Question for cat owners?

[girlygirl_7]

I live in a townhouse that has a large front patio with a flower bed. I also have a large sandbox for my 2 small children. I am having a problem with cats from my neighbors coming onto my patio and going to the bathroom in both the flower bed and sand box. It is pretty gross and obviously not what I want my 1 and 2 year old touching. Since people let their cats wander in our community, I am not sure who the cat(s) belong to. I have called my HOA and they suggested that I call animal control which I thought was a bit overboard. And since I don't who who the cat belongs to, I can't say anything to the owner.

So my question is this ~ is there any way (obviously not harmful to the cats) to keep them off of my patio. The walls are quite high, but they still get in. Any thoughts???

Disclaimer: I have nothing against cats, I am just tired of cleaning poop from cats that don't belong to me and it is not safe for kiddies who still put everything in their mouths. ;)

[xine]

If you're home, and you see them lingering around the area, you could spray them with water. If it happens often enough, they may stay away from the area. I wonder if it's possible to hook up a sprinkler to a motion detector or something like that...

I would at least try to get a cover for the sandbox that will keep the cats out.

Hope this at least helps!

[MLA]

Definitely cover the sandbox. There are also cat repellents available that you can use. For instance: http://www.critter-repellent.com/cat/cat-repellent.php

Not sure how well they work, but you could give it a try . . .

[jajacobsen]

The cover for teh sandbox could be as simple as a sheet or a sheet of plastic weighted down with blocks.

[greenbunny]

One of the deterrents I've heard to be effective is powdered fox urine. Yum. I think an agricultural supply place should have it, or you could get it online.

This won't help the sandbox, but you can put things over the dirt in the flowerbeds to make them physically undesirable for the cats. Mulch, eggshells, or gravel would all work. They want the sandy texture to dig in.

[tlew12778]

I would get one of those sprinkler things that turn on with a motion sensor. it would both water your plants and keep the cats away without doing any harm to them.

[eli1126]

I would make sure to cover the sand, cat feces can lead to ringworm, which isn't horrible, but can be a PITA to get rid of. I made the mistake of using my bare hands one year to weed (the neighborhood cats were using our flowerbeds as their potty) and next thing I know I had a nasty ringworm on my arm :o It took forever to get rid of it!

[JamBray]

I agree with everyone else. Cover the sand box, put rocks or gravel on the flower beds, and get a can of Shake-Away.

[Little Angel '77]

if you can't cover the box, but tinfoil in it as much as you can... they hate the noise. Have it held down with rocks. That should keep them out.

IF cats have been in there though- I wouldn't let your kids play in it.. Seriously.

Go buy the turtle covered sandbox.

[vwinkel]

Cover it with a tarp. You can try the sprays around your patio to keep them out, which should help, but start at the root of the problem. Just cover it.

[rileyandfredsmom]

Disclaimer: I have nothing against cats, I am just tired of cleaning poop from cats that don't belong to me and it is not safe for kiddies who still put everything in their mouths. ;)

Well I can totally understand....I'm tired on cleaning poop from cats that DO belong to me! :D

Seriously, as others have suggested, cover the sandbox and get some of the cat deterrent stuff for the flower beds.

As a responsible cat owner, I hate, hate, hate it when people let their cats out to roam free...it gives all cats a bad name! I have 4 cats and I still get irritated when I go outside and find cat poo in my yard (my cats are all indoor only) or cat prints all over my car but I never get angry with the cat, it's their person I get mad at. Too bad you can't find the owner of pooing cat...

[girlygirl_7]

Thank you so much ladies!

Our sandbox does have a cover, I was just being lazy. I like to keep the umbrella up that it also has, and in order to put the cover on, I have to remove the umbrella first. I always cover it at night, but during the day we are in and out so much that it is kind of a pain to keep taking the umbrella down, covering, and vice versa. I am making a point to keep it covered at all times when we are not outside.

I also put up a little fence around the flower beds and planted a thicker grow all over type of flower. The cats must not like it because I see no signs of a cat being in there since I did it last week. If they come back I will try some of that stuff that you sprinkle in the dirt.

Thanks again!