Cats

Elsewhere

I think the rules recently made in Australia for pet cats should be brought in here ie.

"From 1 November 2013, the full Cat Act 2011 takes effect and will require all cats that have reached six months of age to be:

• Microchipped
• Sterilised, and
• Registered with the relevant local government.

Your cat will be required to wear a collar and registration tag to ensure they can be easily identified and returned to you if they become lost. "



Also cat owners can get into trouble if their cats cause a nuisance to neighbours...


"Legally, you are not allowed to let your cat trespass on other people's property. If your cat is found wandering off your property and is not identified, he/she can be seized and impounded. You may have to pay a fine when reclaiming your cat from the Council pound."


http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/cats/cat-confinement-enclosures-and-fencing

montymud

The first 4 are excellent rules. I would love for that to be brought in here.

However I don't know how the fifth could be done.

clarryd

I also have a problem with cat's, but I really am scared of them so when they are in my garden (neighbours cat's like my garden somehow) I stay in doors but I love the garden and do not see why I should not be in MY garden.

I have tried the cat/dog repellents, spray and powder. (Don't know about the cats the smell was enough to kill me off).

A man further down my street told me to try chili powder as it definitely works, well I have tried it and no it doesn't work.

Best thing I think is to get a bloody big dog for the day that will keep the cat's off my lawn.

If anyone else has some good idea's please let me know I am desperate.

Suzy_M

jackieblack wrote: »

We use these at our school
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Selections-GFA805-Operated-Ultrasonic-Batteries/dp/B0077LW0M6/ref=sr_1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1407601830&sr=1-1&keywords=solar+cat+deterrent

Have been using something similar (Pest Bye make) since March - and only three lots of sh-sh-shovelling since!.
The ones like these that are motion activated appear to be much more effective than the continuous noise ones. Occasionally cats still venture into the garden but avoid the areas covered by the sensors but at least they don't linger - easily overcome by moving the deterrents around.
Still have a water pistol on standby though as an extra deterrent!

Sugarcandy

Hi I was at a shop a few weeks back, and they were selling what is called The Scaredy Cat Plant. I have no idea if it works, but a quick search on google comes up with people who think it does.

Sugarcandy

catgil wrote: »

I have a problem with a cat coming into the house and spraying :mad: Does anyone know what I could use to stop it from coming in???

I don't have that problem, I find a dog works very effectively

Davesnave

We have a thread like this every 6 months or so. If nothing else, it gives me a chuckle at the gullibility of the human species.

For a school, tackling this would be a great design technology exercise, although the 'real' solution is not terribly exciting. This is simply to stop the cats getting in by means of a physical barrier.

Yes, horribly boring, isn't it? But think on. Those of us who have to keep animals like badgers out can't use polypropylene netting because the little beggars will eat through that in 30 seconds. However, cats won't. What's more, being black, it's not that intrusive visually.

So, it's either make the effort and net off whatever you want protected, buy an ultrasound device and hope it works most of the time, or join the ranks of those sprinkling chilli powder, leaving half filled pop bottles all over the place, or buying those ridiculous cat silhouette things with the jewelled eyes! :rotfl:

But first, as you're a school, get those kids designing! They'll love it, and there's a bit of subliminal social education in there too..

Elsewhere

"stop the cats getting in by means of a physical barrier."

I agree with you, Davesnave, that's the obvious thing to to - but why should the work and expense be the responsibility of the non cat-owner?

It was I earlier ranting about "Australian rules" cat owning - their website does give detailed instructions for fences to keep cats in -

http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/pets/cats/cat-confinement-enclosures-and-fencing/cat-proof-fencing

Anyhow, I suspect to keep them out might be harder - wouldn't the overhang have to be on the neighbour's side of the fence? And what if the neighbour had trees or outbildings near the boundary from which the cat could jump?

"For a school, tackling this would be a great design technology exercise"

I suspect the kids would learn quite a lot about planning permissions and the law with respect to neighbours also!

lostinrates

Well, by netting for cats the fence could also net for birds for any soft fruit. , so there is a bonus.

Also worth considering in uk there are a fair few free living cats, who regretfully are not the responsibility ( now) of any one traceable.

While netting might not keep out a badger or a fox or a hedge hog. It might well be seen as too much trouble for them to bother. Less poop of all offensive sorts is a bonus in this sort of garden I'd have thought:)

anotheruser

You can't blame owners.
Cats are cats, not programmable robots. They will do what they like - there is very little you can do to control them.

Try bananas and citrus fruits (the skins). They will help the garden and kitties hate citrus and bananas.