I dearly love my outside cats, but, they like to do their mess around the yard near the house. I bought some deterrent at a pet store last summer,but it smell worse than the cat droppings! What can I use on the areas where they "go" to make them go somewhere else? Realize this is a big yard and I have 9 cats, so I need something cheap and effective!

-- Ardie from WI (a6203@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001

Answers

Cats love a good sand box, but I warn you, so do kids. if you have any, better build one for the kids too with a cover.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), February 08, 2001.

I have the same problem with my cat. Love him, hate his habits. I have used moth balls (if there are no little ones around) and I have also laid down pieces of chicken wire in the areas where he goes. He tries to dig, hits the chicken wire laying there, and moves on.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

Here are a couple of mixes from Al Carrell. They are from the About the House website but I got them in 1998 and that site doesn't seem to work any longer, but I just wanted to give credit...

#1 1 part cayenne 1 1/2 parts dry mustard 2 1/2 parts flour Mix in paper bag and sprinkle in the areas you want to the animals away. Works fairly well but needs to be reapplied if it is very humid or it rains.

I haven't tried this one... #2 4 oz Murphy's Oil Soap 2 oz castor oil 2 and 1/2 oz hot sauce 1 Tbl alum 1 Tbl lemon juice Mix ingredients in your hose end sprayer and use on the areas you want protected. It is also supposed to work for deer, rabbits etc. One other thing I've heard that works is the motion detecting sprinklers.

Hope one of these works for you. I know how you feel. I'm thinking about turning my front flowerbeds into a walkout patio area.

-- Trisha-MN (tank@Linkup.net), February 08, 2001.

Hi Ardie! I use the chicken wire also. Anywhere I don't want them to dig I lay it down. Of course you'll have 9 upset kitties and they'll no doubt try to get even! ...Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), February 08, 2001.

I read somewhere that pine needles will keep cats out. Be good mulch too.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), February 08, 2001.

I had just read recently (darnit! keep forgetting to file these little tidbits properly) that used coffee grinds deter them. Just sprinkle them over an area where you don't want the cats.

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), February 10, 2001.

"Cook" a whole passle of sweet gum balls to sterilize them (in the oven or nuker waver) and use them as a "decorative mulch" around your beds. I can pretty much assure you that the puddie will not be amused!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 10, 2001.

I tried mothballs and the cats didn't mind them a bit! With chicken wire, they simply did their duty over it without scratching. The coffe grounds were nice to dig in. We found pine needles worked well but they also kill grass and any other vegetation. I will try the other suggestions though. Thanks and ,if anyone can come up with other thoughts,please help.

-- Ardie from Wi (a6203@hotmail.com), February 11, 2001.

Realizing this is not an appropriate solution for all areas but one i've had success with. Cut up rose/raspberry canes when they've been pruned off and scatter them over area if you don't have to kneel there often (or ever) . This worked particularly well under our bird feeders.

-- dan (dcbaker@2ki.net), February 13, 2001.

ROPEL.

-- Action Dude ! (theactiondude@yahoo.com), February 13, 2001.

shoot the fucking bastards with a fucking bazooka! that should do it

-- anon (aircanibal@hotmail.com), May 25, 2001.