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Cat Fouling Deterrent
Fencepost
Posts: 29
I have a neighbour close by who has 4 cats and of which constantly roam around the gardens 24/7 fouling en-route.. The cats are more like Ferrell than pets and will foul anywhere on anything.. soil, grass, pebbles, stone chippings, bark, pavement just about anywhere.. We have redesigned our gardens front and back and at considerable expense..
But we’re absolutely fed up with the cats constantly fouling.. Have tried various deterrents and to be honest I think these deterrents are designed by cat owners cos they don’t work and I believe they’re just away of making money..
Well enough is enough so we have invested in keeping our gardens smelling clean and fresh with the help of good old Jeys Fluid.. The cats don’t like it but seeing as I don’t own a cat or cats then I don’t have a problem with that..
However, if the Jeys Fluid is a problem to the cats then I would suggest the cat owners take full responsibility of their cats and keep them away from our gardens.. At the end of the day we have our grandchildren‘a health to think about so we don’t want people’s cats fouling with their disgusting faeces in our gardens posing a serious health risk to our grandchildren and also destroying everything we have spent so much on..
But we’re absolutely fed up with the cats constantly fouling.. Have tried various deterrents and to be honest I think these deterrents are designed by cat owners cos they don’t work and I believe they’re just away of making money..
Well enough is enough so we have invested in keeping our gardens smelling clean and fresh with the help of good old Jeys Fluid.. The cats don’t like it but seeing as I don’t own a cat or cats then I don’t have a problem with that..
However, if the Jeys Fluid is a problem to the cats then I would suggest the cat owners take full responsibility of their cats and keep them away from our gardens.. At the end of the day we have our grandchildren‘a health to think about so we don’t want people’s cats fouling with their disgusting faeces in our gardens posing a serious health risk to our grandchildren and also destroying everything we have spent so much on..
I’m sick of the attitude that it is ok for cat owners cats to roam freely and leave their disgusting mess and health risks in other people’s gardens.. and for us to clean it up after them.. I’m also sick and fed up with wrenching at the sight and smell of having to clean other people’s cat faeces up from our gardens while they have this I don’t give a damn attitude.. Well if you don’t want your cat coming into our clean smelling Jeys Fluid.. then I suggest you take responsibility of your cats and get litter trays for them while keeping them inside..
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Posts
Did you try the contech scarecrow motion activated water squirters?
I tried everything and they were the only effective solution.
They need an outdoor mains water supply as they work on mains pressure.
You will have to put up with hoses strewn all over the garden.
You may occasionally forget to turn them off and get squirted yourself.
They are not suitable for use when it is frosty.
You may need several to cover the garden.
Unfortunately it is unlikely you will ever change the attitude of the owners of free roaming cats.
I almost gave up gardening completely when a neighbour moved in with several cats and they took up residence in our garden. Smell was overwhelming on a hot day, gave up growing food as my veg plot became a huge litter tray, lost the favourite part of the garden, the wildlife garden, because practically every creature in there was killed or mauled and it stank of cat wee.
I won the garden back at considerable expense investing in the scarecrows. Reasoning with the neighbours didn't work. Their attitude was simply 'it is what cats do'. We all know it is actually what they themselves do and it is nothing to do with the cats really.
We had a lawn at the front of the property and before it could be mowed.. the wrenching task of cleaning up cat foul had to be undertaken first..
However, we have now done away with the lawn and replaced it with rockeries, stone chippings and pebbles with plant pots hoping this would stop them.. but no they still want to foul up on those too..
So now and avoiding the plants.. it’s Jeys Fluid spreading and cleaning..even invested in better sprays for distributing it.. also kills off weeds too.. I’m sure the cats are soon going to get the message keep walking over it.. But we don’t have pets so it’s not my problem.. My grandchildren’s health comes before other people’s wandering pests..
A lot of people will jump to the defense of cats, but few of them will have experienced what too many cats in a small space such as a private garden is really like.
My son has serious cat allergy, has very severe symptoms if he goes anywhere near where a cat has been.
Hugely frustrating, often expensive to solve, all totally unnecessary if the owners were responsible.
I'm no cat hater, but I do very much support the notion we should have a choice if we are subjected to them on our properties or not.
If a cat owner wants their cat to go outside, they should go to the expense to contain it, it should not be the responsibility of neighbours to have to deter their pets, clear up the mess, have their gardening activities disrupted.
Law simply must change in the UK regarding free roaming.
I cannot see a problem with cat owners keeping their cats indoors and providing cat litter trays.. In addition they can let their cats outside on their own property but only on a lead and therefore allowing the cat to foul on their own property instead of others.. Time for responsibility not irresponsibility.. if that is not acceptable to cat owners then don’t have a cat simple!!!
As far as I’m concerned it’s time for change and it’s time for cat owners to clean up their cats mess in their own garden instead of allowing their cats to foul and destroy other people’s gardens...
We all had cats we adopted, all were indoor flat cats and had long healthy lives living indoors.
Some will argue it is 'cruel' not to let a cat free roam. It has no more substance than arguing dogs should be allowed to display natural behaviour by running around our gardens in marauding packs.
It is possible for the owner to contain a cat on their property. It requires high inward facing fencing. There is a wind of change, in the US, NZ, Australia and parts of Europe where it is increasingly becoming law that owners contain their cats.
The nuisance factor is more than enough, but the environmental impacts are totally unacceptable.
It will take a brave bunch of people though to advocate it in the UK. Things have changed though, we all live under greater pressures, closer together and it is now an issue that causes immense frustration to home owners.
If you want to find out more about the topic, Cat Wars by Peter P. Marra and Chris Santella is a fascinating read. Not only the devastating truth of the impacts cats have on the environment (and also the health of their owners and the public), but also the resistance to accepting that change is needed by the cat lobby.
I have looked at that RSPB tested ultrasonic deterant myself before, but always a bit put off due to skepticism about whether it would genuinely only affect the cats and not everything else (Squirrels, Birds etc) as well. I know the claim is that it doesn't but still.
Bit of a catch 22, like the squirrels and birds, but don't want to risk driving them away, so nothing drives the cats away, which themselves drive everything away...
You have my sincere sympathy @jimbrown1953.
If you wait long enough - some people will suggest you get a dog. Hilarious.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...