How to repel cats

[_dobbo_]

Ok, I know we have a lot of cat lovers on PH, however I am [b]not[/b] one of them. I don't mind cats, they are ok to look at and I'll give them a stroke now and then, but that's it.

However when cats start crapping in my garden, front and back, then this all changes. Now it's war.

So I bought some wire mesh to block off the bottom of my gate, and put loads of cat repellant all along the 7ft brick wall around my garden - I figured this would be enough...

But no, the cats apparently don't even notice the "powerful odour which acts like an invisible barrier" as they mince along my wall before jumping into my garden and shitting in my flower pots (also full of cat repellant) again.

I've put repellant down - they come back.
I put lemon peel all around - apparently they hate that. My arse they do, they come back.
I've turned the hose on them - they come back.

Now words cannot express my rage after spending all morning tidying my garden ready for a barbeque, I go in the house for 5 minutes, then come back to find one of the cats has hit an all time low. It's climbed in a flower pot, and shitted over the edge, all down the side, all over my decking, then covered it with a nice thin layer of soil.

Cat lovers - look away now. I want to kill these things. I know it's not the cat's fault but I don't care. I also want to kill the owners. Pure irrational rage, but that's what I'm left with.

How do I stop these cats once and for all without having to stoop to the drastic levels of Felinicide? ( i made that word up :) )

So, rant over, advice required. Please don't advise I buy "Get off my Garden" as it's fucking useless. Please also don't advise lemon peel - it doesn't work.

Help please. It's going to give me stress related illness at this rate!

[neil.b]

Stress related illness? Get a cat - it's suggested in some medical circles that caring for one can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stress related conditions.


Sorry...

[Podie]

1) Get a cat, that'll stop other cats.
2) Get a dog.

>> Edited by Podie on Friday 15th July 12:37

[nuclearsquash]

Anti Personnel Mines?
BB Gun? Non lethal for the cat lovers
Catapult?
A Rottweiler?
Orbiting Lazer based defence platform a la Akira?

Im sure someone will come along with less sensible options soon

[TypeR]

My neighbours cats dump all over my lawn. Having 2 little girls at home, the thought of them treading in it makes me shudder.
Were I a rotten barsteward, I might have been tempted to shoot the cats, but fortunately for the cats,
a/ I have a consience
b/ The house is overlooked and there would be witnesses.

However a big Super Soaker filled with ice cold water might do the trick.

Good luck, and don't waste your money on "sonic" pest repellents either. Total tosh.

[cotty]

Put cat in cannon, light blue touch paper.

Oh sorry ..repel

[vrooom]

Put lion poo on your grass? no?

[cotty]

TypeR said:

However a big Super Soaker filled with ice cold water might do the trick.

I have heard this works but you need to keep repeating the process

[evil jack]

7ft brick walls don't mean anything to animals that can climb so well. Cats are very territorial and they each have their own patch and don't give a toss about our boundaries.
Here's some suggestions you probably won't like:

1. Have a patch of earth somewhere in your garden thats out of sight - behind a shed or something. They'll then shit in this and not in your pots. Just dig it over once a week...

2. Get a cat. And a litter tray. Then you'll only have one to clean up after instead of loads of them.

3. Get a dog (cat is easier and cheaper to look after though!)

>> Edited by evil jack on Friday 15th July 12:44

[Tank Slapper]

One of these should do the trick.

[simpo two]

Work with them Cats like freshly dug soil best for crapping in. You could consider a 'sacrifical bed' where the cats will dump out of harms way. Most cats will bury their poo; only a few dominant ones leave it out as a marker.

Cat poo may not be savoury but least they don't leave it on pavements and public footpaths

[cotty]

how about wire mesh on top of the plant pot.

Find out who owns them and return their little presents, preferably in a paper bag on their doorstep that you have just lit with a match then ring the door bell

[titiany]

Dobbo - hate to say it, but the cat-repellent products ONLY work if you get rid of all, and I mean ALL, the poo that is already there first.

Otherwise the cats can still smell their own scent (or something like that).

Get scooping mate, and then reapply!

sorry.

[_dobbo_]

simpo two said:

Cat poo may not be savoury but least they don't leave it on pavements and public footpaths

Ah, but it's the owner that is to blame there. When I walk my sister's dog, I always carry a few poo bags to pick up his crap. I don't see my neighbours extending me that courtesy.

I'm thinking a shovel based delivery system to my neighbours doormat may be the next step.

[_dobbo_]

titiany said:

Dobbo - hate to say it, but the cat-repellent products ONLY work if you get rid of all, and I mean ALL, the poo that is already there first. Otherwise the cats can still smell their own scent (or something like that). Get scooping mate, and then reapply! sorry.

I'm at the stage now where I'm going to sacrifice the two tubs that have had the brunt of it - get rid of them altogether. Then liberal application of repellant, use of hose, and fingers crossed.

[simpo two]

_dobbo_ said:

I'm thinking a shovel based delivery system to my neighbours doormat may be the next step.

Tempting but probably not the best solution for neighbourly harmony! Save money on compost, dig it in and sing happy songs.

Tiger crap is supposed to work. Go to your local zoo, get a bag of tiger crap and scatter it about. Hang on...

>> Edited by simpo two on Friday 15th July 12:55

[BliarOut]

Catapault and an ice cube.... the evidence melts This tip was given to me by a

I'm with you, my neighbours cat craps in my garden too... Not theirs, MINE I spend bloody ages making my borders look nice and the little er comes along and wrecks it. Don't even get me on to toxicara and my young kids

I was soooo tempted to go a bit heavy on the slug pellets when I read on the packaging that they are both atractive to and also harmful to cats

ing bastard cats, I hate em

[munky]

_dobbo_ said:

Now words cannot express my rage after spending all morning tidying my garden ready for a barbeque, I go in the house for 5 minutes, then come back to find one of the cats has hit an all time low. It's climbed in a flower pot, and shitted over the edge, all down the side, all over my decking, then covered it with a nice thin layer of soil.

PMSL!

Stick some broken glass to the top of your wall, that'll deter it somewhat. Or some spikey things. Both are commonly used to deter intruders before anyone calls the RSPCA.

[ledger]

munky said:

_dobbo_ said: Now words cannot express my rage after spending all morning tidying my garden ready for a barbeque, I go in the house for 5 minutes, then come back to find one of the cats has hit an all time low. It's climbed in a flower pot, and shitted over the edge, all down the side, all over my decking, then covered it with a nice thin layer of soil. PMSL! Stick some broken glass to the top of your wall... commonly used to deter intruders before anyone calls the RSPCA.

I doubt you can legally do this anymore (on walls to deter intruders that is). If you can't use barbed wire why would you be able to use broken glass ?.

[opieoilman]

Spray paint on the side of the cat a message you would like the owner to recieve then collect all the poop put it into a small bag, tie the bag round the coller if they have one and send the cat home.

It worked in my garden.