I was trying to think of something to write about and decided on an annoyance that I have every Spring. It has to do with our neighbors� cats. (Notice that neighbors� is plural.)

For many years, I have tried to grow flowers in my front yard. Every year, the cats would use my flower beds for depositing their gifts to nature. In addition to the flower beds, they have decided to also use under our deck for their littering. I have purchased different mixes to put around plants and even scattered moth balls; all to no avail.

I have complained to the neighbors (they�re sorry) and called Animal Control (there is no leash law for cats). My husband has even sprayed them with the water hose on several occasions. They don�t care. They still keep coming back. They do, however, run when they see my husband coming out of the door.

As a last resort, the last few years I have just decided to purchase some shepherd hooks and hang pots of flowers rather than go through the aggravation. There is however still one thing that really irritates me. Because of the cats, in addition to ruining my flowers they have also �killed� three rose bushes. Also, a few years ago, my son gave me a beautiful rhododendron plant. My plant has �one� just �one� flower on it. As I look across the street at my neighbors� house, they both have great big beautiful rhododendron bushes. What is wrong with this picture????

With that in mind, I thought I will continue to hang the flower baskets rather than plant them, but I am going to try one more thing. I had heard about using cayenne pepper to scare the cats away because it would burn their feet. I made a purchase of two jars of pepper and sprinkled some around the rhododendron plant (which seems to be a very favorable spot) and under the deck. Would you believe that the next morning when I checked under the deck that there were paw prints in the sprinkled pepper along with a deposit. Are they trying to tell me something or what?

I�m sure I have irritated some cat lovers, but if your neighbors have a problem with your pets, they may not be as nice as I am and may harm your little darlings. If there is no leash law in your area, at least try to keep your pet indoors so that it is not destroying other people�s property��. Okay, I�ve vented. Have a nice day.