The Feral Battle

One thing I never even considered with gardening was the Battle of the Feral Cat. We didn’t really have many in San Francisco – not true here in Oaktown! There’s an entire community of feral cats that roam the streets, sidewalks and back yards just looking for new litter box locations. Turns out the mulch is something they really like to poop in. As are raised beds with nice newly turned soft dirt. Up to now it’s been a losing battle. I have sprinkled every powder and dust I could find on the ground only to find a nice fresh pile of poop one, maybe two days later if I was lucky. Eventually at the end of last summer I gave up.

I am happy to report that with a renewed vigor the Battle of Feral Cat has been renewed! While I can’t (or won’t) cage my entire yard in, I sure can make an enclosure around the raised beds, and it has been an overwhelming success. I am a big sucker for the before and after comparisons, so I’ll take this opportunity to give you the before and after on my two veggie beds – and show you the brilliant designs that have kept the cats pooping outside the veggies.

AND I ate the first radishes yesterday. No, they aren’t really ready, but yes, they were good. French Breakfast and Cherry something or other. Mmmm…

Before (after 1 week):

Veggies! So young and unsuspecting: radishes, arugula, mustard greens and chard.

After: Planted 4/10, taken 5/5

With the fancy chicken wire screen/cap over it.

Before: Also planted 4/10 but from seedling

Young tomatoes - with the pots planted next to them to get water straight to the roots! Clever idea - not mine.

After: 3.5 weeks of Oakland sun later

The faint black mesh you see is bird netting - works like a charm against the cats!

And yes, in case you were going to ask I did look into the possibilities of having said feral cats removed. The process would be that I have to go and borrow a trap, trap the cats myself, *transport* the cats to the place to have them neutered/spade, then pick them up after and bring them back to let them free.

Yeah – I’m pretty sure the last thing I need in my car is a feral cat spraying, peeing and pooping. Thanks anyway.

There’s also the pellet gun option – enticing I must say. I may look into that sooner than later.