Neighbours Cat has ruined my garden furniture advice needed

ladyholly

We have a dog but the neighbours cats still come in to try fishing in the pond. We also have a large lavender plant which doesnt worry them at all. The only thing we found deterred them was when the pond pump went wrong and the water became live, only found when dh stuck his hand in the water to get some weed out. Please note this is not a reccommendation.

Spme cats are just persistent so I think the only answer is to cover the furniture when not in use.

TripleH

tamworthy said:

I wonder if strong-smelling plants might be of help? I read online that plants like lavender, rosemary, and mint could potentially deter cats but I have never tried it (though I probably should, as I spent half an hour waiting for the cats and sprayed them with water last night...they have already damaged my newly bought fairy lights).

We have all 3 plants in close proximity to each other in front of the cat mint. Our cats are not deterred.

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I do have a cover for the future, but this cat is smart, and manages to go under the cover and get on to furniture even when it's strapped down. Also if I'm just going in to get a drink and am going to come straight back out it's not practical to have to keep putting cover on and off. I've tried orange peel that didn't work.

The area of garden where furniture is has lots of strong smelling plants including lots of rosemary, mint and lavender. The cat doesn't seem bothered by the smell of this plants.

I like the idea of a automatic motion sensor sprinkler but unfortunately I don't have a outside tap so that's not really a option.

I've tried the electronic cat deterants that play a hight pitched sound that only a cat can here but even this hasn't worked.

Unfortunately things have got worse with this cat, I can't even leave my windows open down stair now as he is constantly trying to come in house. I have fly nets up on windows and he managed to tare through them,  he got in through my kitchen window one day last week and sent things flying whilst walking all over my kitchen countertops. Grabbed the cat as soon as I heard him and took him straight back out side.

Sadly 2 days ago my husband opened living room window as it was hot, He popped to bathroom to go to toilet for just a minute, cat managed to rip fly net got in window, and attacked and killed our rabbit.

Husband heard commotion ran in and grabbed cat just as it was about to go for our guinea pig. I'm so angry. Our rabbit meant the world to us, we had had our dear Molly for 7 years, she was such a soppy gentle rabbit, she loved attention.

It's left us and our 4 children devistated.

It's so wrong that cats are aloud to roam and go where they like, kill your animals and there is nothing you can do about it as the law is on the cats side.

I've tried talking to my neighbours who I used to be good friends with, who the cat belongs to but she doesn't care, and won't believe me, says her cat would never cause trouble or hurt any one or any thing.

This has caused us to fall out and we barely talk now.

I'm at a loss as to what to do. Certainly won't be opening any windows down stairs any more as can't take the risk.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I will try the silent roar cat repellent, it's worth a try. Any other suggestions much appreciated.

Again thanks in advance

MrsStepford

Chase the cats and yell at them every time you see them. It might not deter them but it will make you feel better. 
Fling the poo into their owner's garden
 Put black cotton thread around the garden. Cats can't see it well and don't like treading on it. I
Get a big dog

Lavendyr

[Deleted User] said:

Thanks everyone for your replies. I do have a cover for the future, but this cat is smart, and manages to go under the cover and get on to furniture even when it's strapped down. Also if I'm just going in to get a drink and am going to come straight back out it's not practical to have to keep putting cover on and off. I've tried orange peel that didn't work.

The area of garden where furniture is has lots of strong smelling plants including lots of rosemary, mint and lavender. The cat doesn't seem bothered by the smell of this plants.

I like the idea of a automatic motion sensor sprinkler but unfortunately I don't have a outside tap so that's not really a option.

I've tried the electronic cat deterants that play a hight pitched sound that only a cat can here but even this hasn't worked.

Unfortunately things have got worse with this cat, I can't even leave my windows open down stair now as he is constantly trying to come in house. I have fly nets up on windows and he managed to tare through them,  he got in through my kitchen window one day last week and sent things flying whilst walking all over my kitchen countertops. Grabbed the cat as soon as I heard him and took him straight back out side.

Sadly 2 days ago my husband opened living room window as it was hot, He popped to bathroom to go to toilet for just a minute, cat managed to rip fly net got in window, and attacked and killed our rabbit.

Husband heard commotion ran in and grabbed cat just as it was about to go for our guinea pig. I'm so angry. Our rabbit meant the world to us, we had had our dear Molly for 7 years, she was such a soppy gentle rabbit, she loved attention.

It's left us and our 4 children devistated.

It's so wrong that cats are aloud to roam and go where they like, kill your animals and there is nothing you can do about it as the law is on the cats side.

I've tried talking to my neighbours who I used to be good friends with, who the cat belongs to but she doesn't care, and won't believe me, says her cat would never cause trouble or hurt any one or any thing.

This has caused us to fall out and we barely talk now.

I'm at a loss as to what to do. Certainly won't be opening any windows down stairs any more as can't take the risk.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, I will try the silent roar cat repellent, it's worth a try. Any other suggestions much appreciated.

Again thanks in advance

A cat killed your rabbit!? Blimey. That's awful. I'm sorry. 

I own two cats. I have a GPS tracker on both of them so I know where they are and if they did any damage like youv'e described I'd be horrified and, knowing through the GPS that it was my cat, I would sort it. I'll admit that one of my cats invites himself in but he is welcomed by those families, I know and speak to them about him regularly and they like saying hello to him, and he also knows when he isn't welcome!

If this cat did kill your pet, then I'm really sorry for your loss firstly, and secondly if you have evidence, I would keep that and log a report with a) the police (loss of property) and b) the RSPCA (uncontrolled animal). 

However please bear in mind this is just one animal. The vast, vast majority of cats are not like this so please don't generalise. I'm so sorry you've had this awful experience but please know that this is very much the exception, not the norm. All good wishes 

Lavendyr

MrsStepford said:

Chase the cats and yell at them every time you see them. It might not deter them but it will make you feel better. 
Fling the poo into their owner's garden
 Put black cotton thread around the garden. Cats can't see it well and don't like treading on it. I
Get a big dog

Sigh, have just realised this is a resurrected post courtesy of MrsStepford. Apologies to all.