HELP!!!! What can I sparay around the outside of my home to keep the neighbors cats away?

Question

Im going there today to tell her to keep her outdoor cats away from our house. We go out the front it smells like piss. We go out the back it smells like piss. We cant even keep our sons toys outside because they will piss all over them. Is there a product or should I call animal control?

Well I called animal control to see what the laws are and they are just like dog laws. They are not pets if they are outdoors and unleashed. Unless they are wild or ferrel. But they arent.

Answer 1

Hi there again Crystal...if you are unable to meet with a compromise with your neighbour, consider contacting with your local animal control agency to learn if there are laws with regards to uncontrolled animals and if this applies to cats. If it does file a formal complaint and perhaps this will get your neighbour to keep her cats indoors since this has been going on for some time since my last answer to your other question about cat urine on shoes.

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

I would suggest using a citrus spray to deter the cats from coming into your yard. I also agree with you and think you should talk to your neighbor about the problem. I think that if you talk to the neighbor and the problem continues it is reasonable to call animal control. I feel that if you put the neighbor on notice and they do nothing it is your right to have something done about it. It is not fair to you or your child to not be able to use your own property just because this person is being lazy. I really hope you are able to find a solution to the problem. Good luck!

Answer 3

Cats are very put off by citrus smells - lemon, orange, lime. I've used citrus sprays to teach them to stay off a couch, or out of a certain room. You're talking about a much bigger area of effect, but it should help cover up the cat smell too.

Answer 4

Stop Cat Peeing Outside LitterBox : http://tinyurl.com/RFzuEj7ot5

Answer 5

You should go to the pet store and see if they have any suggestions and I would call animal control as well. How many cats does she have, most developments have a pet limit.

Answer 6

We had the same problem, until I purchased an aerosol can of animal repellant that I purchased from a local garden center. You spray it around the perimeter of your yard once a week and after rainfall.

Answer 7

You could try citrus spray...Cats hate citrus, and yes I would call animal control and at least file a complaint...

Answer 8

Some kind of itching spray or go see a vet to see what items could be used.

Answer 9

Buckshot. Spray buckshot past them a few times. If the sound doesn't scare them away, the poke of the BB's certainly will.

Answer 10

The chemical, champhor, in the form of moth balls or moth flakes is very annoying to cats. Just sprinkle it in the dirt where they have been going. They will find somewhere else and you won't have to risk a confrontation with your neighbor.