Fed up with cats taking over your garden?

[wendy]

Had enough of cats fouling the flower beds, pestering the birds and generally being a nuisance? Whether it’s your own cat or a neighbour’s creating the problem, try these tips...

Likewise fitting taut wire above the fence top makes it trickier for cats to balance and walk along the fence.

Very flimsy plastic fencing may not be pretty, but it is almost impossible for most cats to climb; putting a lightweight fence six inches high on top of the main fence should deter most moggies. If it’s impossible to keep them out of your garden, aim to restrict the areas they go.

Thorny or spiky plants under birdfeeders, thorny clippings under bushes and spiked tree collars will help prevent cats stalking birds.

Light reflecting on water is supposed to deter cats, try half filling plastic bottles and placing in flowerbeds.

Grease the bird table pole, or fix an upside down biscuit tin or flowerpot to the pole to stop cats climbing them.

Plant Coleus canina, sometimes called Scaredy-cat. Its pungent odour is repellent to cats, and some other mammals, or scatter orange and lemon peel as most cats don’t like a citrus smell. The same is true of chicken manure, although it’s advisable to use Soil Association approved pellets rather than fresh manure to minimise the risk of disease for humans.

An unexpected – and gentle – squirt from a hosepipe or water pistol can work wonders with cats straying where you don’t want them. Look out too for automated water squirters, which are attached to a hose and use a motion detector to jet water.

Growing plants closely can stop cats finding a place to dig, and covering other areas with stone chippings, pebbles and small rocks makes cats less likely to use those areas as a toilet too.

The RSPB advises cat owners to put a bell on their cat’s collar as it can reduce the number of birds, mice and voles killed by the cat. The collar needs a quick release clasp so the cat can free itself if its collar snags.

Trying to keep cats indoors when birds are most vulnerable can help stop cats killing. That’s around an hour before sunset and an hour after sunrise, and also after bad weather, when birds need to come out and feed.

If cats spraying is the problem, plant hardy plants or place tall planters in strategic positions such as entrances and corners to help stop cats from marking their territory.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/features/fed_up_ ... _1_4522063

[maureenho]

[JaneJ]

Aww mo!!!! do877

it would blow them straight off the fence!!

Not a cat lover I take it do877

[maureenho]

I wouldn't hurt one Jane but at the moment we have birds in nesting box with baby birds to feed.

[annie]

Our Boris is too thick and too slow to chase after birds & his arthritic limbs inhibit his climbing somewhat now

[coffee]

Tiggs my cat sorts other cats out and besides he chases big not small birds infact I have had more small birds in my garden since tiggs appeared plus he kept all mice etc away so bit of fouling is nothing compared to having rodents running around the yard