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Cats in Gardens
Jessica 3
Posts: 3
Hello - I work for an independent documentary film company based in Oxford. We are making a film about cats for the BBC in the new year. I would like to hear from anyone who is having an issue with cats in their gardens. All correspondence will be dealt with in complete confidence and by contacting us you are not making a commitment to take part in the final programme - at this stage, it's just research which could hopefully develop onto filming.
Jessica
01865297220/07530724477/ [email protected]
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I am!
PM me and I can tell you more about the little critters
I had a problem with cats in my garden. Whether any of the following anti-cat methods worked individually or combined I don't know, but I seldom get a cat in my garden now.
1. I planted prickly shrubs around the perimeter of the garden, ie berberis and holly. I also planted a few curry plants in between, and in the spring I plant 'coleus canin' in the flower beds. I trained the berberis to grow over the wall which cats were using as a springboard to get into my garden.
2. I shred orange and lemon peel, and break up egg shells, to sprinkle in any area I think cats are entering my garden.
3. I put down moth balls at meter intervals around the perimeter of my garden in places where cats could enter. Thank goodness I have a small garden!!
And to those cat owners who say I should not use moth balls because they are toxic - a) I can't imagine any animal eats something it doesn't like the smell of, and b) I spend a small fortune on cat deterrents because cat owners can't be bothered to take responsibility and/or train their cats to use a litter tray, therefore I feel I have every right to protect my own garden. I don't dislike cats, just don't want them doing their business in my garden. It's the cat owners who are at fault.
I quite agree with Phillippa Smith2. I have fired off an email to the OP stating exactly what I would like to see done.
I agree whole heartedly with what's already been mentioned. Why should I have to clear up the revolting mess and endure the stench which makes me vomit left by neighbours cat? I've tried sprinkling chillie powder but again like everything only work for a bit and in this rain what's the point of sprinkling anything? Now they have discovered the driveway-it appears to me a non win situation where the cats are in the driving seats!
Yep I also have major issues with the cat next door for the following reasons...
I did suggest to my wife that we put the dog (border Collie X) over the fence and let it poop all over their garden but was told that I wasn't allowed to for some reason!! LOL
Sorry cat owners but please be a bit more responsible and fit your moggy with a bell (the same could be said for cyclist around here also!)
Just my observations and opinions I'm not really grumpy!!
Best
Higgy
http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.com/
I used to regularly find cat mess in my borders from my neighbours' cats and would shoo them loudly out of the garden whenever they entered. Not any more. To my surprise, my neighbours (both sides!) asked me whether I would mind feeding their cats while they were on holiday. You should have seen the cats' faces when they first saw me walk through the door! I duly fed them and stroked them - in their own home -and have become their regular carer when their owners are away.
Since then, the cats have steadily extended their territory into my garden and - lo and behold - no more cat messes! The explanation must be that a cat does not defecate within its feeding area. As we live by a large lake, we do have to make sure that rat populations are kept well under control. I am pleased to report that the cats are doing an excellent job. They do take some other small mammals and birds too, but we have a very healthy wildlife population, so I believe the damage there is minimal. In desperation, and for the same reason, my mother used to put cat food out for her neighbour's cat and her garden became mess-free too.
It has to be said that both neighbours only let their cats out during the day and they wear collars and bells. They soon got used to them after a few days' of wearing them.
I have held off on this thread for sometime... I am a cat owner ..... My cat does it business in a designated area in the garden.... No I can't be sure 100% of the time but 99% as I see him go straight there morning and night..... I have cats doing their business in my garden and yes it annoys me but what annoys me more is the dog owners that allow their animals to deficate on my front lawn as well.... Last week my 3 year old fell off her scooter straight into a nice pile of dog poo!!!!!!!!! I agree that "it's a cat it's a wild animal" is no defence and that owners should be responsible but there are some of us responsible owners out here as well as irresponsible dog owners out there!!!
Definitely pet owners that need training. I have dogs and a cat. We clean up after the dogs during walkies and when they mess in the garden and the cat is litter trained.
For anyone having problems with visiting ctas or, worse still, foxes I believe a device called a water scarecrow is very effective as long as you regularly change the location of the sensors that trigger the spray so they don't learn to avoid them.
Has anyone actually heard from Jessica?!
I haven't and am beginning to wonder if I'm perhaps not alone....
Perhaps her research didn't go as well as intended.
I have however found the answer to getting rid of cats in the garden. Have mice in the shed!! I had hoped when I manually evicted the three mice that the neighbours cat would soon be round (on its normal route to the five star toilet I provide) to encourage them to stay away. Unfortunately since seeing the mice I've not seen a whisker of the cat!