Foxy Lady: Way more than double the trouble!! I never had to worry about pine needles, I always had an artificial tree. But I remember from when I was a kid those things get everywhere! Theres no play pen in the world will keep pine needles in!

BerniceC: Cats are much more adaptable than dogs, and I think they understand more too. Dogs are very loyal and stress more with changes. They also pick up on their owners feelings more than cats.

BerniceC: Aww the poor thing. It might just be a phase, its probably just him being sad thats making him do it. He'll be confused about why he isn't around now, and he'll also be picking up on your sorrow. Its a bad time for you both.

Foxy when my twins were little I'd put my tree near a wall, then get cotton or string, and in 4 or 5 places tie it around the middle of the tree so you can't see it and pit in to the wall behind. It stopped the tree falling on them if they pulled it.

I know its not quite the same Scarlet but there are some beautiful artificial trees these days. And they last for years.

BerniceC: It can sometimes help to put in their basket an item of clothing which would have Vern's scent on it. An old jumper or something. It might make him feel a bit happier.

Theres some quite good advice on this page too;

http://netscape.petplace.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=4085

Good luck with him.

bumble:

Ooh thanks for that, I didn't know pepper kept them off by burning their paws, I'm glad I didn't opt for that one! I would have thought it was the smell they didn't like.
I'll give the moth balls a go first, they should work. If theres any problems I'll try Bernices nephowotsit powder, I like the idea of keeping away cockroaches and mice as well! Not that I've seen any here, but we do get beetles that LOOK like cockroaches on first glance, they're so big!

I didn't think of the kids, the garden is open, no fence or anything so any kid can pick things up from there. We were going to put bark down anyway, I guess a light covering of bark over them wouldn't stop the smell getting through, but it would hide them from the kids.

Brilliant!! Thanks Bumble, you're good for something after all!!

bumble: Yeah, lions.

I had a look in Tesco and they didn't have any. Guess I'll have to go further afield - but this is kind of getting off topic!

We're due a heatwave this weekend, does anyone know if pansies burn in the sun? My daughter has a pot of them, I don't know if I should put them in the shade if it gets too sunny?

Rose: Great! I'll get some later. I've grown up with cats and I didn't know that.

Rose: Thats just what I need, thanks! It really is only a flower bed with a tiny bit of grass at the front so that should work great.

Oh, but how do you get a knife small enough... never mind!

Really? See I didn't know that! I knew there would be something, thanks Rose!

You want me to dry out Lenny's poo?!
I guess I was hoping for a more pleasant solution, like the garlic for the bugs... I suppose cats don't mind garlic?!

I thought of that Eriisa, but its the smell! The patch they're using is right under the living room window. I'll have to clear it all up before I can even open the windows
(And its not a very nice smell for anyone coming to the front door either!)

Its not the back garden thats the problem, its the front. Right under the window, and they're doing it at night when Lenny is tucked up in his bed! Its the smell that gets me, and the more I pick up, the more appears. I think they're bringing their friends.

Ha ha I found that page too when I was comparing prices!

Found it!

Crocus


Its a bit expensive though!

Are you serious?!

Uh, well lovely with just 2 small problems

One, we don't have any lions locally
And two, its the smell we don't like - and lion poo would still smell!

What can you put on soil to keep cats from using it as a toilet?!