depending on the individual). Your pet will
enjoy cat grass (a good source of fibre that aids
the removal of fur balls), which can be grown in
a pot. Plants to avoid include lilies, which are
toxic to felines, chrysanthemums, irises and
poppies (see the full list at cats.org.uk/
help-and-advice/dangerous-plants).
Marking their territory: If you can keep
neighbouring cats off your plot, it’s beneficial
for you and your pet (it’s generally the
neighbours who do the soiling; your own
often, obligingly, heads next door). Planting
shrubs closely, growing prickly plants or using
small pebbles will deter them from digging.
Depending on your dedication to the cause,
you could ‘midden’ on behalf of tiddles, which
means leaving his or her poo around the garden
to convey the message that it is their territory.RABBITS
Being a prey species, rabbits need secure,
private places where they can hide from
anything that scares them. Their diet is another
key factor in their wellbeing.
A healthy lawn is essential, as rabbits love to
graze and should ideally have a permanently
fixed run with a skirt attached to their hutch
(to deter digging predators). To give constanteasily become stuck in a dog’s paws.
Doggy business: If it’s possible to persuade
your dog to relieve itself in one area of the
garden, so much the better – not only will this
prevent your lawn being covered in scorch
marks, but you won’t have to keep your eyes
peeled for lurking stools. Failing that, consider
Dog Rocks (podiumpetproducts.com), which
naturally filter out nitrates (responsible for
yellowing grass) from their drinking water.C ATS
Places to warm themselves in the sun and take
a nap, climb, scratch and sharpen their claws:
the alfresco needs of cats are fairly simple. An
old tree stump or branch can accommodate
most of those behaviours, while also being an
attractive addition to your garden.
It’s also worth considering the threat cats
pose to visiting birds. “Place feeders high off
the ground, and away from any surfaces or
places a cat could jump from,” says Charlotte
Ambrose, RSPB wildlife expert. Avoid letting
your cat out an hour before sunset and an hour
after sunrise, when birds are most active.
What to plant: Put catnip and valerian in
accessible spots in a border and watch for the
effects on your kitty (it will stimulate or relax,From left: One man’s
weeds are another
rabbit’s gourmet
snack; ruling the roost
(and the veg beds);
love a duck! An old
bath tub will attract
wildlife as well as
provide a spot for
ducks to have a dip