Cats

[coalgirl]

We try to keep our garden as a haven for birds but we are now plagued by cats who hide below bushes and catch unwary birds. How can we keep the cats out? We have tried ultra sonic but the neighbours complain that these upset their children. The cats have to enter the garden over a wooden fence at the back (from a field) or from the road at the front. Both neighbours have dog proof fences on their side of the communal boundaries. Help please!

[beechgrove51]

Hello, why should the sonic repeller upset the children as they are not likely to hear it ?

[4candles]

Water pistol - they hate getting wet.

[paraffin]

Get a dog.

[mandimoo]

BG51... i wonder if its like one of those 'mosquito' devices they use to disperse youths .... adults cant hear it but younger people find it quite distressing.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Lion or other large cat dung - you can buy it (mail order) from zoos. You only need a pellet or so, the cats will smell it and keep miles away from your garden.

[vulcan]

Had the same problem,neighbour fed the birds but the cats hid in my garden to attack them. I used a spray called "get off"[bought in B&Q].just spray around the bushes where they lie in wait,they hate the smell although I cant smell it.Doesn't harm animals or plants.

[mtanner]

i know you can buy sprays to keep cats off your furniture - maybe try sprating it on your fences?

by the way - i love the idea of buting lion poo in the post!! let us know if you try it and if it works!!!!!

[coalgirl]

Thank you everybody, I have located some anti cat crystals at a local garden centre ( our nearest B& Q is 20 miles away) so I will try that and then if that does not work I will write to the nearest zoo and try and order some lion dung (or would it be better to buy a lion). Cant have a dog my wife is allergic to certain animal hair. She has to be fairly close to the animal so she should not be badly affected by a lion.

[MalcolmY]

I must point out that I've never actually tried this but a friend suggested that cotton wool balls soaked in the juice from a tin of salmon would (quote) make 'em splutter.

[coalgirl]

Today is bright and sunny so I spent some time preparing the area and spreading the cat crystals. I will report on progress in due course. A friend who has tried the sonic deterrent says his neighbours cat sat sunning itself in front of the device, but another regularly visiting cat has not been seen since the device was installed. Perhaps, like humans, cats hearing varies and I am sure there could be deaf cats. I used my sonic deterrent for a year before I had any complaint and it has been suggested that the frequency can vary as the unit gets older. Perhaps someone knows who something about ultra sonic frequencies can give us the explanation. I am puzzled by the salmon juice suggestion, I thought cats liked fish. Perhaps the tin has an effect on the taste of the juice.