Yeah, I had the same problem with my cat's as well!
Peppers can and does irritate them when they get it into their eyes but it
is a fast learning curve!
As with anything applied topical---you have to continue with re-application.
Soon she will learn to stay out. However, you will always have to re-apply
after every watering!

Another option is to purchase those little plastic plug things you see on
roses when you get them from a florist. I haven't found an on-line source
for these yet and simply purchase them from my local florist store for 10
cents each.

I steppe the hottest peppers (About 2 cups full sometimes more never less)
from the garden in a vegetable oil (buy the cheap kind, you aren't going to
eat it!)
Drain out a few cups, run the peppers through the blender with some of the
oil you drained out. With a funnel, pour it back into the oil and POOF, a
month later you have a gallon worth of CAT HATING HOT PEPPER SMELL! (If you
purchased a gallon of oil in the first place that is.

With a Dremil, (or any drill with a very small drill bit) drill holes all
over your plastic plugger thing. They have a stopper with a hole in it for
the flower stem. Once I have drilled holes in the plugger I dip them into a
melted paraffin wax (from the canning section of the grocery market). Don't
get the wax too thick as you want the smell to permeate it. Yes, in hot
weather you will find yourself refilling the hot oil once or twice per
month. And re-dipping the plugger. But you can keep the paraffin in its own
container and melt it in the microwave. I keep it in a large plastic
container-re-used from any product---mine happens to be a large butter tub.

Once you have the holes drill, applied the thin coating of wax, put the
stopper on the top, tie some garden twine just under the stopper cap. Make
sure you allow enough twine to tie it to your plants or stake! Remove the
stopper, fill the plugger with the hot oil, replace the stopper and attach
it to the plant or stake near the plant. I use this same method for my
indoor plants as well because lets face it, give kitty soil and YUCK!

I leave the top open and simply change them once a month with a good washing
in the dishwasher refill and go.
Once, I thought the cats had learned where NOT TO GO! Wrong, with the hot
pepper smell gone GAME WAS BACK ON! Grrrrrrrr. Also, after a heavy rain I
re-fill them. As it's a garden, lets face it, you are in it all the time so
it's easy to check on the condition of your hot pepper plugs.

Timber
www.timberslodge.net
....a Step Through Time


"brian" wrote in message
om...
Friends,

I recently moved into a new house. I use the square foot gardening
method, so I tilled up a nice little section and placed several wooden
frames for my plants (three 4x4, two 2x6 and two 2x8).

My problem is that my cat has decided that I've built her the seven
biggest cat boxes in the county. At first, it was no big deal. Most of
the garden doesn't have anything in it yet and it's easy to tell where
she's been digging. I just scoop out her business (check for
saltiness, of course) and smooth over the soil.

Yesterday, though, she just dug up two square feet of radish and
carrot seeds to plant her own cat poop plant. Needless to say, I was
ready to plant a cat bush about then (but I guess that next season,
I'd have an even bigger problem as all the cats got ripe).

I've read some back posts on some solutions, but I want to get some
fresh opinions.

Someone suggested chili powder or cayenne pepper would keep her out,
but also that she might lick it off of her feet and maybe get it in
her eyes. They went on to suggest that she might scratch out her own
eyes to relieve the pain.

How about black pepper or coffee grinds? Will these keep her out
without causing her to resort to self mutilation? Do coffee grinds
have to be fresh? (I hear that fresh coffee grinds keep snails away
too, so if they would work, that would be great.)

I don't want to hurt her, but I'm not above causing a little
discomfort (as long as she won't injure herself to avert it) or even
scaring the hell out of her (though I would probably prefer not to).

I chase her out of the boxes when I see her in them, but I can't watch
her twenty four seven. Locking her indoors is not an option. I'm also
extremely lazy, so building a fence or chicken wire covers is out.
Well, maybe chicken wire covers, but I'd rather pursue some easier
options first. I'm also completely organic, so mothballs or other
chemicals are out.

Anyways, what has worked for you?

Thanks,

b.