Looking for Mulch that Cats won't use as a Litter Box

Hello,
I’m looking for mulch that my neighborhood cats won’t use as a litter box. Does such a mulch exist? Please keep in mind I’m not anti-cat. I just don’t want my new born child playing in the garden where there is cat “stuff” as well. I’m not a doctor, but I’m fairly certain it is not healthy for children to be playing amongst cat “stuff”. I had to pull all of the shredded cedar bark mulch from my front and back gardens due to the neighborhood cats, I don’t own any, using it as their personal litter box. I got tired of seeing flys everywhere in all of my garden beds feasting and breeding in the cat stuff. Like I said, it is not healthy. I don’t know who owns the cat/s. Thanks very much in advance for your welcomed advice.

Cats don't like anything pokey or sharp, don't know what kind of mulch that would be though.

They sell these to keep them out of gardens.
http://www.gardeners.com/Safe-Cat-Deterrent/YardPests_DogsCats,31-954,default,cp.html

You might try sprinkling some hot pepper on the mulch. I've done this and it seems to keep them out .
Lisa

I agree with Jen and Lisa...not much in the way of cat proof mulch out there....we built a sand box for our cats to keep them out of the flower beds and veggie garden. The cayenne pepper works also, but be careful not to get it on yourself.

I filled a square sturdy dishpan with loose coarse dirt that I couldn't grow plants in. She definitely has been using it. I am sure if I put litter in it, she wouldn't use it. I put it next to her Kitty house outside and my gardening stuff. Her Kitty house is a Rubber Maid bin with a lid on it. I cut a hole about 4" off the ground and put a rug in it. She likes to sleep in there when it is very hot outside or when it rains.

Sprinkle moth balls around on top of the mulch and your cat problems are solved.

Genius Jim, and kitty will hold her nose and walk away coolll

I tried moth balls once. They were so strong that I could smell them in the house. It was awful! Maybe I put too many out! lol

My wife use to put them in her potted plants when we had cats. Now just put them around the carport to chase snakes. A friend puts them under her bushs around her house to keep wasps from building nests.

A safe deterrent is coffee grounds and orange peels.

Coffee grounds would be good. What about the slugs the orange peel would attract?

I never heard of using mothballs or orange peels/coffee grounds, with three cats I'm sure this will help my flower beds! thanks.