I'll turn it off at the first sign and sit up all night with the flamethrower instead.
You'll get all the usual responses now Des....
Glad it's been effective for you. The ones round here are unbelievably persistent, undeterred by anything physical on open ground or raised beds, and out all day and night all year round. If you feed birds, you become an obvious target too.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I must say that I don't find clearing up cat poo that much of a problem. We have a large garden and open drive so I couldn't stop them even if I tried. Okay, it's momentary unpleasant and smelly but it's no worse than children's dirty nappies and once you've had to deal with them, you're inured for life. Fortunately for us, our beloved very timid cat much preferred his inside litter tray and came inside to do his stuff so we were lucky in that aspect. It only becomes a greater nuisance if you let it.
I certainly do have a problem clearing up cat carp. It's slimy and smells disgusting. I haven't had kids so can't compare. I won't have a dog, much as I would love to, because just the thought of having to pick up after it makes me heave.
There are no circumstances where it is OK to expect anybody to clear **** up in their own garden after it's been deposited by somebody elses pet.
Just on the level of unpleasantness posed by cat poo.
I find the stench quite nauseating, and I don't have a weak stomach. I don't want it in my garden, and I don't see why I should dispose of the waste products left by other people's pets.
My other objection to cats being on my property is the toll they take of wildlife. No way do I want to play host to a) their poo, and b) their malign intentions towards small birds and animals.
Another piece of advice from experience. Don't leave your water scarecrow turned on when the window cleaner comes. Although you'd think window cleaners would be used to getting wet!
Would you believe that anyone would resort to this ?........Some people actually put anti-freeze onto their garden paths , which is in turn transferred to the cats paws !........How awful is that eh???
I , like many of the above posts , am sick and tired of the wanton slaughter of songbirds in my garden .
The score this summer :- 4 Goldfinch , 3 blue-tits , 3 blackbirds , 1 Robin and several sparrows . This is just in my garden alone ; imagine this happening on a daily basis and nationally .
In our previous house, which was in a heavily built up area, we had a very small front garden which was mainly driveway, with a hydrangea, a lavender bush and a privet hedge. We had regular winter visits from a robin which appeared when we opened the front door and waited eagerly for his or her titbits, head cocked cheekily one one side, as they do.
We then got new neighbours who had two cats, and the robin never came again.
I don't know whether the little bird became cat food or whether it was dissuaded from returning by the presence of the cats, but there was precious little other wildlife in our urban street and the disappearance of the robin made me sad and mad in equal measure.
The cats round here don't kill anything like that number of birds Paul B3 - at least not in our garden. I doubt if I see one or two corpses each year and I've never seen a cat kill a goldfinch, they're usually far too quick and skittish. The birds that do die usually kill themselves flying into a our big 6ft windows and our bird feeders are at least 6 ft off the ground. We do get the occasional sparrowhawks though.
No offence LToby - but this has been debated countless times here on the forum. None of these 'solutions' work long term apart from the scarecrow,and it'snot perfect either. Again - it's the age old debate [which will inevitably become heated] about the negligence of cat owners, and their failure to see the reality of the issue for others. I've lost count of the number of these threads we've had, so I'm bowing out before all the aggro starts in earnest...
On the plus side - Hostafan is another pound richer Good luck Des. You'll need it mate
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
You'll get all the usual responses now Des....
Glad it's been effective for you. The ones round here are unbelievably persistent, undeterred by anything physical on open ground or raised beds, and out all day and night all year round. If you feed birds, you become an obvious target too.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I find the stench quite nauseating, and I don't have a weak stomach. I don't want it in my garden, and I don't see why I should dispose of the waste products left by other people's pets.
My other objection to cats being on my property is the toll they take of wildlife. No way do I want to play host to a) their poo, and b) their malign intentions towards small birds and animals.
A glow worm's never glum
Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!
We then got new neighbours who had two cats, and the robin never came again.
I don't know whether the little bird became cat food or whether it was dissuaded from returning by the presence of the cats, but there was precious little other wildlife in our urban street and the disappearance of the robin made me sad and mad in equal measure.
Again - it's the age old debate [which will inevitably become heated] about the negligence of cat owners, and their failure to see the reality of the issue for others.
I've lost count of the number of these threads we've had, so I'm bowing out before all the aggro starts in earnest...
On the plus side - Hostafan is another pound richer
Good luck Des. You'll need it mate
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...