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Casa Grande, AZ

Im sure im not the only one with that one pesty cat, entering the patch at night and the only reason I found it out was because my indoor cat saw him in the middle of the night creeping around and he flipped out. I think one of the reasons he here is because of a compost spot I have and he might be getting in it to feed. Does anyone have this problem and what can I do about it? Also what are the risks about cats being around the patch? Do they eat the pumpkins? Thanks in advance for any advise!!

6/8/2008 9:51:29 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

hopefully he'll get all the mice waiting to burrow into your pumpkin..

6/8/2008 10:30:09 AM

Taber, Alberta

Every year I get new batch of farm kittens following me around the patch. They do keep me company and entertained, as well as giving my kids something to do out at the farm, besides weeding. At least 2-3 times a week, I find one of them munching on a mouse.

Problem is, when I put up a shade structure later this summer, there will be insects that get stuck inside it. The cats are so playful, they will jump on top of the pumpkin to get the bugs and will leave claw marks. Besides this, they've never harmed my pumpkins. I'm just a softie, so it's a small price to pay for me.

6/8/2008 10:42:34 AM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

set out a live trap with some tuna fish in it. It may take a night or two but you will get it. A small scratch in the pumpkin when it is softball size my ruin the pumpkin. When it is beachball size it will most likely leave an unsightly scar.

6/8/2008 11:22:40 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

......your kidding right Brian??? Trap the neighbours cat...friendly thing to do.

Cats will not do any harm to your patch or your pumpkins, rather they will keep the critters away.

Check out my diary and see what my patch cat did for me the other day.

6/8/2008 12:35:09 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

I was being PC. My real thought is the SSS (shoot, shovel and shutup) but some people don't agree with that. Odds are its a ferrel cat. Turn it over the humane society if you do not want to kill it.

6/8/2008 1:47:19 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

lmao!

6/8/2008 2:55:48 PM

Minnesota

Cat nip will go good in a trap if you have some growing wild.

6/8/2008 3:13:55 PM

California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I have only a few neighbors. Not one of them has cats. I have coyote in our fenced yard a few days a week to eat a few of my chickens. Cats will not live long outside. Stupid people dump there cats here. I think they think they can live off the land in the desert. I use to take them in until I ended up with 16 cats in my house. Those that have gotten out have got eaten. Right now I have 4 and thats enough. I won't take any more cats in. I have trapped some and other where friendly or hungry enough to just pick up. I now take all cats to a no kill shelter. I have already taken 6 cats this year.

6/8/2008 4:16:26 PM

Rhode Island

shoot a cat ? how about someone shooting at you?

growers will have bigger and harder chalanges that a stray cat roaming around the patch.

cats are not a problem and anyone who would suggest shooting them does not belong in my teepee

pap

6/8/2008 4:56:35 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Cripes Glenn, that looks like two cats fighting. We don't get squirrels that big here. I have a big male cat that sticks around the garden and I never have rodent trouble.

6/8/2008 5:45:31 PM

Rexburg, Idaho (brianchristensenmd@gmail.com )

Like it or not feral cats are a real problem, perhaps not in the pumpkin patch but they sure raise havok in my kids sand box. Being an avid birder I have a problem with feral cats. Check out this link if you do not believe me.
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/

6/8/2008 8:34:45 PM

porterville, calif.

I had a feral cat that like to eat my pumpkin plants when they were young. I think they could smell the fish emulsion I was using. They were chewing them up pretty bad. They also ruined a couple plants for me. I relocated them to the animal shelter.

6/8/2008 11:54:50 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Andy, you can see why I am happy with my cat and the job he is doing taking care of the squirrels...and yes the squirrels here are big buggers so that is why I am just so proud of this guy right now!!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=84963

6/9/2008 12:27:49 AM

Casa Grande, AZ

WOW thanks for all the advise guy's. I currently have 2 cats and dont intend to kill any strays. Pap I think your right when I have more things to worry about like rising gas prices...lol really your right. Neighbor have lots of problems with goffers and just the other day I found the head of one in my yard. It had the biggest teeth! All your response's were great thanks again to all!!!

6/9/2008 8:25:36 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

A cat scratch on your pumpkin versus a mouse hole in the bottom...I'll keep the cat.

6/9/2008 3:37:54 PM

Casa Grande, AZ

Well I didnt mean to start a fight. Pap I would never shoot a cat, I have 2 of them. When are we all going in the teepee? Oh and by the way I have more stupied questions than you can handle. Thanks again to all!!!

6/10/2008 12:19:48 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I have two yardcats (their mama was a stray I took in and I didn't get her fixed before she had four in my garage) that learned from their mom how to catch squirrels, birds, and lots of other things. They are spoiled, fed; and hunt actively. (yes I had them neutered, they're boys-the girls and mama went to a ranch that wanted natural rodent control) I also have a keeshond that can tree raccoons, she's done it at another place. They all get free access to the whole yard. I occasionally clean up some feathers or an end of a mouse or all but the middle of a squirrel, but. The cats earn their keep and I would rather take a catscar (scratch) than a vole or mouse hole or a squirrel chomp. The female squirrel that ate up my brandywine and a dozen rip tomatoes last year, decided to move into the garage. I got her with a stick, and one of my boys slurked out after, he'd been stalking her... as for your kittycat, good for him. Just make sure your squirrels aren't full of bubonic plague or something like that. (ours here are not)

6/11/2008 11:49:00 AM

Casa Grande, AZ

Thanks for the reply. I really dont mind him to much, I just dont know where he's from and hope he has a mommy or daddy that just lets him out at night because the days are well over 100!!!

6/11/2008 9:14:02 PM

Columbus,ohio

don't take it to the humane socity ...they will kill it

6/20/2008 3:53:53 PM

Casa Grande, AZ

I would never, I love cats!!!

6/20/2008 11:51:46 PM