Mulch that cats won't, um, use

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tinabeana Greenville, SC(Zone 8a) Jun 23, 2008

Does anyone else have a problem with cats using their mulch as a litterbox? My cats will apparently go in anything outside that is loose and scratchable: leaf piles, dirt piles, sawdust from a tree we had removed, etc. I'm considering my mulch alternatives and everything I think of (bark, pine straw, straw, woodchip) seems like kitty litterbox heaven. Not what I want to garden in!

So, what would ya'll suggest? The one thing I'm seriously considering is the chipped recycled rubber, but I don't have any experience with it to know how it'll do in the long run.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Jun 23, 2008

I cant say about the rubber chips to be honest, the only mulch that stopped the cats from using by beds was when I started using small gravel chips, I actually started to use it to try deter the slugs and snails, but found by accident it also cured the cat problems too, I have heard folk say that a mulch of holly leaves deter them s they seem to know or find out they are so sharp and prickly, my friend swears that since she cut up an old garden hose into 2 feet long lengths she has cured her cat from using her beds but she has to move the pipe every few days as she walks around her garden, she says they look like snakes to a cat, wish I could help you more, maybe others will have some different ideas for you to try, good luck. WeeNel.

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Ems_Garden Slidell, LA(Zone 8b) Jun 23, 2008

Here's a link to a recent article on the rubber mulch.

I haven't tried it but a friend of mine did and she said it smelled like oil. She pulled all of hers up.

Good luck

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/669/

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tinabeana Greenville, SC(Zone 8a) Jun 23, 2008

Thanks so much for the article link, I greatly appreciate it! After reading it, I wanted to clarify that whatever mulch I buy will only be used on existing flower beds: I grow all our herbs and veggies in containers. Also, my area is in a significant drought period and has been the past several years so I need mulch more for it's ability to retain water rather than to prevent weeds. And whatever goes down will have a layer of newspaper beneath it.

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Jun 23, 2008

I prefer to stick with natural mulch since it not only helps retain moisture but helps feed the plants as it breaks down. I have 5 cats who all thought my flowerbeds were one huge kitty box too. I cured it by buying the biggest, cheapest can of black pepper I could find and keep it sprinkled liberally on all the beds. They go elsewhere now.

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