10 Small Garden Ideas for Cats That Work Better When You Stop Protecting Every Plant

8. The Outdoor “Litter Box” Alternative

I used to be completely horrified at the thought of purposely giving my cat a dedicated dirt pit on our deck.

With four kids constantly running around our sunny patio here in Cabo, the absolute last thing my wife and I wanted was Luna turning one of our few quiet corners into a bathroom.

But after losing my third batch of premium potting soil to her relentless digging habits, I finally realized I had to offer her a better trade.

Giving In to Their Instincts

Cats are hardwired to scratch and bury in soft, loose terrain, and honestly, you simply cannot train that instinct out of them.

Instead of fighting it, giving them a designated sand or soft dirt pit is a massive relief for both of you.

You are essentially providing a legal digging zone that perfectly satisfies their deepest feline urges.

Offering a more attractive alternative keeps them completely out of your expensive garden beds and delicate patio container garden.

Concealing the Functional Pit

The real trick to making this work in a gorgeous pet friendly landscape design is making sure it doesn’t actually look like a dirty litter box.

I love using a low, wide wooden planter box and filling it with soft, inexpensive play sand.

You can easily conceal the functional pit behind beautiful, tall cat-safe ornamental grasses or a row of heavy, sturdy planters.

It just looks like a natural, sandy zen feature in your small yard cat ideas, completely hiding its true purpose from your dinner guests.

Getting them a dedicated spot to scratch and dig is a massive victory for your soil, but what happens when they start slurping out of your muddy watering cans? Hit the next button below because I’m going to show you how a simple, interactive water feature can solve that problem instantly.