Cats coming in garden using as toilet and causing damage advice needed

ASC

TripleH said:

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?

I second this. I have cats and would be mortified if they were causing these kinds of problems, but the owner can't do anything to help if they don't know about it.

You could always put a polite note through the door if you are worried about confrontation.

-taff

I'd go down the motion activated sprinkler route if it's as bad as you say it is.

Pollycat

Kim_kim said:

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? 

I have a similar problem.
2 cats new to the neighbourhood have decided they like our garden. I can see why, we have lots of flower beds. So not much open space.
I'm currently waging a (good natured) war with them to deter them from coming into the garden by shouting/clapping whenever I see them on my fence.
But I don't think it's a war I'm going to win.
My neighbour is more aggressively chasing them off.

I'm actually more concerned about the wild birds.
We have very busy feeding stations and would hate these cats to make our garden a 'no-go' place for my lovely bird visitors.

We've tried all sorts of things - home made sprays, orange peel, bought remedies.
We have started putting offcuts of pyracantha in places that they seem to prefer - and especially round the feeders.

HampshireH

I think I'd be showing the neighbours the damage and asking them to pay for it.

Whilst that won't be a popular opinion. They own the cats at the end of the day. They are responsible for them.

gettingtheresometime

just to warn you a neighbour who has artificial grass mentioned to me that cats had used the area even after laying down the grass so you might still have the problem - although she sprinkled garlic granules over the area and that does seem to be deterring them.

Another neighbour to me, when I had a similar compliant, suggested sprinkling hot curry/chilli powder over the area but whether this works or not I couldn't tell you.

My biggest bug bear was cats pooing in the bark that we laid so I got some spikes on a roll & that seems to have solved that problem.

TripleH

Our eldest cat likes spicy food so that might not work for all cats.

I am intrigued as to what would work ours will not be outdoor cats but the middle 2 are very friendly and it is always an issue if we let them outside for fresh air how to keep them from introducing themselves

Our oldest was an outdoor cat and whilst she is happy being warm, nothing is more joyful than watching her puddle splash and chase leaves.

onylon

Watching with interest. Our dog will go for cats so we are keen to keep them out of our garden for the safety of all involved.

elsien

onylon said:

Watching with interest. Our dog will go for cats so we are keen to keep them out of our garden for the safety of all involved.

I have warned my neighbour (whilst acknowledging that there’s little they can do about it) that if their cat insists on strolling in the back door and the dog gets it, I won’t be held responsible. Tbh if it stood up to Gitdog he’d back off but if it runs and he chases it’s probably only going to go one way. I swear the blasted cat has a death wish so I now sling water at it whenever I see it. 

pogofish

Get your own cat - preferable a young, feisty/aggressive one. It will spend its days repelling all intruders, then nipping into their territory to claim it with deposits of their own!