CATS

A question which keeps cropping up is how to keep cats off gardens.  There does not appear to be a definite solution to this problem, different things seem to work for different people.  Here are a few of the suggestions I have found or have received from contributors.

• We recently put a large garden wind chime in a tree, in a corner which was used constantly by scores of cats. Amazingly, we have not seen a single cat in our garden since. The chimes are tuned to the notes of a Gregorian chant!

Ali Lister

• You need either lion or tiger droppings!

I did not believe this at first but rang London Zoo to find that there is a waiting list. (About 4 months ten years ago) They eventually called to say that my (Lion) droppings were ready. I collected a black plastic bag full of frozen produce and was asked to pay £5 (for the bag). The Zoo suggested dissolving a lump in a watering can and sprinkling it around the garden. My wife refused to keep the rest in the freezer so I distributed what I had in a once-only operation; a smelly but effective choice. I never saw another cat in our garden.

You might want to share the tip.                                          Shared by Andrew Bell

• The more common remedies are citrus fruit peel, chilli pepper powder or eucalyptus oil.

• Spread alum around the area (this is also said to work for rabbits and horses).

• Provide an area for them to use by turning over some dirt in a garden bed, get some cat pheromone spray from a vet or pet shop and spray that around the new area to encourage them to go there.

• Ask your garden centre to suggest cat deterrent plants you can scatter around.

• Spray them with a hose or keep a spray bottle of water handy.

Now for the most radical suggestion I have received -

• Save urine and spray onto area - this was really meant for drives etc. and would probably not only kill the grass but I hate to think of the smell on a hot day - it may not only be the cats that stay away!

• Place a small length of hosepipe in amongst your plants, cats and birds don't like snakes!