Cats digging up my raised bed! Grrr...

[helyg]

I have a lovely new raised bed. I have sown lots of seeds directly into it, and some seedlings are coming up.

However the local cats seem to be just as enthused by it as I am, and keep digging in it. Which is killing my seedlings!

What is the best way to keep them off? Short of tethering a Rottweiler to the edge of the beds of course...

[striker]

They love the wonderful big litter tray you have arranged for them. Either kebab type skewers placed in the soil at intervals or twigs /bits of wood laid on top will keep them off.

[bobthebuddha]

I usually protect areas with chicken wire...

[stealthsquiggle]

Wire netting - if your seeds are still tiny, lay chicken wire over the top now and bury under a thin layer of soil. Otherwise a wider mesh green wire trellis (the squared stuff that you can grow climbers up) covered in mulch has worked for us in the past.

[helyg]

Thanks for all your help.

I have put some bamboo kebab sticks into the ground for now, until I can get something better. Hopefully that will stop them!

[aJumpedUpPantryBoy]

I've used wire netting and that works well but the easiest method is to lay cut branches (eg form a pruned buddlia)across the bed.
Your plants will come through and then when they are larger just remove the branches - by that time your soil has usually compacted a bit and is less desirable to the local moggies.