OT: cat-proofing your iris beds

I have 3 stray kittens which I've adopted, they're about 7 months old now.
They live outside and spend much of their time in my backyard (I live in a
residential neighborhood).  About a week ago they picked up the annoying
habit of wrestling in my flower beds.  They've destroyed several iris fans,
tulip stalks, and fritillaria stalks.  Before my irises begin to put up
bloom stalks does anyone have an intelligent suggestion for cat-proofing
my garden?  (No, shooting them is not an option, nor is putting up an
electric fence.)

The best thing I can think of is to put some opuntias amongst the irises.
(Opuntias are the pear-leafed cacti with 2" spines and boy do they hurt!)
But I do not have enough opuntias to go around.  (And another problem is
that I would have to sacrafice the opuntias bloom this year, which would
be a sad thing to have to do.)

Dennis Kramb; dkramb@tso.cin.ix.net
Cincinnati, Ohio USA; USDA Zone 6; AIS Region 6
Member of AIS, ASI, HIPS, RIS, SIGNA, & Miami Valley Iris Society
Primary Interests: Hybridizing Arilbreds, Raising Native Ohio Species Irises
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