cats on the lawn

[barber]

Can anyone tell me how to stop cats using our lawn as a toilet as we have two small children..have tried curry powder and jeyes fluid neither worked

[wendilla]

I didnt have that problem when I had a cat he must have gone to someone elses garden.But I was told to put moth balls down as when I lost my cat I seemed to have all the cats in street come round at times it worked but you say you have small children so you would have to be careful.

[harry1234]

There is a plant you can purchase from any garden centre - cannot remember the name - however, it has small blue flowers which give off a scent that deters cats from your garden.

[andy-hughes]

First of all, you have to remove the odour, because cats are territorial, and each will 'mark' after others, so you need to break the cycle.

Remove all cat faeces and scrub the area thoroughly with a hot water / bleach mixture. Put several mothballs on the sites of marking, and place some others around your garedn boundaries, including fences, walls etc. They last a few weeks before they disolve, then you can replace them. They do work, but the removal of the odour is essential at first.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

my wife sprinkles vinegar around the edges of the garden,it works a treat,we dont get any cats at all,and there are plenty around here.

[smurfchops]

Orange peel

[theren_911]

My old doberman would sort that little problem out for you. I'll send him over. Make sure you leave the curry powder on the lawn tho, he can season the little ******* then.

[Lonnie]

get a cat of your own, a Tom, they are very territorial, and it'll soon see off the others, plus, when it wants to go, it won't use your/his garden.

[chasbo]

Agree with Andyhughes, plus I've used a product called Lion Roar, usually in garden centres, which works well.

It's made from lions urine, but has no smell to humans, but scares the cats to hell!!

[snook]

I'm sure some of the answers already given will work, and I've been told this one does too, though it sounds a bit daft. Get a few cola bottles (plastic ones), half fill them with water and leave them lying around the garden (you could put them under bushes or in flower beds I suppose so you don't have to really see them). I've been told they really freak cats out - I don't know if it's to do with reflections of themselves moving about in the water and scaring them or what, but apparently it works. If you try it, barber, or if somebody does, it would be interesting to hear if it was successful for you.

[Kenzie]

The plant that harry1234 is referring to is called "Scardey Cat" (how clever!). I don't know if it works though.

I have heard that laying a piece of hose down works too (looks like a snake).

I scattered orange and lemon peel, finely chopped. That did the trick for me like judie wudie.

I like the sound of the vinegar method by normanthedog; a simple solution.

By coincidence, we were discussing this at work last night - apparently, your local zoo will sell you lion's poo which (goes without saying) scares them off!

And andy-hughes is right - you need to get rid of the scent to break the cycle.

Or you could always get a dog ...

PS Apologies if I've left anyone out in the credits!

[joko]

there is some stuff available called scent off - its a sprinkle powder

ground pepper is supposed to be good

or install a pressure sensitive sprinkler system

[Wheels72]

I have the same problem here. I pick up around 10-20 pieces of poo a week and it drives me nuts. I have a three year old and he loves to play in our gardens. We're the only people without a cat on the crescent but I think they all use our garden as a toilet and none of the cat owners care. They always quote "how clean they are" - not surprised - they're cr*pping in my garden not yours!!

I have tried all sorts of products and they all work a bit, but not totally. and it's a real bind with most because you have to reapply regularly and after rain (yeah right). I have now taken to screaming like a wild banshee at any cat that crosses my lawn and might even take up post with a water pistol - apparently the 'behavioural approach' is the most effective. That and lion poo. Might ask at the zoo next time i go... but then my son will have lion poo to play with instead of cats and I'm not sure if that's going to be any safer.

I have asked the council and they say that nothing can be done as cats are classed as wild animal. So have decided to collect it all up and leave it on their doorstep.

I am joking obviously. And very cross too, hence the vitriol.

Let me know if you do have any joy - I'd love to know!