How do I stop a cat coming into my garden...

Usually cats like to go where the soil is softest as that gives them the best chance of covering up. If your neighbor has a garden that is all paved or never digs their soil to keep it soft, then the cat will have to go further to find somewhere to poop. Do you have another corner of your garden you could keep well dug over to entice him away from your planter? To make sure he will stop using it, and also to stop squirrels digging in it, I have found beach pebbles to be effective - place a solid layer all over the top of the soil in your planter. They look good too!

Ive been following this thread with interest as I have the same problems with neighbour's cats. I've found dried orange peel crumbled on the top of pots has some effect.
Also sprayed my box balls with diluted orange oil as one cat started spraying on one of them and killed a large patch of foliage. It's less visible after three years but that spot is still dead.
I've bought some of those fence spikes but haven't put them up yet, do they work?

Sprinkle pepper where it is using your carden as a loo. They hate the smell of the pepper.

I had this problem in the winter months when there are bare patches of ground. My garden comes within next door's cat's territory. When the plants start coming through though it goes elsewhere.

Plant up the pot. Any spare bits of ground put a plant in it or place plant stems like roses, without the thorns, across it so they can't sit down.

Works for me and she just strolls across my garden now and goes elsewhere.

I've read somewhere that black pepper sprinkled on the flower bed stops cats going there. Don't know if it works but maybe worth a try.

My daughter had the same problem but on her doorstep!
I bought some menthol crystals from the pharmacy and sprinkled them around the step.
Worked a treat! Apparently vinegar or tea tree works too.

Dianic the easiest solution might be to accept the situation and get another planter - the cat has obviously adopted this one as it's litter tray, maybe he will leave a new one alone..

I have solved the problem completely by changing the garden fence. We replaced the wooden fence with a steel one which the cats can not climb. I spent a long time looking for someone to provide and fit the fence, it is very popular in Australia, and eventually found a company in Scotland who would travel to do the work.
I have not had a cat in my garden for seven years, the birds love the fact they have found a safe haven.

SpringyChicken I'll have to check that the Jeyes fluid isn't toxic to dogs... We already have hospital grade disinfectant for the fake grass when it hums, so I could try that.

Let’s hope your neighbours appreciate the smell of the Jeyes Fluid. Please make sure it is well diluted as it could be toxic if sprayed neat.

Spray your boundary fence, paths, patio areas etc with Jeyes Fluid solution. The smell lingers for ages and cats don't like it. Reapply after rain. Avoid spraying plants and soil. Once the cat is no longer in the habit of visiting your garden, you can stop spraying.

Cats apparently don't like orange peel. Also, you can get a device that emits a noise that they don't like. We have one and it seems to work.

I do like cats (though I prefer dogs) but I understand your frustration.

phoenix

Yes, silversurf but first you have to catch and castrate the moths!

Easier said than done.

Our cats started using a rather threadbare patch of grass outside the back door. In the hot weather it really stank. I scattered prunings from our Mahonia over it and they lost interest in it very quickly!

I'll let you know how I get on!! Thanks for that link Belgravian... have sent it to DH so he can see how the spike strips are secured.

Try mothballs.

Bluebelle Why people don’t litter tray train their cats and them just put the little tray outside the door I do not know

Both my current cats are litter tray trained, but if I put the tray outside I would probably have every cat in the close using it! (And my lovely neighbour next door currently has 10 under her care! )

The bottom line line is that you will not stop them, any more than you could stop squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes etc. You just have to adopt strategies to "manage" them.

Plant a Berberis or Holly in the pot!

DD scatters her veg patch with clippings from her holly tree. This discourages them.

We have totally stopped cats coming into our garden with a device from Amazon that emits a high pitched noise only cats can here (some other animals and my nephew apparently)> They are about £30 each we have two and no more pesky cats and their little parcels

www.primrose.co.uk/-p-43600.html?adtype=pla&kwd=&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3O5PibBK4GQ4XMtqHw6cKOOnGDMabm5rydSYdvJjHciT7y_B1nJcTkaAoEbEALw_wcB

Put the anti cat rubber strips on the top of your fence.

Thank you all for your replies... It's a bugger, isn't it? I might have to do an all-nighter with DH and get the water pistol or fairy liquid bottle out and soak the little git!

Thanks Willow - I will get better, just need to pace myself and stay off work as long as possible!!

OldMeg, I'd have to let the dogs out on long lines or they'd definitely attack the cat. One of them is a Rottie cross, so I couldn't take a chance - fabulous guard dog though

MaizieD - that's just typical, isn't it? Lol!

lemongrove - I fear you're right.

BlueBelle - the pic of the cat pooing on the electronic thingy - oh golly that gave me such a laugh!

I might try creosoting the outer side of the fence and see if the smell deters it. (Fence needs painting anyway) and once planted, I'll deffo put a layer of gravel on the surface. I have that on the other containers.

My 2 cats do it to me. I have nearly 20 acres in which they could pooh but no, they prefer a nice container with easily scratched up earth in it. Preferably freshly planted or seeded

I'd suggest you put some fine netting across it (well anchored down, of course) and once it's planted up put a layer of coarse gravel over the soil. That's a good thing to do, anyway, as it helps to retain moisture. It looks nice, too.