Neighborhood cats keep using my mulch beds as a litter box how do I keep them away?

Question

I tried putting down cocoa shell mulch thinking they wouldn't like the texture/wouldn't like walking on it, but that didn't work. Thanks

Answer 1

i heard moth balls check in a pet store and ask for advice

Answer 2

Your going to have to talk with your neighbour. You could get some of the mulch and the neighbour can put the mulch in a litter box. This thing is going to need ALOT of patience. Every time you catch that catch peeing on your mulch beds scoop up the place where they peed and give it to your neighbour to use as the kitty litter stuff. Turn on the sprinklers lightly to tell the cat off if the cat tries to pee on it again. Also tell your neighbour to praise the cat alot when it pees in the right spot( the litter spot). I know it sounds grotty and exhausting but it worked with me when me neighbours cat peed on my flower beds. All you need is patience and consistency. And i know i'll probaly get a couple thumbs down for this coz it sounds gross and VERY TIRING but its so worth it in the end!

Answer 3

be on guard 24/7 with a hose.

OR, buy yourself a dog.

or simply buy some citronella oil and pour it around the perimeter of your yard. they hate the smell (apparently)

if none of the above works for you, write up a note that says something along the lines of "if your cat continues to **** in my yard, I will catch it and you will never see it again." (you could make it sound as nice or as threatening as you feel comfortable)

if you know which houses the cats are coming from, mail it to them (so they don't see you putting the note in their mailbox) or if you don't know who's cat/s they are, print up a heap of them, and do a midnight walk and put it in every letter box in your area. A bit drastic, but people should take better care of their pets, or not have them at all.

I'm considering doing that, my cat is an indoor cat, and the other cats in the neighbourhood keep coming to my house and trying to fight her through the windows (and some are having sex in my yard)

Once that has been done, if the cat continues to come into your yard, you can hire a trap (a humane one - just call the pound and report 'feral cats' in your yard) then either give the cats to familys that live far away from you, or take them to the pound (although, you run the risk of the cat being microchipped)

The family will probably get another cat eventaully, but they'll only let it prowl if they're stupid.

I'm against animal cruelty, so don't do anything horrible to them!

Answer 4

1] cocoa shell is not a very good mulch, it even brings blights and viruses into your garden.

2] The best type of mulch is an inorganic mulch such as shale, slate or shingle

Answer 5

THESE 3 CATS ARE DECLAWED AND ONLY LETS THEM OUT AT NIGHT THEY NOT ONLY PEE THEY ALSO DO #2 IT RIGHT AT MY FRONT DOOR AND THE SMELL GETS IN THE GARAGE. I HAVE HAD DOZEN OF PEOPLE TELL ME T CALL ANIMAL CONTROL. I TRY TO CLEAN IT OUT BUT GOT A BAD INFECTION AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE FROM THAT AND BE SURE AND WEAR A MAST IF I MUST CLEAN UP. SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANIMALS. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THROWING IT ON HER FRONT DOOR I JUST COULD NOT DO IT. HERE IS MY ANSWER AND IT A GOOD I AM MOVING

OH I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING THAT WOULDN'T HARM THE CATS WORKS FOR MAYBE 3 DAYS

Answer 6

The first answer is probably your best bet. I use both the moth balls and (sp?) Diazinon. I put the Diazinon pellets. They don't smell very good and it is great for pest control in your flower beds and around your house also. We live in a low area and the tiny black sweet ants are a problem. Since I started with the Diazinon I haven't had problem one. The cats have stayed away also. Hope this helps you, it helped me.

Answer 7

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 8

There is a permanent solution but it is costly. You could get an invisble fence put in around your yard. Animals do not like the vibrations and would not cross it.


Edit: I thought of something creative, My cat hates the rubber hose and she hates rubber snakes. She is scared stiff of them and stays away. Maybe this may stop cats getting in if you put some of these there. Silly but it may work

Answer 9

It hasn't hurt our mulch bed, usually they only want to pee in it. Since I haven't noticed any BAD effects, I figure it's ok. They've been doing it for two years now.

Answer 10

Smelly problem, I know.

Try pouring some chlorine bleach through the middle of the bed.

I have several neighbors have have tried this and it works for them.

Answer 11

Why worry as we all have to go some time and place and sometimes we do not get to chose.
But if you must try some ammonia it might work.