Cats on my car

[Rosie.]

I have a problem with next door's cats sitting on my car all the time.. leaving it scattered in bits of their fur, muddy paw prints, and sometimes scratches on the paintwork from their claws when they jump on and off. I get on really well with my neighbour so don't want to rock the boat by asking her to keep them off (plus I don't know how she could anyway) so I'm looking for an alternative to deter them from sitting on it. Generally speaking I do like cats so don't want to do anything to harm them, I just hate it when they sit on my lovely car. Someone mentioned seasoning my car with a sprinkle of pepper as they don't like the smell, but would this work? And would it damage the paintwork? Does anyone have any other ideas of what I could put on the car to keep them off? (Is there such a thing as anti-catnip???)

[boxtops]

They tend not to like citrus smells - if you can find a disinfectant etc which won't harm your paintwork, trying spraying that. However - the cats tend to go for the warmth of the bonnet, I'm not sure there is much you can do about that, other than throwing a blanket over your car to protect the paintwork. A water pistol is very effective, but it means you have to be on watch.

[NazNomad]

"Does anyone have any other ideas of what I could put on the car to keep them off?"

Citrus-smelling car wax.

[snags]

http://www.ehow.com/h...ep-cats-off-cars.html

[Rosie.]

Thanks everyone! I'll try all of those! ;-)

[gingejbee]

Borrow a dog and stick it on the bonnet?