How do I keep cats away?

Question

We have some gravel out the back of our new house and some neighbours' cats seem to like using it as a big litter tray. How can I keep them off it?

Answer 1

Hi Paul...if speaking to your neighbour isn't possible to ask them to please consider keeping the cats indoors here are some safe deterrents to keep cats away.

Hi there...Common odours that are effective deterrents for cats are:

Citronella works best for cats as well as citrus scents such as orange or lemon (primarily towards cats), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.

"Havahart's Cat Repellent" uses capsaicin pepper and oil of mustard as its active ingredients. It repels by both taste and odor, has a lemon scent.

Every animal responds differently to each of these. Some will not be phased by them and others will be quite revolting.

For training purposes they are applied on items that are to encourage avoidance behaviours and not for use with a squirt bottle as they could harm the eyes or respiratory system. Test each substance and observe to see which works as a deterrent so that accidental injestion does not occur as some could then be fatal.

Coleus plants can be effective, but every cat responds differently so it is uncertain without experimenting.

Many people believe mothballs work, however they are considered toxic and should NOT be used. Here's more information on this:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/enotes/showarticle.cfm?id=89
MOTHBALLS are toxic to cats which contains the ingredient Naphthalene. Mothballs are approximately twice as toxic as paradichlorobenzene, and cats are especially sensitive to naphthalene. Signs of ingestion of naphthalene mothballs include emesis, weakness, lethargy, brown-colored mucous membranes and collapses. Paradichlorobenzene mothballs may cause GI upset, ataxia, disorientation, and depression. Elevations in liver serum biochemical values may occur within 72 hours of indigestion.

Answer 2

If you go to the pet shop you can buy all kinds of things to solve this problem. Peppercorns, amonia, or any strong smelling chemical will do the trick too.

However my personal preference would be to...
Take a digital pic of your neighbours cat pooping in your gravel, print it and put it in a nice clear plastic cover with a wee note saying "I think your cat forgot this".

Then go gather all the poop up, stick it in a nice box, place the picture on top, seal it up nice and tight (no smells coming out) and leave it on your neighbours doorstep.


* Dont buy a BB gun like the numpties suggested. There is no excuse for cruelty to animals. The cat isnt being malicious, its just doing what cats do. So shoot the owner not the cat - i thank you!

Answer 3

I've read that white vinegar is a deterrent for cats. Put it in a spray bottle and spray the area. I use it to clean my cat's litter box (and my daughter's diaper pail too). It also gets rid of odors. I wipe it clean but I hear if you leave it, it will keep cats away. Good luck!

Answer 4

even with a canines, you may desire to have strays spraying outdoors your residing house. They try this to mark territory. puppy shops have diverse products to maintain cat's from spraying. before you placed out the deterent tension wash your residing house, porch to get the scent away. putting down clean mulch or timber chips will cover the scent on your flower beds. reliable success, stay great to all animals!

Answer 5

Take the labels of some 2ltr bottles of pop and fill them with water.
Trust me my grandad did it as he is a keen gardener!.
Why you may ask?
Simple cats don't like there own reflection especially as it is distorted believe me they won't be back in a rush either.

Answer 6

my granny has the same problem all you have to do is put some fake snakes out there and maybe some stuff like that. move them around every once and a while too so they dont seem to be dead.

hope i helped!

Answer 7

I know this sounds crude but if you pee around the perimeter of your land the cats will stay away, it's a territorial thing - and free!

Answer 8

Orange peel is OK, but sprinkle chilli powder or pepper around, and they won't come back

Answer 9

not much really. you can try the usual tricks like water pistol, chasing them, put down pepper etc. failing that get a cat!!!

Answer 10

Orange peel is a good 'green' deterrent. Or if you can catch them in the act, spray them with water - they hate it.