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Cats in the vegetable beds!
Munge
Posts: 1
Cats have used my raised beds as litter trays and I'm worried about soil decontamination. I'm planning to net the beds once they are clear but can you tell me how long I should leave it before replanting? Will the soil be unfit for vegetables?
0
Posts
Our cats spend their lives using the veg patch as a toilet. We just clear it up and carry on planting and eating, we are still alive and healthy. (ish!).
Shouldn't be any problem at all unless they have some dread disease.
Strewing twiggy sticks on the beds will keep them off - they like a cat-sized area free of obstructions. The pricklier the better, of course - gooseberry prunings are great!
My only concern would be if someone in the household is pregnant or likely to become so in the near future.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Toxoplasmosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
you beat me to it ps2
If you have any pyracantha prune it and spread the off cuts over the bed very effective cat deterrent.
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if only.
Alie4 to Dave Morgan's recent comment: IO favour 'decorating' areas of loose soil with closely-spaced sprigs of extreemly prickly holly! As Corporal Jones was wont to say "They don't like it up 'em!!"