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Cats coming in garden using as toilet and causing damage advice needed
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[Deleted User]
Posts: 0 Newbie


I know this has probably been asked before but could really do with some advice. A new neighbor moved in a while ago and they have 4 cats. There cats have decided to constantly use are garden as a toilet. I'm having to clear up 3 or 4 piles of poo at least 3 times a day. I can't let my children go out with out without checking first.
To make matters worse, we are currently re doing garden ,we are trying to level out ground in garden so we can put artificial grass as one of my children has a allergy to real grass.
We have dug down and leveled put a weed barrier sheet down and have put m1 type 1 substrate but before we could put granite dust and artificial grass, cats have come in wee and pooed every where dug holes in the subbase and ripped the weed barrier sheet under it. We now have got to remove and throw away alot of the m1 sub base as it stinks like dirty cat litter and replace the weed barrier sheet, before ordering new M1 type 1 substrate.
And even once done they will just come back and do it again.
I have tried every cat deterant you can buy including a solar power ultra sonic one but nothing is detering the cats and stopping them. I've also tried pepper mint oil, orange peel and other thing people normal suggest Im just at a loss now as to how to stop them.
I thought about putting those strips of spikes you can get to put on top of fence or wall to stop them clumping over in to garden but even that is not a option, as running along back of my garden is a public foot path to a school. And I've been told you cant put spikes if it back on to a public foot path.
I know cats are protected and allowed to roam. But they can really be a menace.
Does any one have any suggestions. Also where do I stand legally for damage the cats have caused. It's going to cost me over £100 to replace weed barrier sheet and m1 substrate. I don't see why I should have to pay for damage some one else's cats has done.
I'm guessing there is nothing that can be done legally. But thought I would ask. It's wrong that the law is on the owners side.
Any way
Any advice much appreciated
Thanks in advance
To make matters worse, we are currently re doing garden ,we are trying to level out ground in garden so we can put artificial grass as one of my children has a allergy to real grass.
We have dug down and leveled put a weed barrier sheet down and have put m1 type 1 substrate but before we could put granite dust and artificial grass, cats have come in wee and pooed every where dug holes in the subbase and ripped the weed barrier sheet under it. We now have got to remove and throw away alot of the m1 sub base as it stinks like dirty cat litter and replace the weed barrier sheet, before ordering new M1 type 1 substrate.
And even once done they will just come back and do it again.
I have tried every cat deterant you can buy including a solar power ultra sonic one but nothing is detering the cats and stopping them. I've also tried pepper mint oil, orange peel and other thing people normal suggest Im just at a loss now as to how to stop them.
I thought about putting those strips of spikes you can get to put on top of fence or wall to stop them clumping over in to garden but even that is not a option, as running along back of my garden is a public foot path to a school. And I've been told you cant put spikes if it back on to a public foot path.
I know cats are protected and allowed to roam. But they can really be a menace.
Does any one have any suggestions. Also where do I stand legally for damage the cats have caused. It's going to cost me over £100 to replace weed barrier sheet and m1 substrate. I don't see why I should have to pay for damage some one else's cats has done.
I'm guessing there is nothing that can be done legally. But thought I would ask. It's wrong that the law is on the owners side.
Any way
Any advice much appreciated
Thanks in advance
0
Comments
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Are they using the same area's all the time? If so you could try placing kitchen foil over the spots for awhile as they don't like the sound the foil makes, but they would probably go to a new area.
I wouldn't go for the spikes because you could get yourself into trouble if any cat hurt themselves on them. The law is to protect the cat more then the owner. I have a cat that regularly comes and does her business in my garden. She does it on the lawn mostly. Thing is they have to go somewhere and if they don't have access to a litter tray, which a lot of owners won't have or they are not inclinde to go back home to use it each time they do what comes natural.
There are some products on the market but I don't know if they work. Think one was called spray away. You spray it on the ground etc but I'm sure it would just get washed away when it rained.
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If you can catch them at it, a supersoaker and a lot of shouting might help.Signature removed for peace of mind2
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Hose pipe, if you can catch them at it. Worked for me - not completely but it’s a lot better than it was.
Are you sure it’s cats though - I was wondering about foxes given the damage you say they’ve caused.Legally, unless you have cctv set up, how are you going to prove which cat did what and when? Cats travel a fair distance so you can’t just assume it’s your neighbour’s cats causing the problem.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.1 -
It's definitely there cats and not foxes, I have a security camera in my garden as have had a breakin in the past and have had people climb over wall in to garden and steal things. So had to put up a camera for security reasons.
Camera has caught the cats . So do have evidence.0 -
Grow a rambling rose up the back fence and along the top.
You can get rubber spikes to go on top of fences. They won't harm a person.
Put chicken wire across the area you have prepared or fence it off with chicken wire or this https://www.primrose.co.uk/-p-87513.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwvuGJBhB1EiwACU1Aif2_qo0M7mpEpeg0ZPuhmDtiEpcrtnT1SNCWZBe_cyrjWdOGs20eZBoCowAQAvD_BwE
Do a Google search for 'what can I do about cats fouling my garden'.
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If it is your neighbour's cats, could you ask them nicely to keep them locked in overnight until you sort out the grass?You would only get 1 maybe 2 nights grace for this so would need to lay the weed barrier 1 day and the grass the next day.Not ideal but a possible solution?May you find your sister soon Helli.
Sleep well.1 -
I have two cats, trying to teach the younger one to use my garden rather than a tray. The older one already does.
He is a bit of a menace going in the neighbours house & stealing her children’s toys, luckily she is fond of him!
I've told her to squirt him!
I've heard they like wide open spaces to go, they feel safe knowing no one can ambush them. Is your garden like this?1 -
You could try growing catnip, try pots if you don’t have beds, this worked for me. The cats would then use my garden to sun bathe it stop them using it as litter tray.They don’t like foil one little bit so this could be a method to explorer also.1
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We've had the same problem for years. We've resorted to chicken wire barriers to stop them getting to certain areas (they'd use our flat roof as a toilet and the flies would come into my kids rooms). The only garden deterrent we've ever found to work was a pricey scarecrow motion activated animal deterrent. It's triggered by motion and fires a fast jet of water across the area.
You've got to have access to a water supply and be careful where you aim it!
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You could try a water deterrent-super soaker/washing up bottle left near back door ready to grab but definitely recommend roaring at them and running towards them. You feel a fool but it works. Or maybe some other loud noise maker - drum, banging a saucepan? After a couple of times I only have had to open the door and they run.
I’m trying to keep them out of the garden to protect my elderly cat but whatever the reason, it works!0
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