Deterring Cats from Garden Beds

[fleemo17]

We currently have a stray cat who has set up shop in our back yard. I actually enjoy his company as I stroll around the garden. He follows me everywhere, examining the latest blooms with me, and has become a bit of a chum. However, he's using my raised beds as his litterbox and the stink is getting bad. What are effective deterrents to keep him from using my garden beds as a bathroom? I don't want to shoo him away entirely, but instead, inspire him to poop somewhere besides my garden beds. Is sprinkling Cayanne Pepper in the beds effective? What about a cocoa mulch? I'd rather not put down netting, as it seems it'd be difficult for thicker-stemmed flowers (like dahlias) to grow through it.

[J. Clarke]

Google "cat garden". If he's got his own cat-friendly place then he may not use the beds.

[Jangchub]

First thing I'd do is have him spayed or neutered. Then you can use rose canes with thorns in the spot where he goes. Sometimes putting a clean litter box out there works, but it has to be kept clean daily

[dr-solo]

[fleemo17]

Thanks for the input.

-F