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What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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Posted by northerner_on Z5A ONCanada (My Page) on Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 5:16
Hello soil-experts, this is the situation. Some wild cats in the neighbourhood (being fed by my neighbours) have been using my front bed as a bathroom for a couple of years. This year I tried everything, but they have multiplied and I could not keep up with them. They have even killed off some of my perennials with their urine. I decided last week to entirely change the soil in the bed. I dug the soil out for about 6 inches and replaced it with composted cow manure and top soil and covered it with newspaper until the snow comes. Now I am left with lots of soil, smelling of cat urine and faeces, and I do not know what to do with it. If I dump in the back of my yard, they will probably locate it and start using it (they climb my fence and get into my yard); I thought of putting it in my compost but thought that might not be a good idea and it's too much anyway. Anyone has any idea what can be done with smelly soil, full of cat urine and faeces? Any help will be much apreciated.
Northerner. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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find out which neighbor is feeding these feral cats and dump it at the end of her driveway. better yet, around her mailbox.
Just Kidding.
I have the same problem sort of. except It's my cat. I'm thinking of setting up an outside litter box, so at least she won't go in my raised beds.
Maybe you could call the humane society.
Sorry I'm no help.
good luck
:)Laura |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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Unfortunately, cats absolutely LOVE freshly dug earth! Try to let the soil settle and don't dig there so much. We have the same problem where I live. It's gotten a little bit better since my neighbors moved in with a Saint Bernard! You could buy a dog! That'll help :) One neighbor told me that cats hate garlic. You could try sprinkling your beds with garlic powder. Might help. I've tried it before and it seems to work ok. My DH hates cats (sorry to those that love cats, no harm intended) and he's constantly out there when he does see one at our bird feeder with a pellet gun. He doesn't shoot them, but the sound as he fires it up in the air is enough to make them scramble for cover fast!
Hope this helps,
from a totally understanding bird lover |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| SPCA? Are the cat catchers too, or just dog catchers? Karen |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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- Posted by ericwi Dane County WI (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 10:18
| We used to have a problem with the neighbors cat, & finally we found a pretty good solution. Its a lawn sprinkler that is activated by a sensor that can detect small animals in the vicinity. So the sprinkler is normally off, and when a small animal(or a large animal) passes by, the sprinkler goes on, & the animal is both startled and wet. You have to hook up a garden hose to the sprinkler, so this device only works in the warmer months. You can find these at lawn & garden centers. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| Motion detector hoses work to discourage cats, I've heard. I hate to think of you disposing of that perfectly good soil. Given time, the odor would leave the soil, and there would be nothing wrong with it. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| You probably have the autumn windfall of fallen leaves. Put the tainted soil near the compost (but in a separate pile). That gets it out of the way. Now cover it thickly with raked up leaves. It will break down over time. I don't recommend using it on edible crops, at least not for a very long time. I don't know how badly poo soil would affect crops but why take chances. Good, safe cat deterrents include cut up orange, lemon, grapefruit peels and used coffee grounds. Sprinkle liberally where the cats are using your gardens as a toilet. I've used the citrus peels and coffee whenever the ferals found another good toileting place. They stop using any spot where this mess is applied. It disappears in about a month. There may be ordinances concerning feeding but not spaying/neutering feral cats. Check into it. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| I would spread the soil over the lawn very evenly. Be sure to treat your lawn to some extra care, like a winterizer fertilizer. Cats can be very persistent about invading your yard. I have a dog that just loves to chase the cats, but that doesn't deter the cats at all. I don't think there's anything that can be done about it. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| could you trap the cats and take them to the humane society or if local law doesn't allow you to do this yourself hire a pest control company to do it for you? |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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- Posted by shebear z8 NCentralTex (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 14:58
| Cats hate the smell of fresh citrus. Start eating oranges or using lemons or limes and put the peels in the food processor to grind them a bit. Then throw them around where the cats want to "do their duty." The peels will compost and the cats will find another toilet. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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- Posted by gjcore 5 Aurora Co. (My Page) on
Thu, Nov 12, 09 at 19:28
| It also helps to keep the soil moist. Cats don't like digging in wet soil. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| Thanks for all your advice, but I have tried all the deterrents you mentioned, but my problem is what to do with that soil. One deterrent mentioned which I know works is used coffee grounds, which I used in one part of the bed in the spring and it worked, but then they went to another part. I have also used a solution of Dettol, which works but needs to be applied quite often. I am prepared to use the deterrents once I have changed the soil, but it is disposing of the unsanitary soil that stumps me. By the way, last summer we trapped nine of these cats and turned them over to the Humane Society. I believe they were put down. Another neighbour trapped one and had it spayed - we can see her scar. But the two who we could not trap have a litter of four little ones now well on their way to adulthood. As you know, they are incestuous, and so we will be have more babies in the spring. Harebell, you had a good idea. I think I will dump it at the back next to the compost and I still have lots of leaves with which I could cover it. Maybe I could put a tarp over the whole pile too. We can't rid of them until the neighbour stops feeding them, and she used to work for a vet, and won't. Thank you all. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| Besides orange peels, cats hate the smell of vinegar. Spray that on the ground, not the plants, obviously. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| I once layed down chicken wire on the ground to keep cats from pooping in a particular spot, it worked flawlessly. As far as your toxic waste pile goes, keep in mind it may continue to be a cat attractant, maybe dispose of it elsewhere? |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| I'm with the other poster who suggested covering the suspect soil with compostables. The poo will compost, in a year you'll never know its there. I didn't know about the coffee grounds thing, a neighbor's cat uses my garden for a litterbox in the spring before the plants sprout, once I turn the garden I'll start with coffee grounds this year... |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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- Posted by rdak z5MI (My Page) on
Sun, Nov 22, 09 at 9:49
| A mild solution of chewing tobacco soaked in hot water, then cooled and sprinkled around the area will make the cats go elsewhere. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| Michael, your suggestion of the chicken wire works well but this bed contains mostly annuals, and so it is not feasible. My neighbour across the street uses it in her shrub bed. The reason I posted this question is because I know the cats will be attracted to it, once it's on my property. I have now dumped it into a couple of tarps which have draw-strings. I have included some leaves, etc. and closed them up, secured with some large pieces of wood. It should keep them out over the winter. Thanks, Rdak, for your suggestion. This is the first time I've heard of this solution, but like many of the others I've used, I believe I would have to re-apply it quite often. I find the best or longest-term solution is used coffee grounds and I will be spreading lots of it around come spring. The Starbucks nearby saves it for me. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| I don't have first hand experience with what repels cats (other than dogs). But there are several plants that will repel many animals: garlic (very easy to grow), marigolds, wormwood, rue. The nice thing about them, if they work, is that you don't have to reapply them. They'll also help repel bugs and burrowers. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| Hi Nygardener: I have lots of first hand experience with things that repel cats, but they usually involve re-application. Thank you so much for this information. I grow garlic and marigolds each year, but in my back yard garden. I plant the marigolds near my tomatoes to protect them, but they are a bit loud for my front garden which consists mainly of pinks, blues and whites, but I certainly can put a few gardlic plants in between and perhaps cut the blooms off the marigolds. I suspect it's the smell of the foliage that they don't like. I think between these plants and the used coffee grounds I could have a winning combination. Thank you so much!! |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| The garlic may not work. I had a cat which would eat the garlic greens whenever I tried to grow it. |
RE: What should I do with this @#$%& soil?
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| This is simply hillarious!! Just when you think you have the answer, someone completly knocks it out of the ball park!! In any case, I have lots of things to try. Thanks for the info. mfisch2001, but I don't mind if the cat eats it, it is doing the bathroom stuff that bothers me. This is a front bed, just beside my walkway and anyone coming to visit is greeted with this awful stench!! Maybe something stronger like walking onion will work. I will keep that in mind. |
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