Cats coming into the garden

I'd be interested, too. There are three that come regularly and one of them, I suspect, is the culprit leaving a regular calling card.

No.
I have tried EVERYTHING - I think you need a cat.
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You can send them to me. I've just seen a rat run through the back garden. I'm hoping the dogs next door will come out for a run around the garden and scare it off. Three cats come through the garden every night, they eat the hedgehog food and wander around. I don't know where they are in the day time though when I want them.

My daughter had this problem and it drove her to distraction. Then about 9 months ago she bought one of those sonic devices, battery operated, stuck it in the ground and apart from one or two packages deposited in the first couple of weeks, she's had nothing since.

I get the same problem with next doors three cats!!!!

People often use the plastic mesh buried just under the surface of the ground to deter cats digging their toilet. It would be worth speaking to the neighbours to ask if they provide their cat with an indoor litter tray - my cat always uses hers.

I have made a hedgehog feeding station that is actually cat proof...

I have tried lots of things. Nothing worked except chicken wire over the bed where they were depositing. I'm hoping that my increased presence in the garden will put them off. Someone suggested a super soaker water pistol and was serious. I might invest in one ' for the grandson'

We had three sonic things at one point.
Some cats just "brave them out".
My local zoo isn't allowed to sell lion/tiger poo but I hear that works.
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I also have a sonic animal scarer. And it WORKS! The trick is to move it occasionally, I've only had one pile of poo in two years; prior to that I had several deposits every night! I have even watched the offending cats through an upstairs window during the day and they no longer walk across my drive, they cross the road to avoid my house and then cross back again once clear of my garden.

JulieNoted. H1954.
I think I’ll give one of the sonic devices a try, but how will I know if it’s working? I believe we can’t hear it !
Grandmabatty.
I use mesh on the bigger pieces of ground, but it’s at the back of the shrubs, small areas they’re using. Have tried plastic strips with sharp points but they just move them, I despair ?

I moved mine too H1954 one cat actually left his deposit in front of one!
I wish they worked for me!
They were all the same make though. Maybe I need a different brand?

Ours were CATWatch - Ultrasonic Cat Deterrent - we needed three to cover the irregular space. It was quite an expense - think they were about £45 each but by then we were desperate.

I bought menthol crystals and sprinkled them around.
It worked.

susieq3 I don't know if they're all the same, but my daughter's one has a sensor which detects movement, so it's not on all the time, otherwise the batteries would last no time at all. When it detects movement a light comes on and that's when the sound is emitted. We've all seen the light come on as soon as we come within its range, so it's fair to assume it's working. When my daughter notices that the light no longer comes on, she'll know the batteries need replacing.

Wish pussy cats would come into my garden, I am missing my little cat who died a few months ago. Haven’t got round to replacing him yet.

I cut up all the orange and lemon peels/rinds into tiny pieces and sprinkle them over the front garden bed. Cats dislike the smell of citrus.

The black and white cat hasn't been using it as a litter tray lately, thank Heavens, as he never buries it!

My neighbours use the black garden netting method, but it does look unsightly. You can also try 'Scoot', the water pistol - or if desperate, a motion-activated sprinkler will see them off!

Mothballs work extremely well, although will disintegrate during wet weather, but they don't cost heaps so that's OK. Keep away from young children, hiding them under shrubs or in the garden is a good idea.

I've also used ground white pepper on outdoor furniture but you have to remember to brush it off if you want to sit outdoors.

I also have a large water pistol (machine gun style) and put some Tabasco in the water, cat licks to dry off and doesn't like the taste.

Please make sure that the ultrasonic sound does not hurt babies or young children who cannot explain that a noise is hurting them.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to use mothballs. The legal ones are for indoor use only.

Those with banned ingredients (often still available in shops) cause severe environmental damage, including the contamination of groundwater, when used outside.

I think using Tobasco is cruel as well!

What about mirrors? As they may get put off with another cat is watching, maybe the mirrors should be moved around so as they don’t get use to them. Has anyone tried this?

When I had this problem, I was advised to plant rue. I had my own cats at the time and one of them hated it whereas the other strolled casually past it. So it might or might not work.

I would scare the cats off with a water pistol

It's a temporary solution but used to break the habits of cats vesting for the loo - Cayenne pepper generously sprinkled on the ground. I also made a paste with it and spread on top of the fence cats used to get access. Worked! But weather deoendent as heavy rain will wash the pepper into the ground but will still be there when the cats start digging. I ordered 500grms online.
Also citrus peel thrown amongst planting, not so effective but easy to maintain. I like cats, have had cats in the past but they were never out at night and didn't stray from own garden except when DC left for school escorting them down road 50 yards then going and sitting in same spot awaiting their return in afternoon. Can't understand why folks gave cats when all they do with them is let them sleep most of the day then turn them out at night time. Cats can be trained!