stopping cats messing in the garden

[samuel23]

Is there a surefire way of detering cats from your garden? I have tried all the gels, powders and pellets that the garden centres offer, I have a 'humane' cat scarer - one of those electric ones that sends out a high pitched noise, and most of the large pots / flower beds / vegetable garden have now got wire mesh over them but there are loads of cats round here and the mess they leave is everywhere. My neighbour has just dug up all his flower beds and turfed them and concreted over his veg patch. How sad is that?

[Hellion]

Hi samuel I have a cat but most of my neighbours have about 3 each! I sympathise with how annoying this is I have put weed matting on my beds and covered it with chippings (not pea shingle as it's too small and they still poo in it) that works brilliantly and another plus is no weeding. The other solution is get a cat of your own that tends to keep them out of your garden. I recently accquired a bunny and she chases cats BUT she eats some of the plants and I have to clear bunny poo off the lawn LOL!!!!
I've just remembered you can also buy Lion Poo pellets from garden centres, apparently the scent of a really big cat scares the bejesus out of them!

[horsestache1]

Get a dog :) or borrow one for a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[samuel23]

ty hellion will look for the lion pellets. I suppose the aternative is to get a lion lol

[NORMANTHEDOG]

my wife sprinkles vinegar around the edges.

[wendilla]

Never had any mess in my garden when I had my cat as he kept them all out but now I dont have him anymore they come in so I find that mothballs do the trick.Hope this helps

[parkesquay]

There is a plant called - coleous canina - which does the opposite of catnip. So if you plant some of these in your garden that should keep the cats away. Look it up on the web to see if it suits your needs.

[megalomaniac]

Try a Water Pistol - I have a super soaker which I shoot at the local cats when they come in the garden or venture on to the front lawn. It works great as the cats hear the noise of the water coming out & shift fast. If you should hit them they move even faster (i got my neighbours cat the other day and it cleared a 6ft fence in one go - nb my neighbour approves as cats hate getting wet, and he regularly tips a bucket of water over one of the local tomcats). Mind you I still get presents of eviscerated mice on my front doormat (maybe they aren't being friendly - cat costra nosta?)

One over friendly cat got hit full in the face when it thought I was opening the patio doors to let it in... I nearly missed the follow up shot as it turned tail. I haven't seen that cat in my garden for 6 weeks now, and it keeps its distance if we meet in the street.

Picking them off the fence with it is also fun (particularly when they fall inside the garden & try to escape).

Anyway the trick is be indiscriminate and shoot wildly as having several shots increases the terror (nb try to make the 1st shot a hit or a near miss). A direct hit seems to be good for at least four weeks.

[samuel23]

Nearly fell off my chair laughing at Megalo's answer. I really love the idea of being the local 'dirty harry' and 'cleaning up' the garden with a water pistol. I used to have a sprinkler system that I moved around (apparently cats don't like to use the ground if it's wet / muddy) but ever since the drought order I can't use it anymore - hence the problems I'm getting. I had a neighbour offer me his air pistol but I'm just too damned soft. I don't want ot hurt them just keep the blighters away.
Thanks to all of you for your ideas and advice.
Will let you know what happens