Cats

I have a major problem with cats using my lawn (and other areas of my garden) as a litter tray. Can anyone suggest any really effective cat deterrents that are safe to use on the lawn where children play.
I have politely complained to the neighbour whose cats (lots of) are the culprits but had no joy.

 

i think you you shoud shoot them when they come in the garden but if you most this website is pritty rellible http://www.deteracat.co.uk/

 

If you dont want to resort to exteme techno measures you could always get your own cat who will usually use someone elses garden and at the same time protect its own 'territory'(cue fearsome noises at night!).Seed beds can be protected by wire netting but tends to make your garden look like a mini Colditz. Cats like to 'cover up' their deposits so perhaps a small soil area could be provided - it must be a very desperate or very lazy old moggy that can't give a sh*t and uses a lawn!

 

Thanks for those replies. I've gone with an ultrasonic gismo and not seen a cat in the garden yet! I'm also going to try the coleus canina in some of the more awkward areas of the garden that the ultrasonic detector cannot reach.
As to the suggestion of getting a cat -unfortunately (or fortunately) I'm allergic to the b****** and at this momemt in time I tend to agree with plant pot man's thoughts on cat deterrents

 

An old Uncle swears by lion dung which he gets from a pal who works at Longleat - he puts it all along the boundary of his garden every few weeks and I have to say it appears to work!!

 

Yes I problem with neighbours cats too. It's true - they use the lawn more than soil. does anyone recommend the battery powered sonic deterrents?

 

the ultrasonic gizmo that I've bought seems to be working - I haven't seen a cat in the garden since I attached it to the fence, so fingers crossed!!
(I bought mine on ebay for just under �£30 inc postage which was �£10 cheaper than I'd seen the same item elsewhere.)

 

I have small kids, a sand pit and a neighbour with mny cats...with the obvious results. We have recently started using eucalyptus-oil soaked tea bags in to the sand, and it seems to be working. You get the oil from the chemists, drip it onto used tea bags, bury them in the sand. Does kids no harm, smells OK & deters cats. When the bags break you just get a bit of tea in the sand.

 

Excellent idea, I'm thinking of buying a sand pit for my daughters Birthday.

 

I'll give that one a go as well. Our sand pit has a lid so we don't suffer that way, but the kids do like to dig underneath a tall fir tree and the loose soil attracts the pesky varmints!

 

Ah pussie cats..I have just moved house and have a corner front garden unfenced I would think that every other house has a cat, I wondered why we had no little birds only Magpies,
Freshley dug they came from miles around to leave thier calling cards, Then I was visiting a garden centre in Sussex with my daughter and came upon, "COMBAT'cat repellent it uses essential oils smells nice and is ok for kids,The makers are:William Sinclair horticulture,Lincoln and it worked.... they also have a web site, I have now fenced it mainly to keep the Foxes out as they dig (for fun) out the plants then I found out why,I had used bonemeal as a fertilizer. Rosietu

 

I breed moggies and have from 4 -12 most of the time, non ever uses my garden,pots or borders.I empty the cat/kitten litter tray, sawdust, in a corner and as soon as they come out in morning all go there.Luckily I don't have any neighbours, but a hose pipe does the trick and my sees off the old Tom.

 

sorry amending,from last message my Dog sees them off.

 

Just a thought re keeping the pussies out of the more awkward corners - there's a product called "Silent Roar" which is actually dried, pelleted lion poo (yes, really, not tried it myself as I have a cat who sees off all comers, but have a friend who swears by it.