cats making a mess in the tractor shed

LorenMN · Oct 10, 2013

For the last few years I've been keeping a couple of cats in my pole barn to control the mice, and they help control the rats in the corn crib that's near the pole barn. The cats crawl under the sliding door to prowl outside, and I feed them inside, so they can come and go as they please.

When I poured the concrete floor, I left a 16'x20' corner by the door with crushed granite, to park steel wheel tractors or a crawler. Got a 15-30 and an F20 sitting there now. Problem is, the darn cats have been using the area under the tractors as a big litter box, making a mess and stinking up the place. I've kept a clean litter box near the edge of the crushed granite, but they aren't using it. They can go outside, but that ain't as much fun I guess.

Any ideas for something that I could put on the crushed granite to keep them from doing their business there? I'm thinking about laying some wire mesh or chicken wire under the tractors to keep them from digging, but that's not very convenient. Any type of spray that would repel them from the area? I'm moving the tractors out this weekend to clean up all the tootsie rolls, so I'd like to put an end to it before I move them back in.

Ken Crisman · Oct 10, 2013

I was told throwing down lots of lime to cover the area you don't want them to litter which also covers the odor . Then spread lots of moth balls over the lime to deter them . Maybe keep a couple clean litter boxes where you want them to go potty . It seemed to work for me . I'm glad you like cats like I do .HTH ! God bless , Ken

LorenMN · Oct 10, 2013

I took in two strays 3 years ago, when I started storing ground feed in the shed. Surprisingly, they were both 'fixed,' one male and one female, so I haven't had any kittens. Took in onother stry two years ago, a young tom cat that is friendly too. Not sure about his mousing ability, but the other two pull their weight. the fixed male has brought back a few dead rats from the next door neighbor's grain bins I get an occasional stray that hangs around for a while too. I like the cats, but the mess is annoying. Early on they used the litter box, but they've quit using it last year.

Bill Radford · Oct 10, 2013

Gosh when you said toosie rolls that brought back a very funny (to me) prank that I played on my better half one time.
One of our cats developed the habit of getting up on our bed and taking her evening nap.My wife was dubious of this at best, but I assured her that the cat was clean and wouldn't hurt a thing.
It was right after Halloween and we had some candy left in our bucket from trick or treat.
The devil got into me and I took a couple of those midget tootsie rolls, softened them up in my hands and shaped them up to look like You-know-what. I then placed them on the bedspread where the cat had curled up. After an hour or so (close to bedtime) I heard a loud shriek followed by "GET UP HERE NOW!!
She was hysterical and wanted me to look at what "my cat" had done on "her" bed.
I laughed so hard I couldnt get my breath. She was NOT amused. The cat had no idea what was going on,fled down the stairs and wouln'dt get back on the bed for a long time.

Mike (WA) · Oct 10, 2013

Only way to improve on that prank is to pop one of them in your mouth.

Bill Radford · Oct 10, 2013

Thought about it but I was'nt sure the cat hadnt licked them.
Also my wife might have passed out...

smallercrawler · Oct 10, 2013

Make a weak mix of Clorox and water, spray it over the area a couple of times; they will find alternate facilities, and the area will smell better.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 10, 2013

Local farm store has a granular than I put in the garden and around the house, works for me. Just called cat and dog repellent, check the garden section of some stores.

37chief · Oct 10, 2013

Maybe keeping the area wet might discourage the cats. I was thinking moth balls also. Stan

ShadetreeRet · Oct 10, 2013

From the cat's standpoint:
"I wish this guy would move his equipment out of our litter box!"

PJH · Oct 10, 2013

I had a friend who was scouting deer for a couple city boys. He dumped a little box of Sun Maid raisins out on some dry sycamore leaves when those guys had their back turned. They finally discovered the "deer signs" and oohed and aahed over the discovery. Jerry popped one in his mouth, chewed it thoughtfully, and pronounced it to be pretty fresh "sign" - not over an hour old.

Absent Minded Farmer · Oct 10, 2013

I found a low-flat plastic storage tub (23"Lx16"Wx4"H), added an inch or so of floor-dry in the bottom & put chicken wire over the top, bending some excess wires over the side to hold it in place. The cats sniffed at it & left it alone.

Mike

60 acre hillside · Oct 10, 2013

I like that!

Greg K · Oct 10, 2013

I've got a dog that will solve the cat problem. Can't help with the rodents though.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 10, 2013

Distribute a few chinese chestnut hulls around like a mine field pattern, that's what my grandmother usedta do!

ben brown · Oct 10, 2013

well the best thing i found just plan black pepper ones in a while i use chilli power or any left over spice around the house cats have to sniff before going . pepper just make them sneeze and go else where

danmcdonald · Oct 10, 2013

I would take the Tootsie rolls over the damage mice and rats make.

mkirsch · Oct 11, 2013

Lime under steel wheeled tractors might not be a great idea.

Wet lime is caustic, like calcium chloride solution.

B-Mod · Oct 11, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:36:17 10/10/13) I've got a dog that will solve the cat problem. Can't help with the rodents though.

I have a few Jack Russel, and Rat Terriers, they will take care of the cat problem, AND the rodent problems, lol....

Jon Hagen · Oct 11, 2013

LOL, could have really blown her mind had you grabbed on of those tootse rolls and popped it into your mouth.

cats making a mess in the tractor shed

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