Quote from my new book on composting;Toxocara is a dangerous disease that can be found in dog and cat poo and can be passed on to humans if handled. They do not recommend composting either.
Tim Burr: (As I typed it, I just realised how clever your board name is!)
Criss: No probs. Thanks for sorting it.
btw a way to deter the critturs is to soak used, dried teabags with muscle spray - the deep heat sort of thing. Buried just below the surface, they (the cats) are repelled by the smell, which lasts a couple of weeks, and doesn't get washed away by rain etc.
The actual poo will break down eventually, but because cats are meat-eaters, the stuff is more toxic and less beneficial than, say, horse manure.
Actually it's only the submissive animals in an area that bury their poo. The dominant cat will poo wherever he or she wants.
I don't really like cats, I'm definitely a dog person. There is a local cat that thought it was funny to sit at the back of the garage, just out of reach of the dog, who was going ballistic. He didn't think it was so funny when I got my telescopic pole out and prodded his backside. He doesn't do it anymore. Next door used to have a lurcher (no longer with us) that was so fit, it has literally run up a 6ft wall and taken cats off the back, at least twice I know of, breaking the cat's back, meaning the neighbour has had to despatch them, then contact the owner, to let them know what had happened. We didn't get many cats in our garden when the lurcher was next door. Unfortunately my dog knows cats are for chasing, he's so old and fat he can't really be bothered.
During the summer when they're pests, I keep a supersoaker loaded with beer by the back door. They're often not back for a couple of weeks whilst they sleep it off, apart from one black and white one I think I've turned into an alcoholic!!
My tiny garden is gravelled with various shrubs and plants in containers. The gravel is used by my neighbours'cats (three of them) as their loo. I am very disabled and can't stand without a walker so clearing up is very difficult. Some of the poo is clearly visible but one cat 'buries' it so it's necessary to carefully remove the little mound of misplaced gravel to get to what's underneath. I've spent just under £90 since last year on deterrents of one kind or another most of which don't work.
However I've just had installed a cat scarer that has flashing lights and an alarm. So far so good. I also have on standby two bottles of Olbas oil which I'm assured cats hate. Any other suggestions will be gratefully received. This summer I should love to sit out in my garden which I was unable to do last year because of the stink. .
Patricia - that's a lot of money to spend on trying to keep your garden cat-free. I think the Olbas oil is similar to the muscle stuff - but dearer. It may be that the teabag solution would work for you. I believe that the odour lingers and deters cats long after our own sense of smell detects it. So it could be that it would be of some help for you. Here's hoping! (Well, we're all hoping for a proper summer this year, and you'll be hoping to be able to get out there and enjoy it!)
Patricia, do you have a neighbour who could lend you a dog every now and then? That may work. You do have my sympathies even though I do like cats, they can be a nuisance.
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Quote from my new book on composting;Toxocara is a dangerous disease that can be found in dog and cat poo and can be passed on to humans if handled. They do not recommend composting either.
Hi Shrinking Violet 1, Sorry for the confusion I will regenerate asap. As soon as I can work out how to do it I will be back as Criss.
artjak, I think you are right with regards to the disease. Looks like I have a lot of digging to do.
Tim Burr:
(As I typed it, I just realised how clever your board name is!)
Criss: No probs. Thanks for sorting it.
btw a way to deter the critturs is to soak used, dried teabags with muscle spray - the deep heat sort of thing. Buried just below the surface, they (the cats) are repelled by the smell, which lasts a couple of weeks, and doesn't get washed away by rain etc.
The actual poo will break down eventually, but because cats are meat-eaters, the stuff is more toxic and less beneficial than, say, horse manure.
Brilliant deterrant for cats! T-bags with deep heat! I love it
Actually it's only the submissive animals in an area that bury their poo. The dominant cat will poo wherever he or she wants.
I don't really like cats, I'm definitely a dog person. There is a local cat that thought it was funny to sit at the back of the garage, just out of reach of the dog, who was going ballistic. He didn't think it was so funny when I got my telescopic pole out and prodded his backside. He doesn't do it anymore. Next door used to have a lurcher (no longer with us) that was so fit, it has literally run up a 6ft wall and taken cats off the back, at least twice I know of, breaking the cat's back, meaning the neighbour has had to despatch them, then contact the owner, to let them know what had happened. We didn't get many cats in our garden when the lurcher was next door. Unfortunately my dog knows cats are for chasing, he's so old and fat he can't really be bothered.
During the summer when they're pests, I keep a supersoaker loaded with beer by the back door. They're often not back for a couple of weeks whilst they sleep it off, apart from one black and white one I think I've turned into an alcoholic!!
M M Paws, what is a super soaker?
My tiny garden is gravelled with various shrubs and plants in containers. The gravel is used by my neighbours'cats (three of them) as their loo. I am very disabled and can't stand without a walker so clearing up is very difficult. Some of the poo is clearly visible but one cat 'buries' it so it's necessary to carefully remove the little mound of misplaced gravel to get to what's underneath. I've spent just under £90 since last year on deterrents of one kind or another most of which don't work.
However I've just had installed a cat scarer that has flashing lights and an alarm. So far so good. I also have on standby two bottles of Olbas oil which I'm assured cats hate. Any other suggestions will be gratefully received. This summer I should love to sit out in my garden which I was unable to do last year because of the stink. .
Patricia - that's a lot of money to spend on trying to keep your garden cat-free. I think the Olbas oil is similar to the muscle stuff - but dearer. It may be that the teabag solution would work for you. I believe that the odour lingers and deters cats long after our own sense of smell detects it. So it could be that it would be of some help for you. Here's hoping! (Well, we're all hoping for a proper summer this year, and you'll be hoping to be able to get out there and enjoy it!)
Patricia, do you have a neighbour who could lend you a dog every now and then? That may work. You do have my sympathies even though I do like cats, they can be a nuisance.