Has anyone used Catwatch Cat deterrent as recommended by the RSPB ?

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

Can anyone tell me if this works, its recommended by the RSPB.

http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/p/BirdAccessories/R0123.htm


In the area where i live we have had a couple of injured birds over the last few months, this evening i was in the kitchen having a coffee and keeping my eye out for an injured blackbird that we have.

A Cat entered the garden whilst i was looking out of the window for the injured bird, i quickly went out into the garden to find the cat attacking a bush where i heard a bird in distress, i quickly chased it out of the garden then had a look around the bush where the cat was, touch wood the bird seemed to have escaped.

I looked at the top end of the garden where the cat entered and i noticed it had come back and was peering around the corner to see if the coast was clear, i grabbed a bucket of water and sneaked up along the bushes and threw water in its direction, it scarpered.

I went back in, 30 mins or so later the cat was back again, it had gone straight to the bush where it attacked the bird. Again, i went out and chased it off.

I`m fairly certain now that this cat is the probable cause of the blackbird chicks injuries and i`m also fairly certain it was resposnibe for a dove`s injuries where a neighbour had to take the bird to a vet.

I just need to know if anyone has used Catwatch and what success have you had or do you know of anyone that has used it with success.

[Nickynockynoonoo]

Wow, it's rather expensive. It doesn't say what area it covers. If I had money to burn, I'd try one. Super-soakers are only effective when I'm around

[Amoeba]

There are some studies that suggest even high pitched sounds that are inaudible to us can damage our ability to hear high frequency sounds, which makes it possible that it may damage or at least affect the hearing of other mammals and possibly birds.

I wish I'd bookmarked the article...

Even if it doesn't cause damage, it could be highly disturbing for welcomed garden visitors, not just unwelcome cats. Just something to bear in mind.

[Elizabeth B]

I tried one and sent it back for a refund as it didn't scare the cats from next door. We have lots of cover in the garden, where cats can lurk - but on a couple of occasions I triggered the alarm when I knew there was a cat hiding nearby, and there was no sound of a frantic retreat.

If you decide to try one, make sure you buy it from a company that will give a refund (and remember to get it back within the time period) - then you only have to pay for two lots of carriage.

I'd like a thing that attaches to a hose, where movement triggers a spray of water - but I'm not sure if it's reliable enough to be attached to a tap that's permanently turned on!

[Gill Catton]

my next door neighbour has a cat deterrent and it works really well. Its not painful for the cats so they don't flee in a hurry but its really really irritating to them so they leave eventually and then avoid returning. Beware though any overhanging vegetation will dull its effectiveness it needs a clear path to the parts that cats inhabit. I don't know if the RSPB's thing is what he uses but it does seem to work.

BTW I have seen your poor little blackbird and to me it loks more like a skeletal deformaty than an absess but I could be wrong.

[SheffieldLass]

I have a Catwatch but it didn't really do much to scare off the cats. Mine was only powered by battery, and I ended up getting two sets of rechargable batteries as you can get through quite a few batteries otherwise . I believe the signal is quite a bit stronger if it is mains powered, so that may be more effective. The 'speaker' bit of mine rotted after about 18 months. Apparently some cats don't like it, others don't seem to be bothered. If your problem cat is white, then it might not hear it ... somewhere I read that white cats often have poor hearing.

As for other animals it didn't upset the birds, hedgehogs, fieldmice, frogs or grey squirrels. The bigger birds and mammals do trigger it, and the more they do the quicker the battery runs down!

I've heard good reports of the PIR water squirter, and if I had an outside tap I'd have tried it by now. Water seems to be the only effective deterrent here, though that only works when I'm in the garden with the water pistol ...

Also good point about the overhanging vegetation ... I have a small, densely planted garden so the vegetation really did restrict the PIR ability to pick up cat movement.

[Elizabeth B]

Mine was mains powered - and even when the cats came out of the undergrowth and into range, it didn't bother them.

[Steve_In_Cheshire]

I appreciate the replies, you can`t get better feedback from people that have used a product.

It seems like the common consensus is that Catwatch isn`t that effective and rarely works, water seems to be the only real deterrent against cats or a nato air strike, even then the yanks would probably miss lol

One thing is for sure with cats is they are determined little critters when they want to be, i might give the Lion Man in New Zealand a ring and ask him if i can borrow one of his Lions for a couple of weeks, that should be better than Catwatch

[Mick*]

I've got one of these (see link), just plug in a hose pipe and you're away. You must take care because people can also get wet but it works a treat for cats.

SCARECROW MOTION SPRINKLER 4 - CheapPetProducts.Net

[jacbaye]

Different cats hate different things, so you are better off using a couple of different types of cat deterrent to keep them on their toes.

I use an ultrasonic one and it was a lot cheaper than the Catwatch, but it certainly does the trick.