| Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using | | | | burglar alarm using an infra red detector. When the cat |
| garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of | | | | enters the area covered by the detector the sprinkler |
| my garden. These are common questions of concern | | | | shoots out a jet of water to scare the animal away. It |
| to all gardeners but is there a real answer? | | | | is claimed that, after one or two encounters with the |
| The first line of defence is to ensure that your yard | | | | jet, the cat will learn to avoid the area. |
| boundaries are secure. Any gaps in your fence should | | | | Ultrasonic devices emit a high frequency sound which |
| be blocked to deny low level access. But cats can | | | | is annoying to cats (and dogs) but is not audible to |
| jump so fix a taut wire or string some six inches | | | | humans. There are various different models some of |
| above the top of your fence to deter this approach. | | | | which operate continuously and others which have an |
| Once inside your garden many people say that the | | | | infra red detector and only emit a pulse of sound |
| best cat repellent is a dog who will soon see off any | | | | when the cat triggers the device. To be successful |
| feline invader. If you are not a dog lover then you will | | | | you need to ensure that the model is powerful enough |
| have to resort to more passive methods. Since cats | | | | to cover the area you wish to protect. In addition make |
| like to lie on freshly dug soil you should lay mulch on | | | | sure that the sound frequency is designed for larger |
| your borders so that no bare soil is left exposed. Seed | | | | animals since some models are intended to deter |
| beds should be covered with wire netting or twigs | | | | insects and so would be no use for cats. |
| arranged as a barrier. | | | | There are also commercial scent cat repellents. Those |
| Young trees should have plastic guards fitted around | | | | that use chemicals should be kept away from any |
| their trunks to protect them against use as a | | | | food crops but the essential oil based granule varieties |
| scratching pole. Your garden pond should be covered | | | | act in the same way as orange and lemon peel |
| with netting to keep your fish safe. | | | | mentioned above. Another way to keep a cat out if |
| Cats are generally known to dislike water so a well | | | | the garden is a repellent evaporator which consists of |
| aimed bucketful or a squirt with the hose will certainly | | | | a container holding puffed rice which has been |
| make an intruder run. After one or two dousings it | | | | impregnated with essential oils. These are effective for |
| may learn the lesson and stay away. | | | | three to four weeks and can then be refilled for a |
| To protect plants and borders both mothballs and | | | | further period. Another natural product which many |
| citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place the | | | | people claim really keeps a cat out of the garden is |
| mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. | | | | lion's dung. You may need to visit your local zoo to |
| Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air | | | | obtain this although some stores do stock zoo poo. |
| freshener and place the cloths around the plants you | | | | In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a cat |
| wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are | | | | trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it |
| cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, | | | | cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The |
| lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil | | | | owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be |
| and mustard oil. | | | | encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. |
| Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue | | | | Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats |
| but not catmint which has the opposite effect. Coleus | | | | but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like |
| canina is another plant which is marketed by one | | | | a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be |
| merchant as a cat repellent. | | | | deterred by any other method. If there is no such |
| The broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating | | | | scheme in your area, just buy your own trap. |
| your yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, | | | | So, to recap, the first priority is to secure your |
| urine, birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent | | | | boundary fences. Then you have the whole selection |
| and beer. A smallholder has reported success using | | | | of suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade |
| dried rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients | | | | recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would |
| listed in the previous paragraph should be tried first. | | | | suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs |
| If you visit your local garden center or hardware store | | | | for a start. If you are around when the intruder |
| you will find several cat repellent products on sale. | | | | appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you |
| These range from electric water sprinklers and | | | | miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these |
| ultrasonic devices to sprays and granules. | | | | do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the |
| Motion activated sprinklers act in the same way as a | | | | commercial alternatives. |