How do I keep my neighbor's cat from peeing/pooping in my yard??

Answer 1

Hi Troy...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 you could file a formal complaint and perhaps this will get your neighbour to keep their cats indoors, however hopefully you can find some mutual resolve with speaking to your neighbour's personally.

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

My initial reaction to your question is: what's the big deal? I'm guessing you're not a cat lover? Or do you have your own pets and/or children that could come into contact with the feces? Are you concerned that your neighbor's cat isn't healthy? No question it's bad behavior to allow your pets to roam unsupervised -- it not only shows a lack of consideration for your neighbors, it's also unhealthy for the pet. However, it can be difficult to deal effectively with a cat that wants to be outside so badly it escapes at every opportunity (I know this first hand -- I have three cats and one of them is quite the escape artist). Do you have the kind of relationship with your neighbor that would allow you to ask them to keep their cat inside? This is really the only way you can prevent visits from a cat -- unless you invest in a fence that can't be crawled under or climbed over.

Answer 3

I agree with trying the different scents and oils as a deterrent. However to file a complaint with animal control is over the top. That is completely ridiculous. I could understand if it was a dog, but cats are naturally roaming creatures and have a large area that they patrol. Besides, that "annoying cat" might be keeping those pesky mice at bay in your neighborhood, and you don't even have to feed it or take it to the vet.

Answer 4

I wouldnt even bother talking to the neighbor, it will just make things weird between you guys. The easiest solution that I've found is orange peels. Yes, they really work. Save your orange peels, then sprinkle them around the edge of the area you wish the cat to stay away from. Cats dont like the smell so they generally will stay away.

Answer 5

place litterbox on edge of yard, and place a big bowl of cat food next to the litterbox. they will only go in the box because they only care about the food.

Answer 6

everytime yousee the cat coming over get a water bottle and spray it

Answer 7

just use mothballs