Cats using vegetable gardens as a toilet.

[TRNCVaughan]

Don't wish to have my root veg taste like cat poo.
Any remedy?

[Keithcaley]

My old Mum used to sprinkle orange peel around the garden, she reckoned that cats don't like the smell of it.

No guarantees though!

[cyprus2016]

I don't know if there is a Circus or Zoo in the TRNC but they do say 'Tiger dung' is the most effective remedy to deter domestic cats, if you can get hold of it - perhaps best to wear gloves!
I've seen on the internet 'cat scarers' which are usually a realistic-looking model of a cat or owl with very glowing eyes, which if strategically placed in your garden will deter any feline visitors, or so they claim.

[snd1966]

My old Mum used to sprinkle orange peel around the garden, she reckoned that cats don't like the smell of it.

No guarantees though!

Ah its your Mum I have to blame, tried this and it stuck all four paws up at me and actually deposited on the cut orange and the lemon which I tried next. And today silly me thought the builders were just lazy tykes putting the orange peel in the flower pots
Luckily for me KAR collected him for neutering and due to being seen and loved on sight he has been rehomed and hopefully being toilet trained.

A customer has been recommended kebab sticks so I will update you on their progress in the future

[frontalman]

I don't know if there is a Circus or Zoo in the TRNC but they do say 'Tiger dung' is the most effective remedy to deter domestic cats, if you can get hold of it - perhaps best to wear gloves!
I've seen on the internet 'cat scarers' which are usually a realistic-looking model of a cat or owl with very glowing eyes, which if strategically placed in your garden will deter any feline visitors, or so they claim.

Surely Tiger dung is cat poo. Wouldn't that be doubling the problem?

[kaiserphil]

Pepper?

[Keithcaley]

...Surely Tiger dung is cat poo. Wouldn't that be doubling the problem?

Well, it would give Vaughan some very exotically flavoured vegetables...

[blueparrot]

I use these and they seem to be working now:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... ge_o09_s00

But they take a month to work, and I think they work best if the cats have not established a long-term habit (a year or so) of leaving deposits in your yard.

[Keithcaley]

A water pistol does work, but it requires a system of shift working, and eternal vigilance to have any effect.

I quite like the idea of sharpened kebab sticks though! - I can't imagine any cat wanting to make it's toilet on what must feel like a pincushion!

I've actually been trying to train my lot to go next door - unfortunately, I think that 'next door' have the same idea!

[Johnny Lee]

Well enough of you drink Efes,

[Dalartokat]

Fill up plastic bottles of water, say 2ltr size, lay them down around the area. The sun reflects light back to the retina of the cats eyes and they won't go, due to cats eyes being weaker during the daytime, the water bottle flickers and scares the cats away.

Down side, people think they can take the bottles when they get thirsty

[mrsgee]

Try either lemon peel, they don't like the smell, or mothballs laid around seem to work.

[Ragged Robin]

Here we go again - we have had this dicussion before and all the suggestions. The fact is it i s the people who think they are doing goood by feeding stray cats in domestic areas who should be the subject of the water pistols! No only do the cats damage other people's gardens and keep people awake at night by yowling but they set dogs( which are registered etc and treated as proper pets) barking, and perhaps worst of all deter the birds that not only grace our gardens but eat a lot of damaging insects. There is an item in today's CT that birds are the best deterrent for professional caterpillars (which incidentally cause harm to humans, particularl children, as well as dogs)

Yet again I appeal, please, please, if you want to feed stray animals , particularly cats, do it well away from residential areas and have some respect for you neighbours and their gardens and animals, Even KAR advises feeding strays away from houses.

[Marions]

It rather depends where one live,s RR. Where Vaughan is cats go wherever they choose. Feed them or don't feed, them makes no differenc.e They explore where they wish. And it is no good tleling them you do not appreciate their presence - they do just what they like.

So, the question remains. How does Vaughan stop cats ruining his veggie patch. And (Ihang my head in shame) for all I know one of the cats could be mine!!!!

[Heaven]

I use curry powder as I am sick of cats from next door using my flower beds. Makes you want to have a curry every night..... but works

[Ragged Robin]

Marion: cats will of course go anywhere and everywhere, but they tend to patronise an area where they know some "softie" is going to feed them, but unfortunately they do not stick tothe "softie's'' garden but go next door to ruin the neighbours garden, tease his dogs and slaughter the birds. I had the same problem in the UK but worse because I did not have dogs there, and spent a fortune on variouscommercial solutions none of which worked and replacing damaged plants

The only thing I have found to deal with cats is to turn the hose pipe on them (also on the dogs to stop them barking) in summer. In hot weather provided you do not overdue the pressure it wont do either animal any serious harm. In winter I can only sugggest the water pistol solution, Is it fair,however, that people keep having to go out in the cold, particularly if they are disabled or just temporarily unwell to protect their gardens from animals encouraged by others? I have also tried throwing windfall oranges and lemons at them, (dont worry my aim is too bad to actually hit one) . They just sit on the wall and sneer at me as well as the dogs. There is a gang which is extremely well fed and a couple of them are actually bigger than the smallest dogs. I also worry that these feral animals that are fed but not treated will bring fleas and ticks into the garden, to pass onto domestic pets and even humans.

[Squeaker]

we made 'giant' cloches, wood frames with chicken wire, works a treat.

[dottydoris]

dont know if its a deterrent or not, but they love anti-freeze

[jamboree]

Keep the vegetable patch or flower beds damp, as they will not go in the area that is damp they like to keep there paws dry at all costs. Also white pepper, curry powder, red chille powder on the boarders of the planting beds. Works for me.

[snd1966]

I do find the cats here though are very lazy, they even poo on the roof where dust gathers and do not seem to cover it. Sticks still working, am surprised due to the amount of cats that live in her street


RR you are glad I don't live near you, I am one of those softies who can not see an animal go with out food and water, 10 years ago 18 strays but with KAR neutering them down to 3 until this year. Unfortunately they do not ask to be born and yes I have 3 dogs, 2 are hunters and can not stick cats howling or in their area.

[Keithcaley]

You could always chuck yer boots at 'em...

[kaiserphil]

You could always chuck yer boots at 'em...

See, the old and tried remedies are always the best

[judyvin]

DottyDoris, antifreeze is poisonous to cats and other small animals! It contains a compound called ethylene glycol and is fatal if a cat ingests it and is not treated by a vet in time. Peasenhall don't use it, I am sure there are other safe was to deter a cat.

[judyvin]

Predictive text! Should read Please don't use it!

[Ragged Robin]

snd: I dont like seeing animals going without food and water either, but still less do I like seeing the results of poison on an animal: I am still traumatised by having sat up all night with a dog dying in agony because of poison!

There are gangs of large overfed feral cats in my area and they deliberately tease the dogs(mine and others nearby) and set them off barking. I am frightened the noise of both the cats yowling and dogs barking will upset some ill intentioned person and they will put poison down and both dogs and cats will be in danger. I bought the garden and fenced it so I could adopt dogs, but because of the poison risk I have to keep them indoors when I am out, so I can t even have a decent social life as I cant leave them for long.

I am not saying dont feed cats - just accept that cats will not stay in your garden but cause a nuisance to neighbours and either adopt them properly and have them neutered and treat them as pets an encourage them to stay with you, or else feed them well away from where people live.

[ifonly]

Garlic ----- whenever i peel and chop garlic cloves/heads i scatter the skins and left over bits in the garden. Or if the garlic is sprouting and gone past its best by - crush it up and scatter it. It got rid of the cats that had been regularly using our garden as their own personal WC !!!!!

[Ragged Robin]

ThiSs is all very well, but I bought and have spent time, money and effort on a garden for plants, and for the enjoyment of dogs and humans. Some of it is separated so the dogs cant harm the plants, and others to seggregate the dogs when necessary from human visitors who dont like animals.

I do not want it full of cats and their yowling and waste products; not do I want it covered in chain link cloches , garlic, pepper, lemon peel or old plastic bottles!

If I want a cat I will adopt it properly, and have it neutered, vaccinaated and treated for parasites. I will also provide it with a collar with my name and address. If I want and can afford to help cats but cant look after them properly, I will donate t o KAR or similar or put food in a feeding station. In fact I can afford neither because of the amount I spend on dogs! As a dog owner I accept I have responsibility for my animals and go to a lot of trouble and expense to minimise the nuisance to others. Unfortunately there are so many people who think they can encourage large numbers of feral cats into other people's gard ens and be proud of it, instead of being concerned about the damage they cause to others' property and risk to other animals, as well as the cats themselves.

[Keithcaley]

All of the people that I know, who feed stray cats, have by a combination of their own efforts and expense and the help of KAR, succeeded in trapping and neutering those cats - thereby helping to stem the increase in feral cat numbers.

I cannot see that sprinkling a few leftover garlic skins around constitutes a great hardship, or would detract from the visual amenity of a garden.

Cats in gardens? No Problem!

Bees in Bonnets? Big Problem!

[Catlover]

Lucky you are not in the UK DottyDoris or you would have the RSPCA and Police at your door.
Please DO NOT use ANTI-FREEZE to deter any animals! They die a slow and painful death.

There are various deterrents and, if you are able to get one from the UK, there is a device which emits a high pitched sound (not audible to us) that scares cats. Available on Amazon. Please look at more humane options.

[Ragged Robin]

Keith: this is an unkind remark that shows lack of respect for less fortunate others that is unlike and unworth of you!
tha
Maybe some people have feral cats neutered, but he majority that cause problems are not. However to avoid going off topic I have started another threat "cats, gadens, caterpillars and carrying capacity" about responsible feeding of strays. But l suggest those of you who have dogs check the internet for food that is dangerous for them, as some of the items suggested to deter cats are dangerous for dogs - much to my surprise that includes garlic!