Keep Cats Away from Sandboxes

Sandboxes are a lot of fun for little children to play in! They are also like giant litter boxes to cats. If the neighborhood cats or maybe even your own keeps on using your sandbox as a litter box, read below!

Steps

 * 1) Clean out the sandbox. If you're reading this article it likely means that cats have already done their business in the sandbox, and you're going to want to clean it out! Remove all the sand and scrub it out. Once the sandbox is dry, fill it up with new sand, or take to the shed if it's starting to get cold.
 * 2) *You may want to use alcohol to sanitize the sandbox.
 * 3) Get/use a cover for the sandbox. This is one of the simplest ways to keep cats out! If you don't have a cover for your sandbox, use a tarp or another weatherproof, sturdy material.
 * 4) Build a fence around your yard. If the problem is the neighborhood cats, a fence is an easy fix to
 * 5) Teach your cat not to use the sandbox. Whenever you catch your cat at it, pick him up and move him elsewhere, speaking in your "discipline tone". Eventually, your cat will learn to keep away from the sandbox.
 * 6) Put some used kitty litter near the sandbox, This will show other cats that the sandbox had been marked by another cat, and it is not their sandbox to use.
 * 7) Use a motion-activated water sprinkler. As you know, cats hate water, so putting a sprinkler near the sandbox will definitely keep the cats away!
 * 8) Use foods cats hate. Orange peels, coffee grounds, and cayenne pepper will drive cats away! Mix them together (quantity doesn't count) and add some water and sprinkle around the play area. Remember to re-apply every few days!

Tips

 * Throughout the process, try to limit access to the sandbox.

Warnings

 * Keep your kids away from the cats- you never know if they've been vaccinated for diseases!
 * Make sure you treat the cats humanely.

Related

 * Keep Cats from Chewing on Electric Cords and Chargers
 * Control Stray Cats
 * Stop Cats from Defecating on Property

Sources and Citations

 * http://voices.yahoo.com/how-keep-cats-out-sandbox-3663267.html?cat=53