Rebecca. Thank God we have a sensible and responsible cat owner. You are one
in a million and must be congratulated.

As you have managed to 'train' your animal to use one spot in the garden,
please please please forget that it is part of 'your' garden and leave it to
the cat. Ensure that your toddler does not go in that area by explaining
that this is the cat's toilet and just as you don't want to let the cat see
you on the toilet, leave that area to the cat. Sounds daft but it isn't.

With regards to cleaning and keeping the area sweet, yes plant up 'around
it' with lavender and such like, but ensure that apart from cleaning the
cat's area and raking the soil, then leave it to the cat.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppy Walkers, train a future Guide Dog in a very
similar way, but there is a 'command word' to ensure that the Puppy knows it
is doing the right thing, and that is 'Busy'. A Guide Dog will hold itself
until a suitable place is found when out walking, and when told 'Busy' will
relieve itself and is then praised with a pat and a 'Good Girl/Boy' as fits
the sex :-))

You may wish to do what we have done as dog owners and Puppy Walkers in the
past and that is under a tree or bush, dig a deep hole, a spade width square
as deep as you can. When you cat has left it's deposit, drop it in the hole
and put a light covering of soil over it and continue until nearly full then
fill in. And start another hole. For a small dog or cat, a deep hole will
last 4 - 5 months at least.

Been there, done that, got the Tee Shirt.

Mike

--
National Service (RAF) Ass. Cosford 24 - 27 June Spitfire Fly Past
H.M.S.Impregnable Ass. Sussex 1 - 4 July Visit to Int. Fest of the Sea
RAF Regiment Assoc. Scarborough 2 - 5 Sept. Visit to Eden Camp
H.M.S.Collingwood Assn Trafalgar Dinner. Coventry October 21 - 24
"Rebecca" wrote in message
oups.com...
Dear All,

Last summer we had a patio built, along with a couple of planting
walls. Our cat has for the past year been religiously using a certain
area as her toilet. As she was previously a cat litter girl I don't
want to confuse her by stopping her going there.

As its now planting season I would like to plant in this area. For the
first time in a year I spent a lot of time a few weeks ago digging
around removing all toilet, along with fossilised toilet remains, from
the area. However, as my toddler has proven, there is still a lot
there.

I did plant one lone small lavender a few weeks ago and that appears to
be sprouting. I would ideallly like a lavender border, or anything else
colourful and scented. Ideas?

My question? Does anyone know of any plants/ shrubs/ climbers that
would survive in such an environment? If not, do you think digging in
loads of fertiliser/ compost/(?I am a new gardener) would solve the
problem adequately enough?

I would much appreciate your advice.
Many thanks

Rebecca