cat problems Post your questions and find answers on all garden related topics and areas

[bluto20vt]

I am currently renovating a house and have a problem with local cats using the garden as a giant litter tray :evil: I have tried using cat repellent pellets (during the summer) but found a cheeky little sod sunbathing on top of the pellets within 2 hours of spreading them.

So, does anyone know an easy way of getting rid of the cats???

[welsh brickie]

cut up lemons and spread them round the garden

[bluto20vt]

Not heard that one before but i'm willing to give anything a go :D

Cheers

[hennell]

True. Cats dislike the smell of citrus fruits. However, do not to put them on your garden because citrus peels are very acidic which is not good for the soil.

[Harworth]

I'm not sure about lemons - I find oranges, being round, fly more accurately..... or did I misunderstand this? :lol:

More seriously, I have found that simply shouting (really, really loud) and running at the cats puts them off coming into your garden in a short time.

[Nearlyman]

I think the one about the oranges flying better than lemons very extravagant and OTT - but it's his money. But I too detest cats defecating in my garden - they always find out where I just planted and proceed to dig a hole and perform.
I have had success with carefully aimed nodules of soil about the size of a walnut - secret is DO NOT SHOUT - the silent approach is best. The soil pellets do them no harm, but coming soundlessly 'out of the blue' certainly scares the wits out of them; it takes ages before they venture back again - I did say 'wits' didn't I? :twisted:

[HH]

So, does anyone know an easy way of getting rid of the cats???

Shotgun !

but seriously...
I can vouch for the ultrasonic cat repellers, they worked for me.
Got mine from ebay long time ago.
Work using 9v batteries. Some come with 240v adaptor. Round about the 20 quid mark.
They won’t manage a big garden but being battery powered can always be moved around to strategic places. They have a plastic stake that drives into the ground, the body fits onto this stake.
Doesn’t stop cats from coming in/wandering round, they must not like the noise when it comes to them doing their needs.
They didn’t work straight away for me, if took a few weeks for cats to stop, but they stopped. Found somewhere else of course (quieter?) but that was well away from the area that was to be kept clean.

If that doesn't work go back to the first one.
Or....
Ask Mary Bale.