Two Methods to Keep Cats Out of Planters

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Eileen M.

Pine cones - Lots and lots of pine cones. The stickier the better! Just put them all around the stem(s) and fill the pot with them. You can water through them, and cats will not have anything to do with them. They will eventually disintegrate and you can replace them with new ones.
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Plastic Garden Fencing - Cut a piece of plastic garden fencing (in your choice of colors) the diameter of your pot or planter, plus a couple of edges. Weave a few narrow bamboo plant stakes, or skewers, or twigs through the edges, and then staple the woven fence fabric to the edges of the pot, but only about 2/3 of the way around. You can gently lift up one edge to plant little plants, or plant seeds, and they will grow through the fence weave fabric. I've even replanted a second year by poking holes with a skewer and dropping the seeds in, smushing the soil back over the top and watering.

Source: Absolute frustration with the neighborhood furrrrrs using my big pots as littler boxes.

By Eileen M. from Elk Grove, CA

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~gloria
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 104 Posts

May 14, 20120 found this helpful

I don't have a problem with cats in my pots (not yet anyhow), but I do get chipmunks and squirrels. They use the pot to bury their walnuts and seeds. Sometimes they will chew up the plant or bulb I've planted. Infuriating.

I'm not picturing your 2nd suggestion of the garden fencing.

I use plastic rain gutter mesh that I always seem to be able to find at garage sales. I've never bought any from a store. Anyway, this works great. I just cut it to fit whatever pot or area around a plant in the garden and hold it in place with stones (from the driveway, much to my husband's chagrin).

Maybe you could post of photo of the fencing idea so I can see what you mean.
I also get cats using my gardens as their personal litter box, which I think is the height of rudeness and inconsideration by neighbors.

I'd be mortified if my pet ever did this to a neighbor's yard. But that's just me. Guess many folks don't feel this way. Any ideas for keeping cats out of the garden, inexpensively? I think I've tried all the ones I've found on Thriftyfun.

Thanks for your pinecone idea, too.

marylynhope

June 3, 20140 found this helpful

I once tried the pine cone method with my planters and within a couple weeks my bedding plants started to die and didn't last the summer. It turns out there is a lot of acid in pine cones and it leeches into the soil every time you water and kills the roots of your bedding plants. I've also been advised that pine cones should not be used in composting for the same reason - leaves the soil too acidic for most bedding plants.

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