Why are the cats in your garden the first place? Maybe they're
hunting vermint.

I have mixed feelings about the friendly cat that frequents my plot.
On the one hand I'll probably not get as many bean eating pests that
mow down my bean seedlings. Maybe it will even chase away pests that
raid ripe tomatoes. Of down side is of course if the cat desides to
dig among my seedlings. Haven't seen it digging yet but it's been
walking on top of tiny seedlings. Maybe I should plant some catnip so
it would limit itself there.

Too bad cats don't stay within the fenced plot as a dog might.
Raiding pests will probably zoom in as soon as the cat wonders.