So cal outdoor patio grow summer 2010

This is my second season growing outdoors on my patio. Last year was a bit disappointing...I ended up getting caterpillars and had to chop down my harvest early.
This summer I have vowed to watch and take care of my little ladies with all my care. I started 6 plants from seed on May 1st. I am now 6 weeks into the grow and only 4 survived. Over the past 2 weeks I have started to see some small holes in the older leaves of my plants. After researching on here I think I might have slugs.
I'm not sure exactly what to use. I have a cat that goes outside so I want to use something safe around pets. So far I have heard copper wire or broken glass. I won't use slug bait bcuz of my cat.

Anyway, here are some pics, feel free to follow their journey into mature womanhood. I will update at least once a week.

Similar story with me. I did my first grow on my balcony last year. And chopped early because of the budworms/caterpillars. I haven't had problems with slugs - probably because they can't get up to my balcony. I just treated my little flowering autos with BT last night. Pretty early to spray, but I want to see if I can get ahead of the budworms this year. Good luck!

Ya I'm definitely going to pick up some BT. After further inspection today I found a bunch of tiny yellowish-orange insects on the bottom of a lot of my older leaves. Any clue as to what these are and what kills them?

Not sure. I use this guide to identify deficiencies and bug issues: http://www.ganjaguerrilla.net/index.htm

I spray my plants with Neem oil as a preventative - whether I see bugs or not.