How can I keep the neighbors' cats off my front porch?

[chewbacca]

There is a repellant for cats and dogs that comes in a spray bottle. I got in it the lawn/garden section of Meijers. Its works pretty good. I have cats next door that like to use my flower beds for a litter box. I just sprayed around the primeter about once a month during the summer. But it did smell like garlic for a day or so...guess it will keep the vampires away too!

 

[Michelle2]

This happened to a friend of mine. She is a master gardener and had an absolutely beautiful perennial garden in front. New neighbors moved in with a travelling circus of animals. Wonderful people - would give you the shirt of their backs, but they had never lived in a development before. They had always lived on large acreages and farms in the midwest. So, they had no clue on how to be a good neighbor in tight quarters.

They had five cats that they let roam night and day. Three were promptly eaten by the coyotes that live on the outskirts of the neighborhood. The HOA did a study and found that about 50% of the free ranging cats in the neighborhood eventually are dinner for the numerous wild animals - coyotes, eagles, owls, hawks, mountain lions, etc. So, animal loving residents are always concerned when seeing cats run loose.

The remaining two cats decided that the nicely tilled bed of rare and expensive perennials was the ultimate kitty litter box.

My friend approached the new neighbors several times, reminding them of the dangers of leaving the cats loose and letting them know that she would not tolerate any more cat poop in her gardens.

One day, she opens her front door to the most horrific smell. The neighbors, in good faith, had emptied 20+ boxes of moth balls into her garden - saying it was a known deterrent for cats. Well, it did deter the cats, but it also deterred humans wanting to walk up the sidewalk to the front door.

Sadly, after several warnings to the owners, my friend ended up taking the cats to the local no-kill shelter because of her concern that they would also become food for the local wildlife and the mess they were making of her garden.

After having to bail the kitties out of kitty jail, the neighbors never let them run loose again.

That sounds about like the same problem I had in Houston with the neighbors cat, except it was just using my flower beds (and other neighbor's flowerbeds) as a litterbox. I had explained the situation nicely to them, but they were not doing a dang thing about it. I was just getting to the point where I was going to take it to the non-kill shelter, but we moved soon after that....alot of us were really getting mad at people's inconsideracies with their cats.

 

[TENIA66]

I would try kitty litter. My last three cats apparently felt a great adversion to it, toileting anywhere but there.

 

[MAKmom]

I just walked into DD11 room & thought of this thread. DD has a toy motion detector. They work great & are cheap. I got hers free with a Gap purchase last year. It makes a alarm noise the cat & I just walked pass it together & he ran away. I've seen them in the toy isle.

 

[LeCras]

We have an ultrasonic pet repellent in our garden. Runs on a 9v battery and keeps all the neighbours' kitties away. You should be able to pick one up at your local garden centre.

Charlotte

 

[ElizK]

Thanks, all, for your input! I may try all the ideas at once! Think that might be overkill?

 

[aprilgail2]

Have a heart traps work great....I would trap it and bring it to the local town shelter...the neighbor likes the cat enough and has to keep going and paying to have it taken out of the pound each time they will learn to keep it inside....only took my neighbor 2 pound trips to get the message!! I just dont get why anyone would bother to get a cat as a pet then let it wander around outside!

 

[Shelby5514]

DFIL bought this little device from Smarthome.com to get rid of the Canadian Geese that were making a HUGE mess in his back yard. Works like a charm!

SCARECROW WATER SPRAYING ANIMAL REPELLER

Humane method of repelling animals — motion sensor sprays water when it detects an intruder
Harmless blast of water deters even stubborn pests
Simple to use — connects to a garden hose
35 ft. range for flexiibilty in placement
<LI>Spray head adjustable from 10°- 360°, to cover the whole yard, or just a small area
Having trouble with returning animal "visitors"? Need a deterrent that will keep even the most daring animals away, time and time again? Then try the Scarecrow, a device that blasts animals with a blast of water when they approach. Simply push the mounting spike into your lawn, attach your garden hose and you'll have a foolproof animal deterring system. Requires a 9V battery (sold separately).

 

[rascalmom]

Vinegar in a spray bottle or water gun. Hit the cat with it - they hate having it on their fur & it tastes icky for them to clean off.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i was thinking the same but about a dog
i have a great neighbor they have a pit bull who is always in our yard and crapping everywhere
im tried of it
these people are nice and i like them but i cant be worrying about my kids in the yard and the crap is a whole another story

 

[MAKmom]

I was just wondering if any of this worked?

 

[wdwgirl03]

I know this thread will irritate the cat people in this crowd. Sorry 'bout that.

Our home owner's association requires ALL pets be on a leash if not in the back yard, yet we still have neighbors that let their cats wander. Why do these silly cats love my front garden so much??? Really, I think they like hearing my dogs go NUTS!!! Well it's driving ME nuts!!! Is there anything humane I can put out there to keep them away????

Thanks!

Hmm, this sounds like my neighbors' cats!! They let them wander around outside, even when they're not home. They're always in our yard. One time one of the cats jumped up on my mom's car, and another time one of them caught a chipmunk and was walking around with it in his mouth...it was disgusting But then again, this is the same family who lets their kids just run all over our lawn as well, because apparently the whole street is their kids' playground.

 

[ElizK]

Haven't tried anything more than the water yet. I need to get to the pet store, but haven't had the chance. I walked out on my front porch this morning and smelled cat pee. YUCK!! Because it's been sooo cold the past several days I haven't seen them around.

But I do appreciate all the ideas!

 

[Mickey527]

I have a problems with neighborhood cats but I can't use any of the ideas posted here.
I have 4 cats that love to go outside, but they go out monitored, just like my 2 dogs.
They go outside to do their business and I watch them and when they are done they come inside. I don't let them wander the neighborhood. I do also have a litter box in the house for times when I can't let them out because cats can't hold it like the dogs can.
My neighbor has a huge ugly cat that comes into my yard all the time. I know he smells my cats and is trying to mark the territory but it drives me crazy. I have asked the neighbor to monitor her cat but she says that cats wander and they can't be locked in the house all day. I called the police and they said that there is no law for wandering cats in our town, only for dogs.
The other day my son forgot to shut the door to the back porch and when I came home from work that ugly cat was on my porch. He had sprayed everywhere. It is too cold and wet to do anything now but in the spring I am going to have to pull up the indoor outdoor carpet and probably get rid of all the cushions on my porch. It stinks out there. I sprinkled carpet fresh cinnamon to try and take the smell away so now my porch smells like cinnamon cat pee.
I can't put out repellant because of my cats. They enjoy sitting out on the porch in the warmer weather but I can't let them out now until I get all the areas clean that the ugly cat sprayed because my cats will probably mark over the ugly cats spray. So, does anyone have any ideas for me? Peggie

 

[Dan Murphy]

I never have figured why so many cats are left to roam, so many get flat like roofing shingles as road kill. Owners say they care, but sure would not know it from that behavior. We have a number that roam through, can't stand that, and we sure do like our animals, and those of others too, people are just lazy I guess. That trapping idea sounds good, then bring them to the pound.