| Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using | | | | area covered by the detector the sprinkler shoots out |
| garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of | | | | a jet of water to scare the animal away. It is claimed |
| my garden. These are common questions of concern | | | | that, after one or two encounters with the jet, the cat |
| to all gardeners but is there a real answer?The first | | | | will learn to avoid the area.Ultrasonic devices emit a |
| line of defence is to ensure that your yard boundaries | | | | high frequency sound which is annoying to cats (and |
| are secure. Any gaps in your fence should be blocked | | | | dogs) but is not audible to humans. There are various |
| to deny low level access. But cats can jump so fix a | | | | different models some of which operate continuously |
| taut wire or string some six inches above the top of | | | | and others which have an infra red detector and only |
| your fence to deter this approach.Once inside your | | | | emit a pulse of sound when the cat triggers the |
| garden many people say that the best cat repellent is | | | | device. To be successful you need to ensure that the |
| a dog who will soon see off any feline invader. If you | | | | model is powerful enough to cover the area you wish |
| are not a dog lover then you will have to resort to | | | | to protect. In addition make sure that the sound |
| more passive methods. Since cats like to lie on freshly | | | | frequency is designed for larger animals since some |
| dug soil you should lay mulch on your borders so that | | | | models are intended to deter insects and so would be |
| no bare soil is left exposed. Seed beds should be | | | | no use for cats.There are also commercial scent cat |
| covered with wire netting or twigs arranged as a | | | | repellents. Those that use chemicals should be kept |
| barrier.Young trees should have plastic guards fitted | | | | away from any food crops but the essential oil based |
| around their trunks to protect them against use as a | | | | granule varieties act in the same way as orange and |
| scratching pole. | | | | lemon peel mentioned above. Another way to keep a |
| Your garden pond should be covered with netting to | | | | cat out if the garden is a repellent evaporator which |
| keep your fish safe.Cats are generally known to dislike | | | | consists of a container holding puffed rice which has |
| water so a well aimed bucketful or a squirt with the | | | | been impregnated with essential oils. These are |
| hose will certainly make an intruder run. After one or | | | | effective for three to four weeks and can then be |
| two dousings it may learn the lesson and stay | | | | refilled for a further period. Another natural product |
| away.To protect plants and borders both mothballs | | | | which many people claim really keeps a cat out of the |
| and citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place | | | | garden is lion's dung. You may need to visit your local |
| the mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. | | | | zoo to obtain this although some stores do stock zoo |
| Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air | | | | poo.In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a |
| freshener and place the cloths around the plants you | | | | cat trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it |
| wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are | | | | cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The |
| cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, | | | | owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be |
| lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil | | | | encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. |
| and mustard oil.Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In | | | | Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats |
| particular rue but not catmint which has the opposite | | | | but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like |
| effect. Coleus canina is another plant which is | | | | a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be |
| marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.The | | | | deterred by any other method. If there is no such |
| broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating your | | | | scheme in your area, just buy your own trap.So, to |
| yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, urine, | | | | recap, the first priority is to secure your boundary |
| birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent and | | | | fences. Then you have the whole selection of |
| beer. A smallholder has reported success using dried | | | | suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade |
| rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients listed | | | | recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would |
| in the previous paragraph should be tried first.If you visit | | | | suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs |
| your local garden center or hardware store you will | | | | for a start. If you are around when the intruder |
| find several cat repellent products on sale. These | | | | appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you |
| range from electric water sprinklers and ultrasonic | | | | miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these |
| devices to sprays and granules.Motion activated | | | | do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the |
| sprinklers act in the same way as a burglar alarm | | | | commercial alternatives. |
| using an infra red detector. When the cat enters the | | | | |