The idea is to place it where the regular offendors come in KT, so that you can place it in the most effective spot. I appreciate it's harder in a big area, but if you know where they mainly appear from, you can choose the best place and site it there. Always going to be an issue on a big garden - it wouldn't have really worked at my last house either as the garden was huge.
I find having it in the general area where the main bird feeders are is a good spot, but I initially placed it near the main routes they used for entering the garden to start with. That deterred them because they changed their route and went through someone else's garden instead. After that, it was a case of being vigilant. moving it slightly and just keeping them on their toes...literally
Think the window cleaner got a surprise now and again too. Serves them right for constantly changing which day they come!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Problem is I have no idea where they come in from. They seem to sense when somebody is around and stay out of sight.
I have had an idea for a modification to the perspex screen though. Have the perspex at an angle that the cats can climb onto and attach some kind of spring loading mechanism which will release when pressure is applied. Wheeeeeeee. Cat's now in somebody elses garden!!
Problem is I have no idea where they come in from. They seem to sense when somebody is around and stay out of sight.
I have had an idea for a modification to the perspex screen though. Have the perspex at an angle that the cats can climb onto and attach some kind of spring loading mechanism which will release when pressure is applied. Wheeeeeeee. Cat's now in somebody elses garden!!
Just read this post KT and found it hilarious. I have problems with cats too, trying to catch the birds we feed, breaking plants and of course cat crap everywhere...I wish I had a magic wand, I know exactly what I would do with it...hey presto..no more cats
We've also had problems over the years with cats, but only two solutions have worked.
The first is labour intensive and unsightly, and only works in a small garden. Buy lots of those little green garden sticks and shove them in the ground where the cats do their fouling, close enough together to ensure the cats don't have room to dig, sit down and pile it out. Ideally they'll get the message and choose somewhere else to deposit their stinking ordure.
The other solution which has worked for me is the ultrasonic. I placed it by the gate where cats come in and so far there's been no further obvious fouling in the areas where they used to go. We have a fairly large garden so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that they're doing their business somewhere else, but as long as I don't see it, smell it or stand in it, I don't really care.
I did buy an automatic pussy drencher, but with us being on a water meter I felt that regular activation might involve more expense than the problem was worth. So I never actually connected it up. However, it might work for someone else who has a meter as long as the cats get the message via a couple of good soakings fairly early on.
the easiest way I have found to stop the neighbours cats using my garden as a latrine is to get a cat with an attitude,
we've just rehomed a cat that is 1/4 Scottish wildcat (she a tame cat, not a feral one- though her mother was feral and I think she taught her bad habits) anyway, cat poo in the garden disappeared within a week of letting her out.
I have always had cats for the last 40 years and yes, they do poo in their own gardens. I always wore gloves when working the soil and never had any problems.
Any cultivated soil or lovely gravel is an open invitation to cats. The best strategy to avoid it - assuming you haven't a cat or dog of your own, is to install a water scarecrow. You can google it for info.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It wouldn't be so bad if they did stick to cultivated soil. For years I had problems with cat mess in the front lawn. There can be few things as revolting as hitting that with a rotary mower. The **** literally hitting the fan!
Responsible cat owners provide litter areas either in their garden or in the house.
When we lived in Harrow all our neighbours had cats except the couple next door who had a dog which pooed all over their lawn (and peed on the spare bed because they left him alone all day). No-one bothered by cat poo. It was a fact of life.
Water scarecrows also work on foxes, herons and, I dare say, unwanted human visitors. Make sure they can't get the postman though.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
The idea is to place it where the regular offendors come in KT, so that you can place it in the most effective spot. I appreciate it's harder in a big area, but if you know where they mainly appear from, you can choose the best place and site it there. Always going to be an issue on a big garden - it wouldn't have really worked at my last house either as the garden was huge.
I find having it in the general area where the main bird feeders are is a good spot, but I initially placed it near the main routes they used for entering the garden to start with. That deterred them because they changed their route and went through someone else's garden instead. After that, it was a case of being vigilant. moving it slightly and just keeping them on their toes...literally
Think the window cleaner got a surprise now and again too. Serves them right for constantly changing which day they come!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Problem is I have no idea where they come in from. They seem to sense when somebody is around and stay out of sight.
I have had an idea for a modification to the perspex screen though. Have the perspex at an angle that the cats can climb onto and attach some kind of spring loading mechanism which will release when pressure is applied. Wheeeeeeee. Cat's now in somebody elses garden!!
Just read this post KT and found it hilarious. I have problems with cats too, trying to catch the birds we feed, breaking plants and of course cat crap everywhere...I wish I had a magic wand, I know exactly what I would do with it...hey presto..no more cats
Very naughty KT - but very amusing ....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We've also had problems over the years with cats, but only two solutions have worked.
The first is labour intensive and unsightly, and only works in a small garden. Buy lots of those little green garden sticks and shove them in the ground where the cats do their fouling, close enough together to ensure the cats don't have room to dig, sit down and pile it out. Ideally they'll get the message and choose somewhere else to deposit their stinking ordure.
The other solution which has worked for me is the ultrasonic. I placed it by the gate where cats come in and so far there's been no further obvious fouling in the areas where they used to go. We have a fairly large garden so it's not beyond the bounds of possibility that they're doing their business somewhere else, but as long as I don't see it, smell it or stand in it, I don't really care.
I did buy an automatic pussy drencher, but with us being on a water meter I felt that regular activation might involve more expense than the problem was worth. So I never actually connected it up. However, it might work for someone else who has a meter as long as the cats get the message via a couple of good soakings fairly early on.
the easiest way I have found to stop the neighbours cats using my garden as a latrine is to get a cat with an attitude,
we've just rehomed a cat that is 1/4 Scottish wildcat (she a tame cat, not a feral one- though her mother was feral and I think she taught her bad habits) anyway, cat poo in the garden disappeared within a week of letting her out.
and cats don't poo in their own gardens!
Brilliant! The best way to stop other people's cats ****ing in your garden is to get your cat to do it in theirs!!
I have always had cats for the last 40 years and yes, they do poo in their own gardens. I always wore gloves when working the soil and never had any problems.
Any cultivated soil or lovely gravel is an open invitation to cats. The best strategy to avoid it - assuming you haven't a cat or dog of your own, is to install a water scarecrow. You can google it for info.
It wouldn't be so bad if they did stick to cultivated soil. For years I had problems with cat mess in the front lawn. There can be few things as revolting as hitting that with a rotary mower. The **** literally hitting the fan!
Responsible cat owners provide litter areas either in their garden or in the house.
When we lived in Harrow all our neighbours had cats except the couple next door who had a dog which pooed all over their lawn (and peed on the spare bed because they left him alone all day). No-one bothered by cat poo. It was a fact of life.
Water scarecrows also work on foxes, herons and, I dare say, unwanted human visitors. Make sure they can't get the postman though.