Not to the plants, but cat feces can introduce numerous problems that can adversly affect human health. A food garden is not a good place for domestic pets feces.

It depends on what bacteria and parasites the cat has ... and his use of the garden is going to attract other cats.

Adult cats are unlikely to have toxoplasmosis, but I would worry a bit about E coli and the other enteric pathogens.

Why not put a litterbox for him on a porch?

Or relocate the turds to another part of the yard and then go set the cat in that area. He/she might get the hint. It's worked for me.

Kevin

Over the years my cat(s) occasionally have liked to dig in the veggie garden, and I have laid down pieces of fencing over the freshly sown rows to prevent the cat from digging. You can also mulch the veggie garden with a good layer of straw or grass clippings and the cat won't have such easy soil to dig in.

Or perhaps create a spot that is easier digging for the cat and possibly train them to go there using Woohoo's method. My cat likes to go in areas that are fairly clear of weeds and lightly mulched with wood chips or leaves - it's pretty easy digging.

if you decide to eat them, wash them with some vinegar in the water, I know it will cause them to wilt quicker so eat them fast, healthy food is better eaten fresh. and if you ever wish to save them then go with pickled veggies. this all for the ones with compost in the soil, if there's no cat litter in it then I suppose there's no harm in eating them when washed properly with no vinegar :)