cat deterrent?

[ckfe]

Put some bleach on a rag and hang it over the bed. Again they don't like the smell.

If you have the time a water pistol...they then associate the water with the area and leave it alone. Except if the cat is black as they seem to like water. If I am using a hose they will run and dive up the stream of water....????? but thats cats.

strange you should say that.. my cat is black and she LOVES water, she can't wait to get outside if it's raining and we can never have a bath in peace because as soon as she smells the steam she's in trying to get in the bath, she's a total loon!

oh and she'll only drink water out of the bath (or the loo if there's none in the bath) she won't touch it out of her bowl.. when we get family or friends in to cat sit for us if we're away we get some very strange looks when we ask them to put water in the bath for her

[becslb]

Sorry to bring this thread up again but any new solutions to get rid of cats??

We have a visiting cat poo'ing on our veg beds in the front garden (won't come in the back cause of the dogs but I can't let the dogs out in the front ).. I have left a 'poo' on the bed having being told the cat won't come back - didn't work; I have spread coffee grounds over the bed which previously did work but not this time (too cold maybe? coffee frozen and not smelling?)...

any good deterrents I can try or should we get a sonic thingy? (don't suggest water pistol as we never see the cat!)

HELP!!!!!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

there's a type of mint called catmint that cats apparently can't stand. seeing as mint grows like wildfire could be an option !

Don't know why I didn't see this one first time round - it's such a howler!!

I don't know if there is a type of mint that is repellent to cats, but if there is, it sure ain't called catmint - most cats luuuuuuuuuurve catmint* and will send themselves high as a kite rubbing all over it! I suggest that you do not plant this near the seed beds unless you want serious seed disturbance!

*some cats aren't bothered and will ignore it

[piskieinboots]

.... unless you want serious seed disturbance!

and serious cat disturbance!! also bleach - sends 'em into a frenzy, darling little things

[Hazel at the Hill]

If you are going to buy a sonic thingy then make sure you buy it from somewhere that you can take it back if it doesn't work.

Also, are you sure it's a cat? The sonic thing (even if does work) for cats, might not work if it's a fox.

I'd give the beds a mulch with really hot smelly horse manure (careful of your plants) - I don't thing a cat would 'go' in that - by the time the horse manure has broken down, the cat (or fox) hopefully will have got out of the habit of doing it's business there, and will have got used to going somewhere else.

[Bigmallly]

Can you get away with netting the area? or put loads of small sticks in the ground.

[OllieMartin]

I don't believe in the small sticks method. The cats in my garden would drop cable through the eye of a needle in a field of cacti. Passive deterrants just don't work. I need a heat-seeking self-proppelled antifeline waterbomb launcher!

[becslb]

am pretty sure it is a cat...

Have done the sticks before now and didn't work.. Have also heard mixed reviews of the sonic thingy. Like to the sound of the "heat seeking self-propelled antifeline waterbomb launcher"! No water at the front of the house though

Area is approx 3m sq with onions and garlic planted - the narrow strip on the other side of the path is never touched(!) Just looks and smells horrible, is near my lovely veggies and not even my cat

Would cheap bean netting work? Could I just lay it across the bed? Am on a severe no spend few months so ideally could do with not having to buy much (darn there goes the sonic thingy!)

[snuffer]

I have seen in the past (have no idea if they are still available) a device that fits on the end of a hose. The device has a battery operated passive infra red detector (like on burglar alarm thingies). You attach it to the hose and position it in the area you want to protect. If a cat walks by it gets sprayed with water.

Have no idea what size area it might protect but if you can find one it may be worth looking at.

As an after thought I think they are advertised in those catologues that come with the weekend papers.

[becslb]

I don't have a water point in the front so it wouldn't work for me otherwise this would be top of my arsenal!

Have just read that someone had success with old teabags soaked in jayes fluid and spread round the area (they also soaked the ground with JF but I won't be doing that!) so am going to give that a go as I have access to both items! Will report back!

[sagegreen]

T&M's current Spring Plant Catalogue includes a Coleus Canina plant called 'Scardy Cat'. Apparantly, 'Cats, dogs, rabbits and even foxes avoid this plant...' £8.99 for 5 plug plants!! Do please let me know if anyone tries this!

[WeeGarden]

I have a sonic thing. It worked last year but not this year. Am thinking that the only reason it 'worked' might be cos my veggie patch began to fill out with plants rather than bare soil...

I dug up all the compost that they had been using over the winter as a litter tray, and chucked it all out, spread black pepper all over the bed, and switched the sonic thing on. There's a fresh turd since Sunday Grrr..........

As others have said, it's disgusting, and near my veggies, and it's not even my cat.

I'm so stressed about this.

I'm thinking of stringing holly leaves and putting it on the tops of my fences and walls to keep the darn things out.

...but I'm scared I'll be known in the neighbourhood as cruel, mad, animal hating woman.

[becslb]

...but I'm scared I'll be known in the neighbourhood as cruel, mad, animal hating woman.

no.. that will be me.... if I could have higher fences in my front garden with a locked gate (security access only and locked postbox at gate) then my dogs and chickens would be able to roam there as well as in the back and believe you me... NO cat would dare come near us! lol!

Sorry to hear the sonic thingy didn't work for you am currently stashing teabags ready to soak.... am seriously thinking of telling dh that he HAS to get the kitchen floor up (no mean feat!) and run a waterpipe through the kitchen & hall to the front door so I can spray the darn creatures with water....

and I like cats.........

[WeeGarden]

Oh, thanks for reminding me! I watered down some Deep Heat and soaked some teabags in it last year. I think it worked.

[bramble]

I own two cats and have tried numerous ways of keeping them off my plants and containers.
The only thing that works for me is the clippings from my rose bushes. they will not go near the garden when i lay them the brambles down on the garden in a criss cross pattern.