Get out cat!!!

[justneedsomesleep]

So this year I have decided to sort out the garden as last year as I was pregnant and did nothing with it. So far I've spent ages weeding and turning over soil and adding fertiliser.
STUPID CATS using it as a toilet!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOO MAD!!!

How can I get rid of them, especially as want to be planting in the soil and would like my daughter (2) to do the same and son when he is old enough.

Tips/ideas to deter cats in the garden gratefully received.

P x

apparently footballs work well.

Keep your hose handy when you are out there and spray any intruders

Keep any prunings you make and when you rake over a bed for sowing or planting plonk them over the top to deter cats from digging - works quite well with some cats (I like nice sharp pointy twigs for this prupose). It's a PITA to move the twigs all the time but I keep mine in place until the plants are pretty big (as long as they arent going to entwine with the sticks).

Get a dog

Try not to get your soil ready until the last minute - they will be attracted to nice soft soil beds which are laid bare. Not easy to do when you have to plan your gardening around the needs of young children though I know.

Plant through a weed supressing membrane or cover bare soil with polythene. The polythene is a good way to collect slugs and get rid of them but don't leave it down for a long time or you'll upset the soil biology. Breatheable weedproof membranes are good though as they can be kept down indefintely. Cardboard is a cheap alternative which will improve soil structure, you can plant through it and it will break down over time and improve the soil (weigh it down with rocks as neccessary) Carpet is a good membrane too but dont use anything foam backed or the foam will get everywhere - same as polythene, don't leave it down for too long (its great for clearing new ground to make new beds btw)

Avoid gravel and woodchip mulches.

Sorry for 'bitty' response - am thinking while I type and thinking alone is hard enough these days

I had a similar problem. apparently they really like to poo in dry soil, well fertilized soil with lots of manure etc is less appealing. I really found adding lots of manure helped a lot, much less cat poo now.

get a cat. seriously.

Getting a cat may not help. We have a cat - and our garden is still used as a toilet by the four cats that live within three doors of us.

You can buy dried lion poo from pet retailers ... the cats think there is a bigger, more dominant cat in the area so keep away. Allegedly.