Cat Epidemic (stop them going in my garden)

[Mabel]

Can anyone recommend a non violent remedy, to what seems like the entire ED cat community,from cr$pping in my garden. Personally I cannot understand why anyone would wish to own one (a cat, that is), but that is a different debate entirely

If no recomendation is forthcoming I shall have to resort to posting the same thread but, ommit the words 'non violent'

[Guest]

Make sure you have no bare soil, sand or gravel - if they can't scrape it up to cover their poos, they won't go there.

[dullwitch]

get a cat ;-).... or a dog

[melbourne groover]

There is some gel you can buy from the pet store on Northcross. Haven't used it myself but the inside one works well.

They may also be able to give you some tips on prevention...

Other option, a kick arse water pistol (water being the key factor here)

:)

[tommy]

Coffee grounds (get free from coffee shops, or staff canteens) will help deter cats - as well as recycling waste and acting as a liquid fertiliser for your garden

Citrus rind / scent - also works

[macroban]

Be careful: cats are now "protected animals".

[melbourne groover]

Would just like to reiterate water pistol...:))

[demery]

tiger poo

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article636004.ece

http://www.easy-gardener.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=1&gclid=CMmKh4KVxJMCFRKj1QodjD3ZCg

[louisiana]

Ms B Wrote:

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> Make sure you have no bare soil, sand or gravel -

> if they can't scrape it up to cover their poos,

> they won't go there.

Um, I get cats that come into my garden and poo (a) in the middle of the lawn and (b) on the slate in front of my front door. In other words, nowhere near loose material.

[Muttley]

Mabel, you have my sympathy. We've waged a three year war against the mogs around here, we've tried everything from lion dung to ultrasonic whistles, and at best these are a minor deterrent. Most effective of all has been putting plastic spike strips along the tops of those fences that are the regular cat routes. This has certainly caused most of them to divert, but of course it probably means they are now merely somebody else's problem.

[Monkey]

Lion dung available at Dulwich Garden Centre by East Dulwich Train Station.

[macroban]

Help is at hand. Interesting interpretation of UK law though.

[dullwitch]

Are you sure they're not foxes? Cats don't usually do that.

[Asset]

my thoughts too.

[SteveT]

I have cats and foxes, and the cat droppings are in the middle of the lawn, smelly, and soft. Fox droppings are around the far corners, hard white like small dog excreta.

I would rather have none, but the only way it seems is to sell up, and get an abode without a garden.

[macker]

SteveT Wrote:

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> ...the only way it

> seems is to sell up, and get an abode without a

> garden.

Or try these guys: http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/1380/pave.html

[bob]

I to have problems with cat crap tried every think they now just crap in the middle of the lawn????????

Bob S

[Guest]

I'm horrified to hear that town cats poo in the open! I thought covering it up was one of their strongest instincts. How degenerate!

[bob]

This is east dulwich you know

Bob S

[????]

I never quite get the concept of putting Tiger poo on your lawn to deter a domestic cat from pooing on it....

[Monkey]

It's not degenerate. Confident, territorial cats do not cover up their poos as it is a way for them to show the area belongs to them. Therefore if you put lion dung in your garden, the local cats will think that a great big beast has just moved in. That's the theory at least.

[Guest]

Clearly I have only been acquainted with softy cats until now! I was always told it was about hunting, hiding the smell from potential prey, but perhaps in towns territory is a bigger driver.

You do learn a lot on this forum, don't you.

[bob]

obviously chav cat,s I saw one wearing burberry

Bob S

[CamberwellOz]

Starbucks give away used coffee beans for free in their store in Sainsburys....

[Loz]

I had a long, drawn out battle with the local moggie. At the moment I believe I have won, but I'm not lowering the defences yet.

Not being a cat owner, my garden became claimable turf for the catlord that lived a few doors down. It would have huge dumps in the middle of my lawn to claim it. Hitting one of these with a flymo is a rather unpleasant experience. I once spied it through the patio doors mid-dump. Unable to get my keys in time I banged on the door, but it was rather determined to finish what it had started.

I started with some green wax anti-cat pellets from Dulwich Garden centre. The cat took these as a personal affront. I scattered the pellets - it buried them and left a steaming pile in their place. I removed the crap and replaced the pellets. It turned into a war of attrition. I thought I'd really piss it off by attaching some of the pellets to it's favourite sitting post, but it actually counter attacked by leaving a dump on top of the post!!. I can't even begin to imagine how it pulled off this rather impressive balancing act.

I then tried a dual tactic of Zoo Poo (lion dung) and chasing the damn thing away whenever I could. Got a sneaky one in one day when I noticed it basking in next door's garden, thinking it was safe from me. It got a rude shock when a blast from my garden hose hit it...

The bottom line is - you have to establish yourself as top cat, then it will leave you alone. Clean up all cat poo ASAP, use lion dung and yell at the damn thing whenever possible. It will take time.