Cat Deterrents for your Garden: Keep in mind that each cat is different (like people), a deterrent that works for one may not necessarily work for another. On the plus side, most cats will keep pesty squirrels, moles and other critters out of your garden. They're great for keeping out moles, rabbits, squirrels, and other critters which can do more damage in your garden than a cat ever will. If the cats have owners, talk to them without being confrontational. The cat owner who allows his cat to damage other peoples' property is as guilty as the cat hater who kills the cat for trespassing. Remember, cats will be cats, and it is unfair of us to blame them for being what they are and how nature intended them to participate in this world.� After-all, we praise them when they catch mice or rats or other creatures we deem to be 'pests'. * amonia soaked (corncobs, etc) * aluminum foil * bamboo skewers * black pepper * blood meal fertilizer * bramble cuttings * Carefresh - "recycled" wood pulp * catnip - donated into your neighbor's yards (so they'll stay in their own yards) * cedar compost * chicken wire (metal or plastic) * cinnamon * citrus peels * citrus spray * cocoa bean shells * coffee grounds -fresh & unbrewed, not just a light sprinkling (highly recommended by MANY Gardenwebbers!) * dogs * electric fence for animals * essence of orange. essence of lemon, lime (citrus essential oils) * fresh manure(ditto) * garlic cloves * gumballs from the Sweet Gum Tree * gutter covers * hardware cloth * heavy bark mulch * holly leaves * keep the area damp, they like dry soil * lavender * liquid manure (good for your garden too) * motion sensor sprinkler * pennyroyal * pinecones * pipe tobacco * plastic forks * predator urine * red wine vinegar * river rocks over the exposed soil * rocks, crushed * rose bush clippings * rue, an herb (Ruta graveolens) (highly recommended in plant form only) * short twigs throughout the planted area about 6" apart * six-inch bamboo skewers (pointy side up) * Spray on your leaves (not the cat): fill a spray bottle with 1/2 t chili powder, 1/2 t cayenne pepper, 1 t dish soap and water * squirt gun with water * talk to your neighbors * tansy * thorny berry, lilac, hawthorn, rose clippings * toothpicks * upside down vinyl carpet * vinegar sprayed on areas where they roam * water bottle on "stream" NOT RECOMMENDED: *** chili powder, red crushed pepper, cayenne pepper (NOT recommended), it gets on the cat's paws then they wash themselves and they get it in their eyes, beware cats have literally scratched their eyes out because of this. Even if it's one cat out of 500 infected in this way, that's one too many for me. *** Don't ever use mothballs or flakes. Those little toxic waste pellets destroy cats' kidney function, could seriously harm people who handle them, and yes, contaminate your own garden soil. Their packaging even warns against using them this way. Give them their own areas: (To keep them out of where you don't want them) (If you don't mind them protecting your garden from other critters) + pick the cat up and bring it to eye level with the plant to see and smell it up close. She noted that once her cat has seen and sniffed at the plant, she usually doesn't bother with it later. + give them their own plants - i.e., pots of grass for her to chew on and a place in a large planted container on her balcony with some miscanthus grass in it (the cat likes to curl up in that for some reason) + if the cats are strictly indoors and attracted to your houseplants, grow catgrass for them. If someone forced you to remain inside one enclosed structure all your life, you might be attracted to the plants too. + Barley Grass + Any type of "catgrass" from the pet store + Carex elata 'Bolwes Golden' but put it in some shade + Catmint Nepeta mussinicultivars (Simply put, Catmints are Catnips without any culinary or feline use. In any case, they are, however, phenomenal, long flowering, hardy perennials that belong in every fairie or flower garden.) + Catnip Nepeta cataria (in your own yard) The oils of which also work as a mosquito repellent that works 10 times better than Deet! Catmint is the common name for all varieties of Nepeta. Catnip is the common name for the specific variety of Nepeta called nepeta cataria, which is the variety that cats are most attracted to. + Cat Thyme (Teucrium marum) + Flax + Oat Grass + Jacob's Ladder + Lemon Grass + Loose soil and mulch like small bark mulch + Mints + Purple Fountain Grass so the cat lays in the long leaves all day. Maybe put something in that the cats really like and - you know cats won't winky were they like to hang out. + Sandy area + Silver vine (Actinidia polygama) + Striped Ribbon Grass (can be invasive) + Sweet grass + Trificum aestivum (type of cat grass) + Various Varieties of Cat Mints (Catnips) + Wheat Grass + Wheat Berries + Valerian This list compiled by Violet_Z6, email at violet_z6@yahoo.com for comments and suggestions regarding this list.

I am just now getting back due to bad weather we had to unplug the computer.Ashley had several nose bleeds after she came home and last nite.No she did not pick her nose.What happen ,she has always had them.With all this pollen,her sinitus is bad,her nose drys out,and her blood vessels are really weak.We are planning to see a ENT doctor because since she has them so often.Thanks from the bottom of my heart for ALL who replyed to this post.You have been very helpful.We had to throw away her good shirt since it was so bad covered.She got very sick to her stomach.Yes she did panic and Greg [my hubby] told her to try not to panic because it made her bleed worst and he talked to her several times over the phone assuring her she would not die over this.I was told also to go to CVS and ask them if they sell something you can shoot up her nose to stop it.Someone just told us they do sell something that she could carry in her purse,that would stop it right than.Thanks again for ALL your help.She goes to the tanning bed but we told her not to go today since she could get it bleeding again getting hot.Yesterday after they got it to stop bleeding,she is going to dog grooming school,she got hot and it broke loose again.So that is why we do not think she needs to go tan today.

Nina, if your girl had good CBC results originally, why did they give her Vitamin K? I know it helps clotting, but usually only is needed if there is a defect in clotting (such as comes from ingestion of rat poison). If it was my dog, and there was even a slight irregularity the first time (as you say her clotting time was slightly increased), I would want to know it had not progressed. In fact, that is exactly what happened with our girl. She first had a very slightly low platelet reading in January. We ran a bunch of tests and she seemed to be fine. When she "crashed" in April, the first thing I asked for was a CBC (and a Lyme disease test). Sure enough, her platelets had plummeted. Thank you for the condolences. When we determined in April (a year ago) that her platelets were so low, we tried some treatments but she only lasted three days. We did have her put to sleep, but I am certain she would have died that day regardless. She began bleeding internally. I may be overreacting because of my experience, but I now know how serious bleeding can be. I really hope your girl just has an infection and I do agree with others that if you can get an MRI or CT that would be a good idea. Good luck to both of you.

in the winter I wear multiple layers, because I am usually cold if I'm just sitting around... the second I get up and start doing things (or for an hour or 2 after I shower) I am nice and comfortable. one reason I like to keep the house cool is I can't stand all the heat in the house- it dries our nasal passages- one of my kids was prone to nose bleeds- and as I'm getting older, my hands get so dry if I use too much heat!! so I wear layers and I have warm throws on the FR couch that we use if I'm sitting, reading or watching tv. but, oddly enough, I get SO hot at night-- I keep our bedroom as cold as I can get it and still get hot-- it's getting worse as I get older too. I have always liked a cold room to sleep in and turn the heat way down at night and the air way down at night in the summer... but i keep it pretty warm in the house during the day in the summer because I usually wear shorts and always think it's crazy to put a sweater on in the house during the summer! I often freeze and need a sweater in restaurants or theatres in the summer! I love spring and fall-- don't like it too cold or too hot and really don't like high summer time humidity... I run really hot if I'm active or when I sleep and cold if I just sit around! since I'm home the most, I program the thermostats!