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Cats
deniseiwilliams20042003
Posts: 1
We have a couple of cats coming into our garden digging up plants and going to the toilet. We'd like to know how we can stop them doing this please.
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Hi Denise, there's been a lot of discussion on this topic on the forum. Here is one of the longer threads that might give you some ideas
http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/cats/653067.html
There are others which you can find with the search facility.
I have had the same problem. I don't think any one paticular method is foolproof IMO. I tried spraying with cat repellent, sprinkling a curry & pepper cocktail around ( don't do that on a windy day as I did! Makes your eyes and nose really sore ?) I ended up getting a couple of ultrasonic cat scarers placed strategically, as the cats were using a particular route into our garden. I have also placed sticks in all the bare patches of soil to prevent them squatting. we haven't had any mess for a while now and the cats are not using that route to pass through back garden to get to front so fingers crossed it stays that way.
You haven't mentioned soaking them with a hose. They hate it!
Another £1 in the kitty. ( no pun intended )
Was your radar working subconsciously Hosta?
Water scarecrows are the only real deterrent. Nothing else works here - and I've tried them ALL
They're also very satisfying.....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
He heard the kerchink as the money went into his piggy- bank, even from there - he's got finely tuned hearing
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Ideas welcome!
Yet again, I am faced with spending some hours digging cat shit out of my flower beds. I am desperate to solve this - not least because until last summer I always had birds nesting in my urban garden/backyard. Then I started getting regular visits from a cat (think it's just one) - result, wrecked flower beds, new plantings scratched up, endless cat shit. I have tried prickles on the fence top & even 4" pigeon spikes but it still gets in.
My garden has a fence at the end (wooden, about 6' high) and a brick wall (again about 6' high) adjoing my neighbour's garden (and no, it's not their cat). The other side wall is very high - it's not coming in over there. My latest thought is based on the fact that I understand cats can't climb on shiny surfaces and don't like climbing on something which wobbles, even a little. So I am thinking about attaching vertical sheets of Perspex (as you might use for greenhouse glass replacement) to the inside (my side) of the fence & wall so that about 2' / 2'6" protrudes above the top of the wall. That should not be unsightly for my neighbours or block my light but if the cat walks along the top of the brick wall (which it can access from other adjoining walls) it wouldn't then be able / willing to climb up the Perspex and into my garden. Does anyone have any thoughts? Anyone tried this? I've already spent well over £100 on spikes and prickles and sonic scarers so would welcome any comments before I spend more!
And please don't suggest: water pistol (it comes in v early morning - I never see it), coffee grounds (how much coffee can I drink?), spikes in the earth (I like looking at my garden), getting a cat myself (if I wanted one, I'd have one - I can't believe how many people think this is a sensible solution to my problem!)
Perspex sounds like a brilliant idea. I have this wonderful vision of a cat trying to jump onto the top of the wall/fence and smacking its head on something it can't see.
You'll get grief now KT!
Water scarecrow has worked for me EJYork, as pansyface mentioned. I've lost count of the number of hours I've spent on other 'methods', not to mention money. The only drawback is that it's a bit unsightly, but I intend getting some darker hosepipe and hiding it under the gravel along the edges of the paths. You also need to move it about to cover different 'approaches', or you could get a couple. I bought a cheap one at around £20.
Just remember to bubblewrap it to protect it from freezing, as I've learned to my cost...twice....
Last edited: 10 January 2017 17:23:20
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Water scarescow sounds great but impractical for my garden which is 50 metres long. I'd need 5 each side minimum, plus 2 x 50 metre hoses.