"Martin Sykes" wrote in message
...
"Sally Thompson" wrote in message
...
We have constructed an outside wooden cat tray about 3 ft by 2 ft but
with the bottom made of a porous membrane so that any liquid drains
through (it looks a bit like a shoe box without a lid). It's nice and
deep and sits on the soil out of the way by our oil tank in the
garden. We've filled it with a gritty builder's sand which they love
to dig in.

The cats all use it and we have no problems with them messing around
vegetables etc. For the most part, the elements take care of it and
the cat mess is degraded by the natural action of the rain and sun.
Just occasionally we take out some of the turds with an old trowel,
put them in a plastic bag and sling them in the dustbin. Job done.

I tried something similar by preparing an unused area of the garden where
I
throw the mess anyway. unfortunately it isn't quite as attractive to them
as
the freshly raked vegetable beds :-(

But maybe catmint or catnip around the area would help attract them to it
in
the first place? Has anyone tried it for this purpose?

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm



Not sure cats would want to combine their drug beds with their toilet
facilities, imagine the horror if one such drugged up cat were to stagger,
or worse role accidently into the sand pit. They'd be cleaning themselves
for days, not that they don't anyway !

I have constructed a very simple little 3 foot high wobbly chicken wire
fence around the most ssensitive areas, veg beds etc, and the cats avoid it
like the plague. It moves, and glints and totally puts them off going near
it. It's also not strong enough to support them so if one gets brave enough
to touch it, or lean on it, they rapidly give up and leave well enough
alone. Two years of cat free veggie beds and counting, works very well for
me.

Duncan