Ask Me Help Desk - Cats going in the garden/yard

Cats going in the garden/yard

My apt entrance, at the side of a house in a garden. I have several feral cats and as many styrofoam houses for them. My landlord is getting
Fed up with the bald spots on his lawn. He pays for service and they
Are always putting down something (lime may be one) but the cats
Still go on the lawn. My landlord is right but these are ferals that
People abandoned and cannot fend for themselves. I've been doing
This for ten years. All but two cats are fixed.
Please help... help me make suggestions to my landlord

Ferals ruining garden

I have a feral colony... houses... all but two fixed. They are really making a mess of my landlords garden. He has garden service come
Every two weeks but whatever they put down doesn't make the grass
Grow in a lot of spots. He's been a patient landlord. I will like to find
A solution. Please don't tell me to get rid of the cats. They are
Feral and even though I can pet them, they are not house pets.
The animal control here, put down over 300 cats in the month of
November and more in December

Note:
I've included a quote from your earlier post on the same subject:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/other-...rd-440853.html
I'll see if I can get them merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy23

I have a feral colony....houses.....all but two fixed. They are really making a mess of my landlords garden. He has garden service come
every two weeks but whatever they put down doesn't make the grass
grow in a lot of spots. He's been a patient landlord. I will like to find
a solution. Please don't tell me to get rid of the cats. They are
feral and even though I can pet them, they are not house pets.
The animal control here, put down over 300 cats in the month of
November and more in December

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy23

My apt entrance, at the side of a house in a garden. I have several feral cats and as many styrofoam houses for them. My landlord is getting
fed up with the bald spots on his lawn. He pays for service and they
are always putting down something (lime may be one) but the cats
still go on the lawn. My landlord is right but these are ferals that
people abandoned and cannot fend for themselves. I've been doing
this for ten years. All but two cats are fixed.
Please help....help me make suggestions to my landlord

Hi! jammy23
They must be some Cats!

Our cat, Candy Pester
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_80cGISOzOds/R_...06_a%20037.jpg and her friends use our lawn, but I've never seen any damage.
I've seen dog urine affect lawns sooner than cats. You sure you don't have dogs running lose?

Unfortunately you are fighting a losing battle, as the law is against you.
Best I can offer for now are these two links.

The first, go to, Complaints & Animal Control, near the bottom of page two, and then read, How to Avoid Problems, following on page three:
http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/PDF/TNR&TheLaw.pdf

And:
Feral Cats: Frequently Asked Questions : The Humane Society of the United States

K

What about planting a hardier grass in the bare spots?

Here's a list of suggestions I found in a quick Google search for hardy grasses:
eco'lawn brand available from Wildflower Farms
Perennial Ryegrass (used on golf course, so it can stand heavy traffic, but requires a fair amount of care)
CanadaGreen™ Fast Growing Grass Seed

How to Keep Cats Away From Yards | Cat Repellents

We are in the same "business" as you, feeding and caring for ferals. We've even been able to socialize and adopt several, and add them to our family.

We now have set a litter box somewhat near the food station. We know they will "go" other places too, but perhaps over time, since they pretty much hang around our big yard, they will prefer the nice, scoopable litter over dirt. If your neighbor uses a repellent, the ferals' use of the litter box might become even more frequent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hheath541

what about planting a hardier grass in the bare spots?

here's a list of suggestions i found in a quick google search for hardy grasses:
eco'lawn brand available from Wildflower Farms
Perennial Ryegrass (used on golf course, so it can stand heavy traffic, but requires a fair amount of care)
CanadaGreen™ Fast Growing Grass Seed

Thank you for getting back to me. I'm afraid I have no say in what grass is used. My landlord is particular.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

We are in the same "business" as you, feeding and caring for ferals. We've even been able to socialize and adopt several, and add them to our family.

We now have set a litter box somewhat near the food station. We know they will "go" other places too, but perhaps over time, since they pretty much hang around our big yard, they will prefer the nice, scoopable litter over dirt. If your neighbor uses a repellent, the ferals' use of the litter box might become even more frequent.

What kind of litter box did you buy... where? It can't be too big.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammy23

What kind of litter box did you buy...where? It can't be too big.

It's a standard-sized one. We've gradually over several weeks moved it closer and closer to the garage, and finally inside the garage, so it will be protected during bad weather.

Are you on a ground floor balcony? Can the cats get to your balcony?

Get one of those "mud boxes" the guys use for mixin' concrete or mortar, a poly 18"x24"x4" deep should run 'bout $8 US.

Fill it with Clitter, and stick it in one of the balcony's corners.
Any protected area or somewhere near the trash station.

Quote:

jammy23 agrees : but how practicle for 13 cats

13?? You had written, "I have several feral cats... "