Feral cats visiting the garden

Q. One of the gardeners at our community garden has invited cats to the area. Isn’t this bad for our garden?

Pat from Youngstown

A. They are so cute, so cuddly, so independent, and if you are a cat person, a constant lovable companion.

But when you are a gardener and have lots of outdoor cats, there can be problems.

It is estimated that there are 60 to 160 million feral cats in the United States – owing in large part to a lack of sterilization.

So what’s the big deal anyway? There are scientists who contend that allowing feral (unowned) cats to constantly reproduce might be among the worst ways humans contribute to ecological decline. Some say feral cats have been responsible for the decline of songbirds, reptiles and mammals.

The control of infectious diseases in feral cats also is important to other animals, humans, fields and gardens. Talking about cat feces is not a pleasant thing, but a discussion about soil contamination is important.

Soft soil makes a nice outdoor litter box. Cat feces can host a parasite found primarily in undercooked meat that can cause toxoplasmosis, which is considered a leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But more than 40 million Americans carry the parasite and few have symptoms because the immune system prevents it from causing illness.

Those at risk are anyone with a compromised immune system, as well as women who become infected during pregnancy or shortly before who can experience miscarriages, or serious health conditions to the child later in life.

(It should be noted that other animal feces can also contain parasites such as roundworm and hookworms, and/or bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.)

So what should you do if cats use your vegetable gardens as a litter box?

Remove all feces and the surrounding soil.

Dispose of any produce that may have come in contact with the feces.

While in the garden always shake off excess soil just in case of a cat intrusion.

Always wash all produce under running water, not in big batches in a basin or tub.

Wash your tools, gloves, and boots away from the garden.

Always wear gloves when gardening.

Of course, blocking the garden entrance is most effective. You could consider wire cages, floating row covers or a chicken wire fence. Laying chicken wire on top of the soil will keep them from digging to bury their waste.

Visit http://go.osu.edu/feral for more details about habitat modification and repellents. And always contact local humane agents before trapping or using other nonlethal controls.

This week’s answer is provided by OSU Extension master gardener volunteer Marilyn McKinley. Winter hours for the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic vary. Submit questions to the clinic at 330-533-5538 or drop samples off to the Extension office in Canfield.