Deterring cats advice please,

bloolagoon

Person_one wrote: »

Bring your guinea pigs inside, or keep them safer outside. How did the cat even get to them?

They come inside at nights and over winter. During good weather they use the outside hutch with hiding places in our garden.

She was happily feeding on grass when the cat jumped over the fence. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't been there.

Since then the cat has been prowling over their hutch, as probably never realised what it was before as in a different area to where it fouls, just bad luck that she was having a run out whilst it was using my garden as a toilet.

Why should my animals stay indoors and not have access to exercise and grass because someone else's animal invades my property? It's bad enough dealing with having my children clear up their mess without worrying about the safety of my piggies.

bloolagoon

poet123 wrote: »

Apparently old CD's stuck in the ground deter cats, use the freebies from the papers.

Thank you I will place done around the hutch, it's hard thinking of ideas that will deter a cat but not the piggies, as they need to be safe too.

Goldiegirl

MoneyMate wrote: »

Not too sure how effective but an old neighbour used fill up empty large fizzy drinks bottle with water with labels off, put them where the cats do their business, something to do with seeing a Cat reflection in bottle scares them off.

My dad used to swear by this method.

I have a corner of the front garden which cats have been using. It's not visible from any window so I can't use a water pistol, so I'm going to give the water bottles a try, and the CD's for good measure.

Although passers by will wonder why I've got a lot of stuff in one corner of the garden!

ariba10

A cat is like a fox. It will kill for the sake of killing not because it is hungry.

If water fails I would look for a more permanent solution.

GwylimT

I once had a rabbit taken by a fox, not the foxes fault, to them a rabbit is tasty treat, it was my fault for providing a secure enough run. Yes, you can attempt to deter cats, but as with any small rodent unless you are present it is best for them to be in a secure run in the garden.

Person_one

bloolagoon wrote: »

They come inside at nights and over winter. During good weather they use the outside hutch with hiding places in our garden.

She was happily feeding on grass when the cat jumped over the fence. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't been there.

Since then the cat has been prowling over their hutch, as probably never realised what it was before as in a different area to where it fouls, just bad luck that she was having a run out whilst it was using my garden as a toilet.

Why should my animals stay indoors and not have access to exercise and grass because someone else's animal invades my property? It's bad enough dealing with having my children clear up their mess without worrying about the safety of my piggies.

Well, sorry to state the obvious, but you have to supervise your guinea pigs when they're loose on the grass! Cats, foxes, birds, lots of animals see them as dinner.

When I had rabbits as a child, one of us would always stand guard with a water spray when they were out exercising. That's what you have to do unless you can build them a huge secure run.

Cats have a legal right to roam I'm afraid, there's absolutely no point wasting energy getting upset about that.

MrSmartprice

Person_one wrote: »

Cats have a legal right to roam I'm afraid, there's absolutely no point wasting energy getting upset about that.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

However, this 'right to roam' does not mean that I cannot deter cats who choose to wander into my garden. It indicates to me that they are to be regarded as any other wild creature with no special privileges.

I have given them a soaking, and I'm a pretty good shot at hitting a sleeping cat with a windfall apple. They soon get the message that they may wish to exercise their roaming rights elsewhere if they don't want to be damaged.

bloolagoon

Person_one wrote: »

Well, sorry to state the obvious, but you have to supervise your guinea pigs when they're loose on the grass! Cats, foxes, birds, lots of animals see them as dinner.

When I had rabbits as a child, one of us would always stand guard with a water spray when they were out exercising. That's what you have to do unless you can build them a huge secure run.

Cats have a legal right to roam I'm afraid, there's absolutely no point wasting energy getting upset about that.

In 6 years I have never needed to. They have hiding spaces from birds, although they do actually play with the magpies, they have a very large run, but our garden is open to them in case they want to come out.

There must be a way to deter the cat that doesn't alter my piggies having a good life.

They may have the right to roam and mess and kill my animals but clearly I'm unhappy. If my dog killed their intruding cat, would this be wrong?

Sadly my dogs are lacking in dealing with this intrusion.

Person_one

bloolagoon wrote: »

In 6 years I have needed to. They have hiding spaces from birds, although they do actually play with the magpies, they have a very large run, but our garden is open to them in case they want to come out.

There must be a way to deter the cat that doesn't alter my piggies having a good life.

There is, supervise them when they're out!

You don't have to be happy about cats roaming, how you feel about it is completely irrelevant I'm afraid. You may as well get annoyed about spiders trespassing into your house. You can lobby for a change in the law, but I think your guineas would be in small furry heaven long before you made any progress!

bloolagoon

Person_one wrote: »

There is, supervise them when they're out!

You don't have to be happy about cats roaming, how you feel about it is completely irrelevant I'm afraid. You may as well get annoyed about spiders trespassing into your house. You can lobby for a change in the law, but I think your guineas would be in small furry heaven long before you made any progress!

Well I clearly will have to, short term. Long term I want them to be happy and exercised fully, hence ideas on how I can make this creature go elsewhere.