Not sure whether it is a cat or fox?

loulou41

I had a surprise in my garden, I have just moved in the new house three weeks ago. I think it looks like some sort of "poo", massive one, is it possible that cats can do a poo that big? I am a newbie to all of this and was quite upset. I have a field nearby and thought may be foxes but my friend told me it could be cats. Are there any plants I could grow in the garden to deter them if they are the culprit? Thanks

MUMMYTO2BOYS

http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/Weedkillers+Insecticides/Vapet-Get-Off-Cat+Dog-Repellent-450g/invt/0083726

Can highly reccomend this.

Lotus-eater

Either cat, dog, fox or badger.
Can you get a photo of it? Or what does it look like? And is it in loose ground or on the top of hard ground, is it in a dug out hole?

Normally you have to put up with it, or put some sort of netting over the top.
I don't know if the stuff M2B's links to works or not.

fiddiwebb

massive one :eek:

How big, what colour?

Fox scat has a tar like consistency but not massive, neither should badger, cat.

pollywollydoodle_2

Best thing I use to deter cats is good old fashioned Moth Balls. They don't smell too great but better than the nasty deposits of cats

rhiwfield

FWIW fox droppings often have hair coming out of the pointy end!

LINK

foxgloves

Oh what a lot of poo experts there are on here! As the owner of a very large cat, I have to say that yes, cat poo can be pretty big, especially if it's a cat which eats his own dinner then goes through everyone else's cat flaps in search of 2nds & 3rds! Most cats bury their poo, but if there are territorial disputes, the cat who currently thinks he is 'Top Cat' in your locality, will often leave poo unburied as a sign to other cats how big & hard he is. If it is a cat, then some Olbas oil dropped onto used teabags & spread around the problem area will deter it. There's also a plant called 'Scaredy-cat' which I have never used but is supposed to keep cats off as they hate the smell. Just a thought, there isn't a chance that a neighbour's dog could be getting into your garden, is there? This happened to us when we first moved here....quite a bit of horrible poo, but we couldn't see how a dog could possibly get in......until we saw one in the garden actually POOING & realised that there was a tiny gap just big enough to admit a neighbour's spaniel!

fiddiwebb

No "big cat" sightings in your area OP?

foreign_correspondent

fox poop is small, black and pointed towards one end... was it there before you moved in? could it be dog poop, or even human?

valk_scot

Could be anything, really. Got a photo?

Whatever it is, there might be repeat visits. Buy a cheap plastic spade (ie the kind kids use in sandpits), some Value type pedal bin liners and apair of rubber gloves. Mark the spade clearly for poo removal and keep everything together ready for swift action. You can sprinkle the area after removal with chilli or curry powder (bulk buy from Asian groceries) ...oh, and keep a supersoaker or the garden hose ready, to discourage repeat visits once you know who the culprit is.

But at the end of the day, animals don't think of gardens as anything else than the great outdoors, so don't get too upset about the odd bit of poo. It's part of being lucky enough to have a garden in the first place. There are always a few downsides!

rhiwfield

foreign_correspondent wrote: »

fox poop is small, black and pointed towards one end... was it there before you moved in? could it be dog poop, or even human?

Yeuchh! Reminds me when I used to live in a flat in London and some nice person left his calling cards in the foyer of our block. Porters told me it was how he marked his territory!!