Cats on my plot

[Chef_uk]

A cat to deter other cats the best way?

we have 5 cats from our neighbours that think our garden is for them to use as a toilet and devour birds in. I've tried putting down chilli powder but it hasn't been a long term solution so should I get a cat of our own?

For me it would purely be as a deterrent as cats don't really do anything for me but my wife used to have one and loves them so it would be looked after and not just slave driven to patrol the veg patch

How effective are they? Will one be enough to mark our garden as its own against 5 others? I've no idea how marking territory works :/

Finally how would i stop my own from using the veg patch for his business?

[Straightenout]

It may or may not keep others out of your garden (one of my two cats has that effect on five assorted neighbours' cats), but to be honest your own cat is just as likely as the other cats to use the freshly dug beds in your garden. I know mine do from time to time (sometimes while I'm still digging!)

[taff]

Doesn't work. The cats are scared of the other cats and they, and the neighbours cats all do it in the beds.

[mrscorpio]

I know how you feel.
I have the same problem.
I have a small front garden with an electronic cat repeller and that worked with 1 cat. but 2 new cats now living next door are fouling that area. It can take up to 6 months for the cat to give up, they are fighting the repeller for territory.

However this is no good for a big back garden. you would need loads of these repellers to work.

My fence is 2 metres high all round and the cats have no problems jumping over.

Good luck ( I would love to see a miracle cure posted here but I think I have more chance of winning the lottery )

[bramble]

I own two cats and when i tell you they are a nightmare I really meamn it. I foolishly took these two when they were newly born out of sympathy for my nephew who owned the mother. They are now 8 years old and the only thing that keeps them off my garden is thorn branches. I prune my roses and bramble cuttings, pyracanta and any other thorny bushes I can lay hand on and criss cross these around my plants. My garden is not a pretty sight but it works. They are the most persistand animals I have ever seen and will push you to the limit.
Good luck and I hope you have lots of patience.

[chucks]

A hose should help make them keep their distance. But only effective if you catch them in the garden. A motion sensor setup would work, but the neighbours may think you've taken leave of your senses

[taff]

the only three things I find actually work are fresh compost on top of beds, fresh grass clippings on top of beds, they don't like either, and fencing round something because they can't jump over things.

[taff]

and a big water pistol

[chris]

I've had a cat in my greenhouse too. Not so much a problem now I've three chickens roaming around my garden (they cats stay well clear!), but they're a pain now too in terms of going in the G/H and eating stuff.

So I built a frame out of wood like so:

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Which fits in the greenhouse doorway when it's fully open, the bottom wedge shaped plank of wood rests inside the door - up against the diagonal frame supports of the end panel, the top horizontal bar is wider than the doorway, to stop it falling inwards.

I've then stapled 2" plastic netting to the frame, so air/insects can freely pass in/out but it'll stop cats/chickens from going in there.

[dave_norm_smith]

I have managed to keep them off until yesterday with fleece. The wind blew the two pieces just wide enough apart to fit a cats a**e (sorry- bum) inbetween and taking out about 2' of beetroot.

Guess what I'll be planting out again at the weekend! grrrrrrrrrrh

[FIREMAN627]

small gauge weldmesh ,ie steel rods welded together , you sometimes see the big versions of this used on building sites to reinforce concrete,diy stores sell it but it is cheaper to buy bigger sheets and cut to the sizes you want, mine are cut to 4ft long X 2ft wide and have a mesh of 2inches , this laid over your seed bed stops cats or anything else digging.

[chris]

Here's a photo of how I keep the cats (and chickens) out of my greenhouse - probably explains it a bit better than my attempt at a diagram above:

[Currysniffa]

I'm looking at make one like chris's, most of the peeps on the lottie with a GH have them..

[mothhawk]

Hi

- the main problem is the boundary fence on one side is only around 4ft high so they just practically step over...

I have discovered that reed screening totally defeats cats. Staple some along the fence so it is at least 2ft higher than the fence. It is too flimsy for them to climb, but at the same time, they can't see through it clearly enough to be able to judge where to jump over. Don't leave any gaps though. My local cat managed to squeeze through a 4" gap I left between a fencepost and the gate, so now I stretch and tie a loose piece across this spot, and undo it when I want to use the gate. Since then, my garden has been a cat-free zone.

[VonnyD]

Hi Louise

I have had the same problem! Last year's courgettes and radish plants were destroyed by our neighbour's cat! This year I decided to buy a really smelly plant known as Coleus Caninas - Scaredy Cat. I haven't seen the two cats in our garden since I planted the new plant.

Hope this helps
:-)