A small electric fence would be the ideal solution. Cats are relatively smart and the small shocks should train them in no time. Of course, this is fairly expensive. You could sprinkle the ground with broken glass, but then that might fall under the category of "harming the animals." How about a generous dusting of cayenne pepper around the area?

Oh I forgot to add that I am NOT a cat hater, but I wish they'd stay home. Do leash laws only pertain to dogs? :)

Thanks, Mammie. I think I'll see if I can find some pine cones to put around. I also read that pieces of chicken wire laid over the beds might work, as well as using inexpensive bamboo skewers broken in half and inserted in mulch with the points sticking up a couple of inches. I don't think that would injure them, just keep them from digging in the mulch.

I like cats but I wish their owners kept them indoors. I know they are natural predators, but don't like them hunting wild birds. I also don't like coming across their poop in my garden beds!
Marcia in PA/FL

I've never had this problem but you might try laying dead palm fronds over the mulch. I know my indoor cats won't walk over things that make noise. And, of course, the palm fronds ARE mulch.

I bought a huge container of cayanne pepper at the dollar store and...nothing. I guess it just spiced up the garden.
Now I try to remember the cats take care of critters and I'd rather deal with poop than rats.
Yes the leash law refers to cats but they can't read and their owners don't care.

Thanks, cjc. I will probably have a few dead fronds soon from the freeze.

Coffeemom, thanks for the heads-up about the cayenne pepper. I won't bother trying it. While I know cats take care of critters, they don't discriminate between beneficial ones and destructive ones. I'm one of those crazy people who just loves critters, so I am unhappy when I see a cat hunting in my yard. I do yell at them to send them on their way when I see them in my yard (whether they are hunting or looking for a litter box).
Marcia in PA/FL

I am not a cat hater but I don't like them that much either. They get on furniture inside with their kitty litter feet, yuck! I have a sweet dog that keeps them out of my yard!

Hi Marcia,

I've had the same problem and have found that burying forks, tines side up, all throughout the garden bed or mulch area works wonders. It does look a little funny but lends itself to jokes about growing a new set of cutlery.

Good luck!

Elizabeth

mothballs! Very inexpensive and readily available at the grocery store or local big box store. Scatter them around the area and you won't have cats, squirrels or rabbits in the garden.

Kate