Ideas for keeping cat off front garden!

MoodyMand45

My neighbours cat is constantly on our front garden and driveway seeking attention from school children and passers by on a daily basis.

It has got to the stage where crowds of people are standing on my front garden stroking the cat as if they have never seen one before it feels like an attraction at the Zoo.

I have tried using a water spray bottle from the window which sometimes works but the cat just moves out of range and I don't want people to see me spraying the cat. I don't want to hurt it but as we are not on talking terms with our neighbours telling them is out of the question.

Anybody know a technique that might work?

daveyjp

My parents have an ultrasonic repellent which they say does work.

Newbie_John

Reading your comment looks like people are the problem - yeah that ultrasonic thing is very annoying, especially for people. So it should sort both problems.

subjecttocontract

Sprinkler hose with a PIR movement sensor. Cats hate water/getting wet and if they get wet it's doing no long term harm.

Jemma01

Maybe put up a sign "No trespassing"? Can you put a basic wooden decorative border to make the cat less visible and mark the territory clearly 😕

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999030#Comment_81999030

Doesn't work. Last cat and current will quite happily sit out on the shed roof when it is raining, so water is no deterrent. But then, current furball will run and hide if anyone tries to approach it.

I'm in agreement with Newbie_John - It is a people problem rather than a cat problem. Cats will roam where they please, and if it is friendly, people will stop to pet it (I certainly would).

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999001#Comment_81999001

might work but my next door neighbours had one and we could hear it even inside our house. Was glad when it broke and he didn't replace it

Sapindus

Get an unfriendly cat of your own?

Even if you were on good terms with your neighbour, having a word would probably not help unless they tried to keep the cat inside at school run times. You could drop a friendly note through your neighbour's door in case they aren't aware of what's happening, and say you're worried there might be an accident. It can't hurt, so long as you make absolutely sure it doesn't sound passive aggressive.

Put up a chain to discourage people from actually standing on your garden. Or a surface that's uncomfortable to stand on, like sharp gravel.

Put up a charity collection box - 10p to stroke the cat.

WIAWSNB

A PIR sprinkler near the boundary should work. Kids hate getting wet.

MoodyM, does the cat carp in your garden? If so, that can be annoying. Everything else you've mentioned sounds great.

(Just spent a week at primary school helping with SATs. Kids are great. It's adults wot's the problem)

Silvertabby

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81999001#Comment_81999001

We had one to keep field mice out of the garage. They disabled it by chewing through the wire.

moneysaver1978

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6668356/ideas-for-keeping-cat-off-front-garden

Does the neighbour have the same type of front garden as yours? Does your front garden get more sun than your neighbour's? Sounds like the cat found its favourite spot in your garden!

Was the s/he sitting on your fence or…? If so, you could put potted plants on the fence to discourage the cat from sitting on it waiting for the petting carnage.

I have had both ultrasonic thing and PR water sprayer - the latter worked well for the back garden to discourage fox (I love my lawn!). The former works for a while till they get used to it.

Donation box is a great idea - the money raised could go towards the maintenance of the garden…