Yeah, definitely not good idea to use water sprinkler in the front garden unless it is fenced up high or enclosed in some way.
But we don't have grass in front garden, and just in the back garden, and it is enclosed with hedges, so it works well.
We have had severe problems with cat droppings on the grass. Whenever it was lifted with spade, there were ugly holes on the grass, so it was destruction of the grass. Hopefully it will not happen again.
try something else, does your garden have a fence? if it does put a length of fishing line or string a few inches above your fence. this makes cats think twice about walking on it or jumping over it while the hedgehogs will go under it.
I do have a fence but the cats use the same hole that the hedgehogs use! They can also come over the garage roof climb trees etc so was just wondering about the sonic device. I do have a rodent sonic deterrent plugged inside the garage and that did not affect our rabbit when she was in there. Never sure if the thing is actually working (all I see is a blue light on) and keeping rats and mice away or if there are no rats or mice in the garage anyway!
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
@madpenguin Be assured that the devices are set for cats' hearing only and branded not to affect other mammals (sonic frequency). I used the RSPB types. I needed two, so the the cats can't cross my narrow garden to avoid the motion sensor. I had to move them around a bit to find the right triangulation. But it has been revolutionary. The spring usually involves the disgusting task of digging up heaps of stinking faeces before I can do any gardening. This winter there has been nothing.
So, again, thanks for this forum for flagging the motion sensors up, as being very effective. Another victory for you all to chalk up.
The sonic frequency system is far more practical for most than water spraying. Shove the spike in the ground, set the range and switch it on and the job is done. Running hose round the garden would be impractical for me as it would have to routed around or over a large patio and then past raised beds.
Yup, somthing like Achtung's link would be more effective.
We have tried everything every other device and smelly things cat supposed to hate and different make and types of ultra sonic devices for years, wasting lots of money, effort and time, and none of them worked.
In fact the next door cat dropped poo in front of the ultra sonic device one morning, so we took back the device to b&q for full refund. The ones bought from amabay were all binned, because the sellers were in China, and they were too expensive to return.
Since outside tap and water sprinkler installation and using it regularly, we have seen no cats in the back garden.
As long as it doesn’t deter hedgehogs ... do we have any evidence that they’re not affected?
@Dovefromabove , there seems to be conflicting information about this. I can't find any definite answer either way. Next time l see my local hedgehog rescue lady, l will ask her what she thinks. As l have at least one hedgehog visiting my garden, l personally don't think l would take the risk of installing one of these sonic things.
@Theleman the key with the devices is patience. Give them a couple of months. As the RSPB say "The longer the unit is in place, the more effective it is."Cats take a while to realise how the devices work, as they only cause mild discomfort. If the cats are very attached to toilet areas, they will try to continue using them, despite the noise. Even now, neighbours' cats will run across the area and set off the noise, but they run away rather than settling down to poo.
I found I had to experiment with placement of the spikes, and that they had to go right up against my fence so that cats wouldn't sneak round the back. It does help if you can personally hear the bleeps, so that you can check tell if they are plugged in properly. It also helps that I have a small area that cats used to toilet - about three square metres. Two devices are fine for defending that patch. I have to keep checking that I haven't blocked the motion sensors with pots I have moved or bags of compost. Sometimes I forget.
In reading reviews, always remember that the reviews say as much about the reviewer as the thing they are reviewing.
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But we don't have grass in front garden, and just in the back garden, and it is enclosed with hedges, so it works well.
We have had severe problems with cat droppings on the grass. Whenever it was lifted with spade, there were ugly holes on the grass, so it was destruction of the grass. Hopefully it will not happen again.
They can also come over the garage roof climb trees etc so was just wondering about the sonic device.
I do have a rodent sonic deterrent plugged inside the garage and that did not affect our rabbit when she was in there.
Never sure if the thing is actually working (all I see is a blue light on) and keeping rats and mice away or if there are no rats or mice in the garage anyway!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have tried everything every other device and smelly things cat supposed to hate and different make and types of ultra sonic devices for years, wasting lots of money, effort and time, and none of them worked.
In fact the next door cat dropped poo in front of the ultra sonic device one morning, so we took back the device to b&q for full refund. The ones bought from amabay were all binned, because the sellers were in China, and they were too expensive to return.
Since outside tap and water sprinkler installation and using it regularly, we have seen no cats in the back garden.