Stopping the cats from scratching fence post

serious_saver

Hi all! I hope someone here can help me.

We don't have a cat ourselves (nothing against them, just can't afford to care for one at this point in our lives)

Anyway, our garden is like a cat highway. Since moving in I have never seen so many cats in one place.

Our next door neighbour has two cats. He also made a point of telling us that the fence between our houses is out responsibility to maintain (it's true, I had already checked)

Everyday I see his cats scratching at a wooden post that holds part of the fence up. Aside from the maintenance issue it looks horrendous!

I don't particularly want to stop the cats coming into the garden but I really want them to stop scratching the fence post.

Is there anything I can use to put them off? Easy, cheap and not too stinky is preferable.

Thanks

Celli

You could cover the post in weld mesh, which would make it difficult for the cat to scratch, especially if you put it on loose.

penny_pincha

I agree. Put chicken wire around it. That will put them off and it is cheap. Cats are using it as a marking post, visually and a scent marker.

Jonesy_McJones

Any other ideas?

Not sure if it's my cat and / or neighbouring cats but something has been scratching at a wooden post at the top of my balcony steps... Would rubbing lemon juice on it deter them, or would the citrus smell disappear in minutes?

Lovelyjoolz

Whether it works or not would depend on the cat. Some cats don't mind the scent of lemons, in fact one of mine will actually lick lemon juice if I spill it! And yes, it would wear off fairly quickly, especially if it rains.

Chicken wire is your best answer. Or aluminium plate. But please don't put anything up that will damage their paws.

Jonesy_McJones

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Whether it works or not would depend on the cat. Some cats don't mind the scent of lemons, in fact one of mine will actually lick lemon juice if I spill it! And yes, it would wear off fairly quickly, especially if it rains.

Chicken wire is your best answer. Or aluminium plate. But please don't put anything up that will damage their paws.

I'd NEVER put up anything that might damage their paws - especially not my cat's! Tbh, I think it's just one of those things I'm gonna have to live with (small price really).

his_missus

Someone suggested to me spraying vinegar on areas where cats spray to deter them. I'm trying this with my cats as one keeps spraying on the back door to mask the smell of a Tom Cat who keeps coming in my garden and spraying on the door too. My cat has also been spraying in my kitchen too so I spray it every other day with a vinegar/water mix.

Seems to be working though it's only been a few days. Keep getting a whiff of fish & chips though

comeandgo

Our cat used to use our wooden stair banisters and stair rails - I got some cardboard and placed it around the wooden spindles. I left them on for a few weeks and now he does not go near them to stretch and scratch, he uses his extremely large scratching toy.