deterring cats?

cwilk · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 08:11 AM

Went out into the garden and cleared up 8!! piles of cat poo at the weekend. Not funny with small kids putting everything in their mouths!
This isnt a problem is summer when the plant cover covers all possible toilet spots, but in the meantime I need to do something.

I have seen various deterrents on the market - some are like slug pellets but smell of onions, other are the electronic kind. I was worried about the electronic zappers deterring foxes and hedgehogs! Also I have a very long thin steep stepped garden which might need a few to cover the range so might get expensive.
Does anyone have any experience of what works?
Cheers.

MrLouKnee · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 08:53 AM

you can sonic deterents from places like b&q, the cat poo will deter rats, and its better having cat poo than rat poo

Bunny82 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 08:55 AM

The easiest and cheapest deterrent is laying thorny twigs in between the plants. If you can get some that blend in well and cover them slightly with the soil you would never know they were there.

Cats like a nice sit down when doing their business and a thorn up the bum definitely puts them off.

Mercadante · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 11:12 AM

Our sonic repellents kept next door's cats away for about two weeks. After that we had to revert to protecting all bare soil with netting or mesh.

cwilk · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 01:15 PM

Oh, sorry has there been hundreds of these threads already? I should probably have done a search first. I like the idea of the thorny twigs, that should help cos its in between some clumps of perennials so hard to net.

I had a feeling that the electronic devices woudlnt work - the mole one we used was absolutely no use at all!

sunnydale · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 05:03 PM

A water pistol??

nightowl57 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 09:48 PM

Two litre clear plastic bottles filled with water laying in the garden, looks very strange, but has kept cats away from our garden, got some very strange comments, but it works!