fence is so easy, its long lasting, rain resistant, environmentally safe,works year around, bio-degradable,will not harm plants, won't harm the animals, and you don't have to put poles in the ground or run wire. ;) :rolleyes:

[wilderness1989]

I have the same problem. What I do is put up some of that vinyl snow-fence type stuff. It's not too expensive, is lightweight and easy to handle, and rolls up into a compact roll for easy storage. I take it down when the plants are tall enough that the cats and dog won't bother them. My raised beds stay permanently fenced with chicken wire though, because the cats seem to think they are giant litter boxes. See photo taken a couple of days ago below.

TL
Very nice looking garden TomatoLover!!!!!
Shown above...
Attached Images garden longshot2.jpg (38.3 KB, 44 views)

[Mary]

The Liquid Fence is not working ,so last year it must of been my watch dog that kept the deer out of the garden.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi ashadyelm i built a cage of pvc pipe 3/4 inch and chickenwire its 8 1/2 feet high it covers my garden :)

[Mary]

Tomatolover, Great garden picture!Looks like you are having a great year,glad for you.

[manyoaksyoung]

Hello fellow gardeners! I am new here and seeking a solution for a cat problem in my beds. I read through the thread a bit and ran across the solution of "Liquid Fence" but can't seem to locate it, MFA, Walmart, Orschlen, nobody seems to carry it, or know what I'm talking about.
I've tried mothballs, cayenne pepper, and I have plastic forks in heavy coverage throughout the beds with the tines sticking up in the air. The fork tines are supposed to poke the cat offenders and make them go somewhere else to do their business, but that is also not working.
I bought this property as an investment and it is the last house at the edge of town, so I presume this area to be a bit of a cat dumping ground. My nearest neighbors just dump out catfood on their porch and feed them all. The cat problem is so bad that I can't even have a garden here. The favorite cat outhouse is right by my front door and it has become quite offensive. I scooped up four shovels full this afternoon from my flower beds. I'm at my wits' end with this. I am open to any suggestions...where to purchase the "Liquid Fence", how long is it effective, how much does it cost? I don't mean to offend any cat lovers out there, but I really do not care for them, at all. I miss having a large garden! It was a joy to me to grow and preserve my own vegetables. Thank you in advance for any advice and input.
Best, Manyoaksyoung

[Mary]

Manyoaksyoung, If you have a Farm and fleet near you they have it,I think last year Menards carried it as well.I know what you mean, my neighbor has several cats,there's a field between her house and mine so you would think they would go in the field, because I see them hunting there.I have raised beds, and they seem to think thats for them.So last year for my raised beds I stapled chicken wire on each end and on the sides to make a cover, this will only work for low growing plants.My biggest problem is deer destroy my garden,and the liquid fence did not the second year so I know it must of been the dogs that chased them away.Do you have a dog,maybe that would help, dogs love to chase cats, put one or more around where you don't want the cats .I feed birds and the deer come up at night and eat the seeds, they knock down the feeders, it is so awful to have something destroyed that you have worked for.Keep trying different things, so will I.

[Playoutside]

manyoaksyoung.
start shooting those cats with a pellet gun and if that does not work try a .22That will keep them out of your property. i would never allow cats to limit my gardening

[manyoaksyoung]

Mary, Thank you for your reply! I'm not really sure what is my next move with the cats. It is a disgusting situation, at best. As I said, this is an investment property and when I finish up a couple of more improvements, this property will be listed to sell. I don't think it would be a good look to perspective buyers to see wire covers down the entire length of my flower beds in front. I have regretted buying this property and moving here more than once. And yet, I need to make the best of the situation. I have already given up my huge garden. (sigh) The last year on the farm I put up over 300 jars of food!
In reply to your specific problem, it seems that I read an article in Mother Earth News or maybe another similar magazine, about a couple who had an enormous deer problem as you do. They needed the vegetables from their garden as an income source and for their own pesonal use. They ended up putting up what they called a 'Texas Sreen House'. It was a building that encompassed their entire growing area and roof and all walls were of chicken wire to let the light and rain in. It worked. If I recall, it cost them about $200.00 for a permanent solution to harvesting what they grow. Now, the deer can only look in at their garden! Best, Manyoaksyoung

[manyoaksyoung]

Playoutside, Thanks for your suggestion! I only wish that was an option. It's just not, because I am in the unique situation of part of my property being within the city limits, and the rest within county. It is illegal to fire a weapon in the city limits, and now, as this area has begun to build up, I am literally, surrounded by city property while the largest portion of mine remains county. I guess what really needs to be accomplished, is for me to sell as soon as I can and get myself back to the country where I belong! I miss my gardening (see above post) terribly! In the future, I will never ever consider investments that take me out of a rural setting, I am just meant to be on the farm! Thanks for your reply. Best, Manyoaksyoung

[Mary]

Thanks, manyoaksyoung, don't know what I'll do, will have to give it some thought.

[strong eagle]

I have a neat little plant, tropical in nature but grows well in summer most places, call Carribbean Oregano[ a "Plectranthis", relative of Coleaus] To me, it smells a lot more like Camphor than Oregano, but it sure keeps the critturs away from the gardens, and if it's in hanging baskets, it keeps the mosquitoes away.
Walmart carried it down here for a year or two in the Spring, so I'm sure you could find it inb a local greenhouse. Strong

[johnsonjrbm]

Here's a product that I've seen advertised, but haven't personally used:

http://www.catscat.com.au/

[manyoaksyoung]

Strong Eagle, I thank you for your reply and I apologize for not getting back sooner to acknowledge your input. I certainly will seek out this plant and hope that it will be effective! This is an ongoing problem and your suggestion is much appreciated! Best, Manyoaks

[manyoaksyoung]

johnsonjrbm, Thank you for your reply and suggestion. I am currently trying out what I believe to be a similar product, and just am not seeing any results. The active ingredient in this repellent is methyl nonyl ketone. I'm an organic gardener and this is not something that I'd ever consider in my vegetable garden, at this point, I'm just trying to keep them away from my flower beds that are located right at my front door. Thanks, Manyoaks

[SusieF]

My sister told me to to run string my strawberry patch (all sides), and tie long strips of white plastic bags (with ends hanging down so that the wind could blow them), to it. Not that pretty but works like a charm.

[Mary]

I bought 4x4 post to put a fence, and started putting up yesterday,made my garden a little larger,this would keep out deer,dogs, and cats,unless you have a dog like we had a few years back, he would climb right up the fence. There was no way you could keep that dog in or out, what a dog.He gave his best no matter what.We'er expecting rain several days this week, so I'd better go out and get some more post up,hopefully this will solve my deer problem.

[mrtomatoexpres]

i have two footed problems in my garden:mad: :mad: :eek: :D

[flowerpower]

Any news from Riis Park yet?

[sammyqc]

manyoaksyoung.
start shooting those cats with a pellet gun and if that does not work try a .22That will keep them out of your property. i would never allow cats to limit my gardening

I am sorry, but I find that pretty offensive. There are much better ways to keep cats out of your garden. And yes, I am a cat lover, and I am one of the people in the neighborhood who puts out cat food for all the strays, the ones that people dump once they are tired of taking care of the cat, or the cat is no longer a cute kitten, or they don't want to pay for the vet bills to get the cat spayed or neutered. Because of where I live, people seem to think the cats can fend for themselves and just dump them, so I have quite a few that come by for their meals and a pat. Chicken wire around the raised veggie beds works just fine. These cats were once pets, and most of them use litter boxes I have supplied. Maybe it sounds weird, but 4 cats that visit much prefer to use those boxes than anything else. If you've ever had a sandbox, you would know that a cat would use that over anything.
The cats don't deserve a .22, their previous owners do!!!

[moonlilyhead]

I completely agree with Sammy. As long as I leave a "dirt bed" empty for them away from the garden, they use that instead of any of my beds. If I see them thinking about it, I spray them with the water hose and they don't think about it again for QUITE a while. I've heard that orange peels are offensive to cats, so maybe try that if you eat lots of oranges! Somehow, we've trained our big gangly ungraceful (sorry Lucky) dog to only walk along the garden paths. Unless, of course, he's harrassing the cats over in their empty bed!

[Mary]

I too love cats ,I would never shoot at cats, dogs, deers, etc,or try to hurt them in anyway.I'll use fence.

[boston]

I am not advocating shooting cats but what I have a problem with is that a lot of cat owners do not have a problem with letting their cats out and run "wild", but if people lets their dog out to run the neighbohood you have a lot of angry neighbors. Seems to be a double standard when it comes to that.

[Sandbar]

Around here, most communities have leash laws for both dogs and cats.

I think most cat owners let their cats run (but tie up the dogs) because ... well, think about it ... when's the last time you ever heard of a house cat mauling a toddler to death?

[LarryS]

I am sorry, but I find that pretty offensive. There are much better ways to keep cats out of your garden. And yes, I am a cat lover, and I am one of the people in the neighborhood who puts out cat food for all the strays, the ones that people dump once they are tired of taking care of the cat, or the cat is no longer a cute kitten, or they don't want to pay for the vet bills to get the cat spayed or neutered.


So YOU are the one who keeps luring those stray cats into the neighborhood:)

Seriously, if you want to take care of them, they need to be taken off the street and found homes, or euthanized.

It is unfair for neighbors to have to put up with strays. Cats and dogs are
wonderful pets, but it is inconsiderate to let them roam loose.

They carry some pretty nasty diseases as well. Some parasitic diseases easily communicate to children (via the worm eggs /larvae), which can cause blindness and organ failure.

[TastyofHasty]

Here's a nice link on the subject:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/cat_repellents.htm

[zebraman]

I actually like Carolina-Family Farms recommendation that cat's make Great Compost.I am curious to find out if he composts them whole or if he runs them through a wood-chipper first?-

[Mary]

Ha Ha Zebraman,that's so funny,I bet he would have a good fight on his hands.

[sammyqc]

LarryS,

I do actually agree with most of what you said. I just don't think the solution is to euthanize them and I find it especially disgusting to suggest shooting them. Right now, I have four cats, three of which are strays that I took in this year, the fourth has been my ---I mean I have been her pet for 13 years. We get down to -35 during the winter some nights, and I just can't leave them outside, especially the ones who were obviously once a house pet.
I live in a rural villagey kinda place, where people think it's okay to dump their pets. That's what I have a problem with. Humans who dump cats.
The three that I have taken in are so obviously house pets, accustomed to humans, litter trained, etc...They even like my Shepard/collie dog. I try to keep them inside for the most part, and even when they do go outside, now they tend to stay in my yard (which is fenced, but takes to much effort for pampered kittie royalty to jump. I mean, really, why bother when you've already got the good life, right?)
Anyway, I totally get that some people don't like cats, and cat poo in your garden is gross, etc...But to suggest shooting them??? That I have a problem with. It's the inconsiderate, just plain thoughtlessness, and cruelness of human behavior that ticks me off. It's not the fault of the cat, being what they are, you know? It's the behavior of people.

[LarryS]

Anyway, I totally get that some people don't like cats, and cat poo in your garden is gross, etc...But to suggest shooting them??? That I have a problem with. It's the inconsiderate, just plain thoughtlessness, and cruelness of human behavior that ticks me off. It's not the fault of the cat, being what they are, you know? It's the behavior of people.

I agree. People are at the root cause of this problems. The cats and dogs
did nothing but to be born and nobody wanted them.

If people are going to have animals, they should take care and responsibility
for them. They should be kept in the owner's property under proper restraint.

People have told me that you cannot keep a cat restrained...Not true. It is a bit more work dealing with their poops, but you can keep them inside. Dogs can easily be kept inside a fenced yard.

People in this little town let both run free. Some have collars, but few of those have vaccination tags. Some belong to no one, and are too far gone to recivilize.

This town cannot pass a law to deal with it, for to do so would require the
municipality to have an approved animal shelter or pound. This would cost millions....a sum the town cant afford.

So we are caught in a quandary.. what do we do?

We have trapped some in Havahart type traps, and relocated them. I do the same with squirrels.

Seldom have I had to kill an animal, but on one or two occasions that too has been necessary. (aggressive dangerous situations)

I have reached my limits with invading stray animals. We both must have some relief.