CATS: How do I get rid of them?

[Jonquil_d]

Have tried peppering the bird food...but that gets expensive, have tried blocking the holes in the hedge with holly and bramble branches, have tried filling the gaps in the hedge with orange peel, they are supposed not to like the smell of citrous fruit,have rapped on the window, gone out and shouted at them, kept a loaded pump action water pistol by the back door but still they come. It was bad when we arrived four years ago but new neighbours since then have added to local feline population...yesterday I watched one of them hunting down one of the frogs.....I'm just not sure what I can do next ...
any ideas that actually work? Please!

[Goldfynche]

The basic irrefutable fact is, that as far the cat is concerned, he is not on your 'turf'. You are on his. You can build, erect, spray, shout and clap as much as you like. His scent marking, will outrank your rantings, every time.

[Jim Ford]

I use one of these - the neighbours don't care much for it though!

YouTube - Dillon Aero M134 Gatling gun

Jim

[Goldfynche]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I use one of these - the neighbours don't care much for it though! Jim

Most probably the helicopter noise, that annoys them the most.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Jonquil_d

Have tried peppering the bird food...but that gets expensive, have tried blocking the holes in the hedge with holly and bramble branches, have tried filling the gaps in the hedge with orange peel, they are supposed not to like the smell of citrous fruit,have rapped on the window, gone out and shouted at them, kept a loaded pump action water pistol by the back door but still they come. It was bad when we arrived four years ago but new neighbours since then have added to local feline population...yesterday I watched one of them hunting down one of the frogs.....I'm just not sure what I can do next ... any ideas that actually work? Please!

There are many long running threads on WAB covering this, it may be worth searching these for additional ideas. However there is no permanent solution and the more cats in your local area the bigger the problem because either an individual cat is displaced from adjacent gardens because it is intimidated, or it is attracted to your garden by the scenting of other cats.

All you can do is work on makingyour garden unfriendly and unnattractive (for cats), and where possible inhibit access. For the latter point, wire netting along the bottom most 50cm of a hedge is effective, though of course this does cost, but reliance on hedge density is almost always inadequate. Inserting 5cm high gaps should allow smaller wildlife accesswhile excluding the cats.

Odour will not of itself stop a cat from coming into a garden, the primary use of odour is a reinforcement of pleasant/unleasant experience. This will work as a general marker of territory following your use of water, chasing the cats away etc, but will need to be reinforced. Citrus peel only has a few days intense odour, after which it becomes ineffective. Coleus canina/Plectranthus ornatus is a more consistent odour source, although it is not a hardy plant so needs overwintering Coleus canina - Scardy Cat Plant - 10cm [10 cm] - £2.59 : Garden Summerhouse | Traditional Greenhouse | Patio Furniture| Grass Protection Mesh – The Plant Directory, for Plants, Wildlife Care, Tools and other garden related items

Using odour around areas where the cats make themslves at home - sunny areas etc, or where they are inclined to scent is more effective than at entry points - as this makes the garden as a whole 'less friendly'. Peppering bird food is unlikey to affect cats and is generally suggested as a discouragement to rats.

Personally I've found a well aimed golf ball (aimed to miss, but not by much) to be more distrubing to cats than the water gun option, to persuade a cat with water needs to involve a thorough soaking, the threat of a missile seems to embed itself in the cat memory better than a fount of water.

Good luck in dealing with hiddeous invasive species.

CM

[tcvarlh]

I found a clump of dried earth lobbed just in front of said Feline shifts 'em. No stones in it, just a scatterbomb effect, once or twice and they get the message that they are unwelcome. Failing that try a Dog, some sort of Terrier, lots of noise, much scurrying and scrabbling. Cat gone, Dog has fun! Does your health good too as you have to walk aforementioned Canine daily.
h

[Goldfynche]

My daughter has two dogs. One of them Archie, will just trot up to any cat and try to be 'best friends' with it.

[posie]

Hello Jonquil, go to your nearest zoo or where lions are kept and acquire some lion poo or wet bedding, put this on the boundaries of your garden and it is said to keep domestic cats out without affecting any other species....ps. I love the gatling gun idea, 'chargrilled' cat for tea!...Posie..

[mrbright]

cocoa mulch emptied my garden of cats overnight, but beware as it's poisonous to dogs allegedly, plus its pricey.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by mrbright

cocoa mulch emptied my garden of cats overnight, but beware as it's poisonous to dogs allegedly, plus its pricey.

Originally Posted by posie

Hello Jonquil, go to your nearest zoo or where lions are kept and acquire some lion poo or wet bedding, put this on the boundaries of your garden and it is said to keep domestic cats out without affecting any other species

Both these work on odour and need to be enhanced at regular intervals, and in the case of lion dung, definitely needs reinforcement with agressive behaviour or otherwise the cats simply learn that their instinctual fear is not based on any actual danger.

CM