Tweet
One of our neighbour's cats keeps using our garden as a toilet. The soil has been freshly weeded and dug, and I want to start sowing and planting soon. I tried putting citrus peel down but it had no effect. In addition, today I saw a squirrel digging in the garden. Is there any effective and reliable way I can keep them both away? Thanks.
-
-
Oh dear, that can be a problem. I have known my cats chase off squirrels from my garden. Cats like a nice clear space to use as a toilet so you could put stakes, twigs or other objects sticking out of the ground to put them off. Or create an area that they can use that you don't mind about - sand or peat is usually a good thing to spread round.Whooops - now what are the dogs getting up to? -
Never tried it myself but was told once plastic bottles filled with water is supposed to scare a cat, something to do with cats not liking to seeing their reflection.Comment
-
I have had two cats for nearly 11 years now and i can honestly say the only thing that works are thorn branches. I keep the rose prunings and criss cross them across the soil. I tried everything else with no results.
And when your back stops aching,
And your hands begin to harden.
You will find yourself a partner,
In the glory of the garden.
Rudyard Kipling.sigpicComment
-
Trap and shoot squirrels.
Throw water at cats.Comment
-
I have 1 of these Contech ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Deterrent: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors and since I installed it last summer cats avoid my garden entirely. I bought in inside in winter in case if froze and cats just started coming back so I put it back out last week. Before buying it I did some reseach on reviews and it seemed like other similar versions of it don't work as well and this is the one to get.Comment
-
Hi, I use to have a pet shop and we use to sell shed loads of "Get off my garden" Its little green crystals in a plastic thing bit like a plastic sauce bottle. One woman use to get dog and cat from one side and cat from another. She said it was the best thing ever. Bit expensive at about £4.99 for a small bottle.
What was the squirrel looking for? or was it burring something?
Have you tried coving area with chicken wire?
Or for a cat try black pepper. Makes them sneeze all over the place, which is actually quite funny, and they do get the subtle hint. Not only that if they see you laughing at them they don't like that either
sigpicComment
-
I find onion powder sprinkled around deters cats, but you have to re-sprinkle after rain. Garlic powder is better but more expensive. Don't know if it works on squirrels.Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
Endless wonder.Comment
-
Thanks everyone, that gives me a few things to try (although I won't be shooting anything!). I sort of agree about the cat's owner but I grew up with cats and know how hard it is to get them to do what you want :-) The squirrel seemed to be burying something, but I thought they only did that in autumn. Anyway, I will experiment and let you all know what works.Last edited by IndigoElectron; 28-03-2014, 07:41 PM.Comment
-
An elderly Lady I once knew, disliked cats in her garden, but also disliked cramped flower borders, so there was a lot of bare soil dotted around with specimen plants. One of her children bought her a deterrent/ornament; just a flat piece of metal, in the shape of a cat's head, with two marbles as eyes. It was on a stake, so you just staked in the bed under a plant, and it appeared to be looking at you. It was very effective.
The other beds had plant pruning pressed in, upright, so they kept off there too. The bonus was, that some of the prunings would take root, giving free shrubs!
All the best - Glutton 4 Punishment
Freelance shrub butcher and weed removal operative.Comment
-
Lion poo is supposed to deter cats.
Do be aware if you decide to trap squirrels it is illegal/ unlawful to re home them.
You have to roll your eyes though sometimes....next door's kitten has decided she prefers to use two of our window boxes as litter trays...one is10 ft off the ground and she has to do acrobatics to get to it.
Funny thing is our houses are surrounded by fields and we both have massive gardens and potagers with soft soil!
The worst thing about using the higher one is that is on one of the gites's windowsills...and looks stupid with chicken wire over the top and daffodil flowers poking through it!
"Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple
Location....Normandy FranceComment
-
A scattering of chicken poo pellets keeps our & the neighbours cats off my raised beds Does no physical harm to the cats (Mrs.BB would string me up) & fertilizes the soil,win win 
He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
Comment
-
Thanks all. I should have mentioned that I have a 2 year old, so need to be careful what I put around the garden. I think I will try garlic powder first (have some in the cupboard), and some sticks in the ground. If that fails, chicken pellets (don't they smell though?) and maybe one of those sonic deterrents will be next. The water scarecrow looks good but is expensive, and for some reason I don't like the idea of having it hooked up to the tap permanently. I will also be on the lookout for a large water pistol!Comment
-
And maybe I'll try the metal cat as well, my toddler would love that!Comment
-
Garlic powder didn't work. Next step - metal cats.Comment
Comment