Cats tend to perform wherever is convenient to them ... just because they use their tray at home doesn't mean that they aren't also leaving deposits elsewhere ... it's what cats who are allowed to gad about at will do.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My 2 cats only ever use the litter tray,no matter what. They also show no interest in any wildlife. They would soon have bells on collars if they did. Maybe its because they are happily living indoors with a bird. Both rescues found living in dire straits,they just want to be indoors unless I go out to garden or sit,then they come for company. Unfortunately Ive had to prune my shrubs underneath to a height where next door but ones cat cant hide from the birds,so the shrubs will all end up as "standard" 😟
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Forget plants. The only thing that works for me is the water scarecrow, but it's no use over autumn/winter because they freeze, so it isn't completely fail safe. Everything else is a waste of time and money IMO though. Because of the problem of freezing, I've recently tried one of the sonar products which another forum member highly recommended, and which I thought was working until last night, when one walked straight towards it completely unfazed.
What's this water scarecrow you have? The internet appears to be full of sonic kit that is supposed to be amazing and works but I've also been recommended a water sprayer. The only problem is ones that I can find need a hose connecting and that's going to be a pain having a hose permanently connected running to my front garden.
The problem I found with these devices is if they're battery operated, they're built with the cheapest screws imaginable so after one battery change, you'll find the screws so rusted you'll never get the case open again.
I try to remember (!) to give any screws or hinges that are part of something that's going to live outside for any period of time, a good squirt of WD40 before they go outside. My father always did it and it worked for him.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am a cat owner and my neighbour has 2 cats. I live in a very rural area so there are sundry farm cats wandering through as well. The most effective thing I have found which my cat refuses to walk on is coarse bark chips. I laid a path and topped it with bark chippings, not the nice soft fine kind. My cat refuses to walk on it, she finds all sorts of interesting diversions to walk to get around the garden. I think it must prick their feet between the pads, how about a nice deep layer of nasty coarse bark chippings, at least 4 ins deep because it does settle after being laid, along the bottom of your hedge. It also looks quite attractive. Keep raked or hoed as added deterrent.Tanty2 said:
Nor here, sadly. Suppose I could just wish for considerate neighbours? That'd be just as effective...
Sorry - but they just sh*t on top of it [bark] here. I'm having better success now with the sonic thing. The biggest problem is when the batteries need charged and you don't realise. I'll persevere because of the problems with the water scarecrows. The water scarecrow I have now has a little plug that turns rather than the screw on flap. I don't have a problem with the screws, although they're ridiculously small. I do have lots of different screwdrivers though. The biggest problem is that you can't use them here from about October onwards because they freeze, and then the joints break, so you have to disconnect them before there's a frost of any consequence. Your location will therefore make a difference @stuarta99. I have the hose buried under the gravel on the paths, but yes- they aren't bonny. You also have to make sure it's not on when you walk past it They're various prices depending on your budget. I've used the cheaper ones, and the one I have just now has a little solar panel. It was about £24. I'm not prepared to spend £100 on the dearer ones only to find it doesn't work any better. I can't find the seller I got it from [page isn't working] but this looks similar https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Powered-Timer-Motion-Activated-Animal-Repeller-Deterrent-Water-Sprinkler-U-/133840812006?hash=item1f2988b7e6
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I am constantly amazed at the number of people who put their cats out at night.
In the past I often had to drive to places very early in the morning ... every journey, the number of recently dead (or worse, dying) cats I saw on the road, having been hit by nighttime traffic was heartbreaking. It's such a dangerous thing to do ... once they get used to it cats can be perfectly happy staying indoors overnight, and it's what folk who love their cats should do.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It's mainly our lawn out the front which is the target but over the winter they did use the bark in the flowerbed (guess the lawn was too wet for their delicate feet), but I'm planning on gravelling that this year
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Unfortunately Ive had to prune my shrubs underneath to a height where next door but ones cat cant hide from the birds,so the shrubs will all end up as "standard" 😟
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The most effective thing I have found which my cat refuses to walk on is coarse bark chips. I laid a path and topped it with bark chippings, not the nice soft fine kind. My cat refuses to walk on it, she finds all sorts of interesting diversions to walk to get around the garden. I think it must prick their feet between the pads, how about a nice deep layer of nasty coarse bark chippings, at least 4 ins deep because it does settle after being laid, along the bottom of your hedge. It also looks quite attractive. Keep raked or hoed as added deterrent.Tanty2 said:
I'm having better success now with the sonic thing. The biggest problem is when the batteries need charged and you don't realise. I'll persevere because of the problems with the water scarecrows.
The water scarecrow I have now has a little plug that turns rather than the screw on flap. I don't have a problem with the screws, although they're ridiculously small. I do have lots of different screwdrivers though.
The biggest problem is that you can't use them here from about October onwards because they freeze, and then the joints break, so you have to disconnect them before there's a frost of any consequence. Your location will therefore make a difference @stuarta99. I have the hose buried under the gravel on the paths, but yes- they aren't bonny. You also have to make sure it's not on when you walk past it
They're various prices depending on your budget. I've used the cheaper ones, and the one I have just now has a little solar panel. It was about £24. I'm not prepared to spend £100 on the dearer ones only to find it doesn't work any better.
I can't find the seller I got it from [page isn't working] but this looks similar
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Powered-Timer-Motion-Activated-Animal-Repeller-Deterrent-Water-Sprinkler-U-/133840812006?hash=item1f2988b7e6
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
In the past I often had to drive to places very early in the morning ... every journey, the number of recently dead (or worse, dying) cats I saw on the road, having been hit by nighttime traffic was heartbreaking. It's such a dangerous thing to do ... once they get used to it cats can be perfectly happy staying indoors overnight, and it's what folk who love their cats should do.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It's mainly our lawn out the front which is the target but over the winter they did use the bark in the flowerbed (guess the lawn was too wet for their delicate feet), but I'm planning on gravelling that this year
https://www.electric-fence.co.uk/voss-sonic-2000-ultrasonic-animal-repeller-cat-dog-scarer-badger-fox-rabbit-deterrent.html
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...