Problem with cat using raised bed as litter box! :(

This is not my first year gardening, but this year we built a raised bed garden. The first/spring&summer harvest was a great success. I planted our crops for fall a few weeks ago...lettuce mix, spinach, and carrots.

The problem is that during the few weeks that the bed was unoccupied with plants, my cat took it up as her litter box. I try to clean it out daily, but her digging has created uneven dirt and mounds, making me think that our 10-day-in-the-ground seeds are covered by too much dirt to sprout.

How do I fix what she's undone, or is that possible?

And how can I deter her from using this bed as a litter box from now on? I've heard cayenne peppe and red pepper flakes....as well as chicken wire -- but how would this work on a raised bed garden? Any more (organic) suggestions?

ALSO, will the lettuce and spinach be okay to eat if it does come through?

Thanks,
Meg

My wife use to put a moth ball or two in her potted plants when we had cats. You might not want to do that in your raised bed but you might try putting some around the outside perimeter to deter them.

i have the same problem with dogs digging in mine. get 2 pieces of PVC pipe. one 1" and the other 1/2". cut the 1" into 8 or 10" lengths if you can attach them to the outside of your bed with a 1" clamp at the top and a long screw at the bottom, if not cut them 12 to 18" and drive them 8 to 12" into the ground. cut the 1/2" into 2 to 2 1/2 foot pieces and slip them into the 1" pipe. (or get 2 or 3 10 foot pieces and bend them over to make hoops.) over this framework you can use bird or pond netting, regular window screen or row cover to get whatever protection you need at the time. When you dont need it, leave the 1" in place for the future and put the rest away till needed again.

Or cut a piece of wire mesh big enough for your seedlings to grow through. Lay it right on top of your soil. The cat(s) won't like walking on it, and will hate trying to scratch the ground with it laying there. They'll go somewhere else to poop.

Megret I don't think I'd eat anything grown in that bed. Remember that pregnant women can't change litter boxes because they might get toxoplasmosis. Cats can carry worms as well. What if a couple of eggs slipped off the poop when you took it out. I'd ask a vet about the safety of the bed at present or when you can use it in the future. After seeing some TV shows about parasites I'd be very cautious.

You're not alone ;-) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640@N07/4355436002/ (cat on plastic mesh on top of raised bed)

I'm planning on using this next year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plectranthus_caninus
We have a cat and it's all over the garden, breaking seedlings etc. I would like to plant it around the entire kitchen garden. I hope it works.

I had read somewhere that cucumber or finely cut up citrus peels repel cats in the garden.

Here is a link that might give you some ideas as well: www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/pests/cat.htm I think this includes how to use citrus peels as well.

A couple of other suggestions I came across were:
Sprinkle used coffee grounds in your flower beds to prevent cats from digging in them.

Surround your vegetable and flower garden with marigolds. It keeps cats from digging there and encourages bees for pollination.

Good Luck!

I'm a satisfied user of trim and slim Gymgirl's method. With 5 cats making daily contributions my beautiful prepared seed-bed and seedlings were cratered continually.

Using a spare 3 feet wide roll of 2"x4" mesh fencing I cut 4ft. lengths for he 4'x4' beds and 12' lengths for the 4'x12' beds. The cat problem stopped cold. Plus the mesh provided a handy planting guide! Once the seedlings had a good start the mesh was lifted off the bed and stored standing against a wall...waiting for the next enlistment.

Now i just prepare a seedbed and lay the wire on top. You can broadcast seed first, or plant using the mesh for a guide. The galvanized wire will last for years.

The edibles will be safe as long as they are not in contact with fresh manure later at the time they are picked, and washed.

Remember. You heard it from Texas...lol

More or Les

If Mother Nature has provided you with any local pine trees, gather some pine cones (I prefer small so they don't show as much) and mulch the whole area with them. My cats don't like the spiny cones so they go elsewhere. It's free and it works.

Piles of curry powder will dispel cats, of course. A seemingly wicked way - which is actually harmless to the cats - is to put some ammonia in plastic bottles, with a wick of cotton wool inserted in the open tops. Half bury the bottles around the bed at strategic intervals. Cats won't come near the bed.

You'll find some more ideas here:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Twelve-Practical-Ways-to-Keep-Cats-Off-Your-Garden---Organically&id=4985249

Way to go, Les!