Stopping cats using garden as litter tray - suggestions please?

Davesnave

I agree with Farway too. The prevalence of threads like this and some of the reactions of posters tends to support my belief that cats are smarter than most humans.

That said, wherever I've lived in the past 35 years there's been a good supply of mature hedges and the dry earth/leaf litter under these seems to be much more popular with cats than the garden I'm cultivating. Such hedges  aren't so common on modern estates which is probably one reason why cats become a problem, especially when they're packed in tight like their owners.

Still, look on the bright side; at least it's not fox, and whatever you put up to deter them, cats won't just demolish it like a badger will!

[Deleted User]

Thanks to everyone for your contributions and suggestions - I am going with the physical barrier method combined with the citrus peel idea . Thank you to those who have given me suggestions on the best way to achieve that 😊 

I had considered the sonic deterrents and the water spray deterrents but I have a large amount of wildlife visit my garden and wouldnt want anything which may discourage them. 
Getting a dog or cat is not something that I want to do (although I admit I never had this issue when I had greyhounds! 😉)
I've lived in my property for over 20 years, live in a rural area with only a few houses with reasonably large gardens not on a modern housing estate and it's certainly not due to a lack of mature hedges or trees in my case - my garden is surrounded by (and has within it) hedgerows and trees that have been here a lot longer than I have - let's just hope that the deer don't destroy the barriers like badgers! 😉 

Black_Cat2

*is keeping quiet/not commenting on this thread* 😸

Apodemus

pogofish said:

Get your own cat, preferably a big gnarly tom - it will spend its days and nights repelling all other feline interlopers, whilst making its own territorial “deposits” in your neighbours cats territory!

+1 to the "own cat" suggestion, but toms can be remarkably laissez faire, especially to females and neutered males.  They also patrol much bigger territories and are more often absent than females.  So if you want to protect an urban garden you can actually be better having a queen.

[Deleted User]

@Black_Cat2 😂😂😂

goldfinches

Black_Cat2 said:

*is keeping quiet/not commenting on this thread* 😸

Not giving away any secrets then?  😂😂😂

mountainofdebt

I have the same problem.

it might not be very mse (but if I can 'train' the cats not to go in my front garden it will be worth every penny) but I'm trying this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008ID91XI/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza.

Black_Cat2

*still keeping quiet* 😸

Katiehound

Getting a dog will not work!
cats, or one cat is using my bark chippings as a litter tray and the dogs rush out in the morning to see if a 'tasty morsel' has been left for them!! It's only happened recently.
I have put some old oven shelf grids on the most popular spots- it's a very small garden.

One thing that might work is one of those cat shapes with reflective eyes
Citrus peel works- esp orange- but the smell wears off quickly.

If you see the cat a water pistol or equivalent is good because in time you can just hiss and with luck the cat will run (probably to return later!!)

Davesnave

Katiehound said:

Getting a dog will not work!
cats, or one cat is using my bark chippings as a litter tray and the dogs rush out in the morning to see if a 'tasty morsel' has been left for them!! I

TMI!