The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

Pooky

You need lion poo Softstuff - cats tend not to go where other cats have been and the scent of big cats around will keep them away. Our local wildlife park sells it by the bucket load but I'm pretty sure you can get it online too.

Or you could get your own cat which would solve the issue for you - I have 5, none of which use our garden (sorry neighbours) but we don't see other cats in our garden either.

Softstuff

I can smell cat pee MTSTM, so know if that's happened (I have a pretty decent sense of smell), and as far as I'm aware the pee isn't anywhere near as bad as the poop.

I did consider the lion poop, but was struck by how it could be like swallowing the spider to catch the fly! Still worth investigating ta.

And Silvasava, I'm generally a moggie lover too.... we ended up with an old neighbours cat that would sneak into our flat and nap on our dining chairs. We loved him and were fine with that, it's the poop near food that bothers me. If he pooped in the front garden that just has some shrubs in, I wouldn't even worry.

Wondering if I try a real plan B at present. Get it a nice litter tray with decent clean litter and out it near there. There's a reason I have the name Softstuff

monnagran

Never had much trouble with cats. Except my own of course. However, if anyone has a deer problem the only way I found to keep them off the flower beds was to tie plastic carrier bags to the tops of canes and plant them between the roses. The deer didn't like then at all.

When I had my cottage I was plagued with rabbits, foxes, badgers, moles, but the deer were the worst.. Charming to look out of the bedroom window of a morning and see them sleeping under the apple tree. Slightly less enchanting to come downstairs and be faced with a deer staring through the kichen window with one of your best roses drooping out of its mouth like a flaming Spanish dancer.

x

MrsCD

Could you just return it to the rightful owner, softstuff? A friend of my DH had a problem with a dog leaving its mess outside his front door, so one day he shoveled it up, knocked on their door, and stuck the shovel under their noses, telling them it belonged to them, where would they like it!
They got the message.
Other than that, could you lie soft garden fleece over the area where the cat likes?
We have two cats that like to walk through our garden and pester the birds, but a good knock on the window usually makes them move.

Softstuff

MrsCD wrote: »

Could you just return it to the rightful owner, softstuff? A friend of my DH had a problem with a dog leaving its mess outside his front door, so one day he shoveled it up, knocked on their door, and stuck the shovel under their noses, telling them it belonged to them, where would they like it!
They got the message.
Other than that, could you lie soft garden fleece over the area where the cat likes?
We have two cats that like to walk through our garden and pester the birds, but a good knock on the window usually makes them move.

If we knew for sure which cat it was and who it belonged to I would. We suspect it is a neighbours, but we've not managed to speak to them ( we knock, they don't answer). Hubby sat out there for an hour in the early hours trying to spot it, but no joy.

I think we wait for the council now. Thanks for all suggestions.

Floss

I do wonder how one can stop a cat wandering, apart from keeping it shut in. Will be intrigued to hear the council's view Softstuff.

Softstuff

Floss wrote: »

I do wonder how one can stop a cat wandering, apart from keeping it shut in. Will be intrigued to hear the council's view Softstuff.

Councils regulations are that cats aren't allowed to roam past a person's property boundaries, the reason being we live in a conservation area for various native wildlife and cats are introduced predators. How that works in practice though I'm also intrigued to know.

greenbee

Presumably you're supposed to have indoor cats (which use litter trays) and not let them out?

Softstuff

greenbee wrote: »

Presumably you're supposed to have indoor cats (which use litter trays) and not let them out?

Or build runs? I've seen a few of those about.

Hard_Up_Hester

Where we live everyone seems to have a cat and as they don't poo in their own gardens we get the benefit!
In desperation we have netted all out raised beds and it has cost us a fortune. Hubby had built all the frames himself so they fit each bed and are tall enough to accommodate the plants.