Preventing cats & kittens from using container gardens as a litter box

If you have discovered that your cats - or worse, the neighbor's cats! - are using your containers as a litter box, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to try and deter them from using your garden to do their business.

• Place plastic forks with the prongs up. A few in the container will make them realize it isn't the most comfortable place to do their business!
• Place a layer of volcanic rock on top of the soil. Cats don't like the sharp edges.
• Place a layer of smooth stones on top of soil. Won't deter all of them, but will deter most and they look attractive too.
• Use a product like Liquid Fence, which is an all natural cat deterent.

You may also need to change as much of the soil as possible, to remove as much of the smell as you can, especially if the cats are urinating in the containers. Cats - even ones new to the garden - will recognize the smell and associate it with an accepted place to go to the bathroom.

With these tips, you should be able to prevent any problems with cats continuing to use your container garden as a litter box.