Asked on Jun 07, 2014
Cat Urine
by
Deb M
+5
The neighborhood cats have been using my whiskey barrel for a litter box. Will the cat urine kill the plants that I want to put in there now? Do I have to dump out the potting soil that's in there now and start with fresh soil or do I need to treat the soil with something to neutralize the soil before planting? I've got $40 worth of flowers to plant and I don't want to kill them.
8 answers
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Urine is much less of an issue than feces. I have no idea how much urine we're talking about, but if you're concerned, thoroughly water the pot and let it dry out then plant.
Douglas Hunt
on Jun 08, 2014
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Put coffee grounds on the soil. Cats don´t like the smell of it. And coffee ground is fertilizer for you plants.
Conny Hanich
on Jun 08, 2014
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$40.00 is quite a bit of money to take a chance. I would dumb the fouled soil and put fresh potting soil in. Also the coffee grounds are a very good idea although they can be acidic so make sure your plants are tolerant of the acid ph. I would also put the fouled soil in another container and 'wash' it several times as Mr Hunt has suggested. Once you're sure it's clean then you can use it for another potting project.
Karen Sheilds
on Jun 08, 2014
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I agree with Mr Hunt, thoroughly water it and let it dry out. Maybe discard the top 2" first but save it and clean it with water also. Add a bag of new soil, plant, and then put some black pepper around the inside outer edge. They sniff and sneeze and then leave. You could also lay a layer of screening down before planting and just cut a + in each place you want to plant and then cover with a thin layer of mulch and then the pepper. Also a few nails pushed through the screen from underneath will deter them as they will not want to step on them. Just little nails; 1" every few inches. Here in Florida I use dried sweet gum balls since they have rather spikey edges and the cats aren't crazy about those either. I do this all because I love my Kurilian Bobtail cats but also love my flower beds.
Lynda
on Jun 08, 2014
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mothballs
Colleen Novosel
on Jun 08, 2014
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you need to dump the old soil. and yes used coffee grounds and moth balls will keep the cats away. also plant marigolds. had this issue last year.
Deborah Wudwud-Schenher
on Jun 08, 2014
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Maybe they don't like the smell of the old whiskey, or they are attracted to it somehow.
Adrianne C
on Jun 09, 2014
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Just what a neighborhood needs...cats drawn to whisky! Throw just one wild party and they will all be hanging around! Dump out the dirt, wash down the barrel with bleach, rinse good, let dry good, refill and replant something that has stickers! Maybe a nice cactus...there are some real pretty ones!
Jeanette S
on Jun 09, 2014
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