This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Specifically - ultrasonic cat deterrents (not about all the other stuff)
Mike160304
Posts: 69
I can see how a good AUTOMATIC WATER SQUIRTER/SPRINKLER system might work well, but the need for mains water supply makes this a cumbersome solution.
And on a front lawn, covering the cat-friendly flower bed along the house front, the system would be very visible and might easily be stolen, leaving expensive water running all over the lawn.
I had an ULTRASONIC cat deterrent and a careful analysis, helped by a professional ultrasonic sound detection device, showed why it did not work:
Moisture condensed on the inside of the motion detector's plastic "window" and drastically reduced its detection range. I could crawl across, only 10 feet from the device, and it would not trigger the ultrasonic, and I am bigger than a cat.
I also saw an intelligent video on Youtube where the author had auto-videoed the reaction of cats to his ultrasonic cat deterrent, over a week or so. The 1st time, the cat ran away. The 2nd time, the cat walked away, but thought about it first. Gradually, the cat stopped walking away and started to complete its mission. It got used to the ultrasonic sound. It was much too feeble.
In my case, I reported the results of my own analysis to the supplier and asked him to replace my unit with one that worked without the condensation problem. He preferred to give me a refund, which means that a replacement would have failed just like the original unit had failed.
My conclusion is that, for the £25-£50 that a "consumer" so-called "ultrasonic cat deterrent" might cost, I am not going to find an ultrasonic cat deterrent that
1. Has a motion detector that will reliably detect a cat at up to, say, 15 metres, and guaranteed not to get condensation on its "window", which reduces its range drastically.
2. Produces a real "blast" of ultrasonic sound, so that a cat could not possibly "get used to it".
Has anyone found a real, guaranteed, professional ultrasonic cat deterrent system, please?
Sitting on the front lawn, for hours, day and night, disguised as a bush, holding my wonderful 1-litre capacity "Stream Machine", which projects about a litre of water out to about 10 metres, is not really a viable solution. And anyway, the cat would just dry out and come back the next day.
Mike
And on a front lawn, covering the cat-friendly flower bed along the house front, the system would be very visible and might easily be stolen, leaving expensive water running all over the lawn.
I had an ULTRASONIC cat deterrent and a careful analysis, helped by a professional ultrasonic sound detection device, showed why it did not work:
Moisture condensed on the inside of the motion detector's plastic "window" and drastically reduced its detection range. I could crawl across, only 10 feet from the device, and it would not trigger the ultrasonic, and I am bigger than a cat.
I also saw an intelligent video on Youtube where the author had auto-videoed the reaction of cats to his ultrasonic cat deterrent, over a week or so. The 1st time, the cat ran away. The 2nd time, the cat walked away, but thought about it first. Gradually, the cat stopped walking away and started to complete its mission. It got used to the ultrasonic sound. It was much too feeble.
In my case, I reported the results of my own analysis to the supplier and asked him to replace my unit with one that worked without the condensation problem. He preferred to give me a refund, which means that a replacement would have failed just like the original unit had failed.
My conclusion is that, for the £25-£50 that a "consumer" so-called "ultrasonic cat deterrent" might cost, I am not going to find an ultrasonic cat deterrent that
1. Has a motion detector that will reliably detect a cat at up to, say, 15 metres, and guaranteed not to get condensation on its "window", which reduces its range drastically.
2. Produces a real "blast" of ultrasonic sound, so that a cat could not possibly "get used to it".
Has anyone found a real, guaranteed, professional ultrasonic cat deterrent system, please?
Sitting on the front lawn, for hours, day and night, disguised as a bush, holding my wonderful 1-litre capacity "Stream Machine", which projects about a litre of water out to about 10 metres, is not really a viable solution. And anyway, the cat would just dry out and come back the next day.
Mike
1
Posts
I would imagine that the RSPB would test things thoroughly before selling them, and the long guarantee period sounds reassuring.
I shall look at these and seek he advice of the RSPB.
Mike
My son has access to bat detectors (for sound detection and analysis) from his work, and we measured
1. when the Catwatch was emitting ultrasonic and
2. the frequency and volume.
The Catwatch would detect human movement, but when the "window" of its PIR (?) detector got condensation inside, its range was too short to be of any use.
So the volume of the ultrasonic was of less interest, because the detector was often failing to "see" the cat.
You have presumably not been getting condensation inside the "window", as the device seems to be working for you.
It is also significant that you only have to cover a small garden - the detection range can be shorter.
(For deaf cats, obviously ultrasonic does not work.)
It would be nice to have something that would scare a cat more noticeably, and reliably accelerate it over the nearest fence.
Having one psychopathic dog in the front yard, and a second psychopathic dog in the back yard, would be effective, but would not be not an attractive solution.
Mike