"Stephen" wrote in message
...
Hello,

There seems to have been an increase in the local cat population. At
first I tried to adopt a live and let live attitude but now cats are
sitting on my car, scratching at the fence panels, and going to the
toilet. Things have got so bad that I have dug up a couple of
flowerbeds and replaced them with gravel.

I have a toddler and I know dog mess contains germs that can cause
blindness, I don't know whether the same is true of what the cats
leave behind, but regardless, I don't really want him playing with it!

I have searched the internet and it claims some smells act as a
deterrent: citronella is one suggestion. How volatile is that? Would
it evaporate too quickly?

Many of he powders available from B&Q and garden centres seem to
contain pepper. The problem with these seems to be that the smell
washes away after the rain and has to be topped up. Is there a
catering supplier I could get very large (kg) quantities of pepper
from cheaply?

Ammonia seems to be another suggestion and Jeyes fluid. Again Idon't
know how volatile these are and the ingredients in Jeyes sound almost
as unfriendly as the cat litter!

There was a product that used to be highly recommended which was a PIR
activated water spray. I don't imagine it was intelligent enough to
aim and target the intruder, so I presume it just operated a wide fan
spray? Is that right?

I think these are £40-£50 and I would need more than one, which makes
things expensive. I could make one. I have seen 12v dc solenoid valves
but do such things as 12v PIR exist? The ones I have seen are 240v for
lights. I'd prefer not to mix and match voltages and SELV would be
better for obvious reasons.

The RSPB web site seems to favour ultrasonic deterrents but these cost
as much. Has anyone made their own? Does anyone know the ideal
frequency? I remember using 40kHz piezo transducers once upon a time
but I wonder whether they would be loud enough or the right pitch.
Again PIR controlled but I think either of these could be made DIY for
a fraction of the retail price.

Jeyes stinks and apart from being toxic to the cats would you want your
child smelling of it whenever you go out after they have been playing around
the garden.
It's *not* about prevention more a case of re-education of the animals
concerned.

Using a suitable cheap tinned cat food provide an area at the end of the
garden that they can easily get to where your children can not. Preferably
fence it off. It is rare that a cat will **** and eat in the same area.
As you attract the local populous of feline ****ography to the area over a
period of a few weeks, gradually move the food away from the area a few feet
at a time each week after they are used to seeing and using it. At the same
time remove all traces of their mess and dispose of properly. (Of course not
chucking it onto wasteland nearby :-) )
At some point you will no doubt eventually end up with the offerings well
outside your boundary, whereby you gradually reduce to nil the offerings in
the bowl until after several days of nothing there the cats will lose
interest and be well outside your garden.
Return to your area is less likely as by then the smell of feline shyte will
be lessened so they won't want to return to use it as their favorite
latrine.

The odd one might venture in, but the use of a few well aimed
fireworks/crackers nearby will deter them sufficiently.