What Do You Do When You Have Cats and Are Planting a Garden?
Cats and gardens can coexist peacefully if proper measures are taken to protect both the pets and the plants. Careful planning and consideration for both the needs of your plants and your pets are necessary parts of the process. Make a thorough supply list that includes nontoxic plants, pet-safe plant food and fertilizer and take measures to distract your cat from digging in your new garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Toxic Plants
-
Several common garden plants are toxic to cats. Reactions to the toxins in these plants can range from mild stomach upset to death. Check for toxicity before planting. The ASPCA offers pet owners printable lists of toxic and nontoxic plants (see Resources). Plants toxic to felines include aloe, azalea, chamomile, carnation, coleus, daisy, English ivy, gladiola, hosta, iris, peony, rhododendron, vinca, yarrow and several varieties of lily.
Nontoxic Plants
-
The list of plants toxic to cats is extensive and daunting but there are a number of alternative plants that are harmless to your feline companion. The list of nontoxic plants includes alyssum, bamboo, climbing and trailing begonias, impatiens, marigold, nasturtium, petunia, zinnia and several varieties of squash.
-
Preventing Problems
-
One of the biggest problems with combining cats and gardens is the cat's urge to dig and defecate in fresh, loose dirt. There is no point in becoming frustrated with the pet in this situation; you are up against an animal's natural instincts. You can handle this by anticipating a problem before it happens and making your garden unappealing as a litter box. The ASPCA recommends placing chicken wire or plastic just beneath the surface of the soil. This makes the soil an uncomfortable place for a cat to bury its feces. This should cause most cats to move along in search of a more ideal litter box.
Redirection
-
Consider keeping a plastic litter box in your yard for outdoor cats. Once you have made your garden unappealing as a cat toilet, you may want to create an outdoor litter box alternative for your pet. Fill a large, shallow, plastic pan with loose, fine sand and place it in an area of your property separate from your garden. Clean the outdoor litter box often to insure your cat's continued use of the box.
Considerations
-
According to the Kemper Center for Home Gardening, having an outdoor cat is more of a danger to local wildlife than to gardens. Consider keeping your cat indoors where it is safe from traffic, toxins and other animals. An indoor cat will have no chance to affect native wildlife or your new gardening project.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
