I always put up netting over freshly composted beds for several reasons. Firstly I don’t want local kitties doing their business. Secondly blackbirds love snuffling in compost, and will dig holes galore, and throw it everywhere.
Curiously for a month or two I have had no problems with kitties fowling the lawn and I suspect the fact that the compost was very smelly frightened them away. Perhaps they dislike a strong manure like smell. I might try collecting fresh local horse poop, and leaving piles around the garden.
