Man willing to take action to keep cats out of his yard
Dear Joan :Iamnotacat or dog lover. I have a backyard with plenty of birds and the inevitable squirrels.
My neighbors, a decent couple, have just gotten two cats. One cat has already dug under our fence and is sauntering around in my yard. I absolutely don’t want it there. Is there anything either my neighbors or I can do to keep this cat on its own side of the fence? I don’t want it to decide that my yard is part of its territory.
I’ll talk to my neighbor, of course, but I assume his attitude — like most cat owners — will be, “Well, cats wander around, what can you do?”
I’m ready to scatter scary or painful stuff along the ground by the fence, but I don’t know what products are available. — Marty Klein, Palo Alto, California
Dear Marty: We’ll forgive you for not being a dog and cat lover, but maybe not for the comment about uncaring cat owners. While there are some people who allow their cats to wander, putting both wildlife and the cats at risk, there are far more cat owners who love and protect their cats.
You describe your neighbors as “decent,” so there’s no reason to expect that they won’t do the right thing and start keeping their cats indoors or erect a “catio” — a large enclosure that allows cats to safely be outside in the confines of their own yard, especially if you explain your concerns and the lengths you are willing to take to keep the cats out.
Unfortunately, there is very little you can do otherwise. It really is up to the owners, and lets hope they’ll listen to you.
Cats who think your yard is their territory are tough to dissuade. Even if you fill your yard with large, cat-hating dogs, the cats will continue to view your yard as their property, temporarily inhabited by infidels.
Please don’t put out things that will hurt the cats. I understand it can be frustrating, but it’s not worth harming an animal that is only doing what is in its nature. Here are some things you can try:
■ Bury fencing below your above-ground fence to stop them from scooting under.
■ Install motion-activated sprinklers.
■ Protect certain areas of your yard, say the flower bed, by using a rough, rock gravel or by burying dozens of plastic forks, handles down, leaving a little of the tines exposed, which would make walking on the bed uncomfortable for the cat.
■ Purchase some “Cat Scat” mats that have flexible plastic spikes on them. They won’t injure the cat, but will make walking or digging in beds unpleasant. For larger areas, try carpet runners, placed spike side up and covered lightly with soil. Again, it won’t hurt the cats, just discourage them.
■ There are certain scents that are said to deter cats. Those include fresh orange and lemon peels, citrus-scented sprays, coffee grounds, vinegar, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, lemongrass, citronella and eucalyptus. Dried rue, a strong smelling herb, can be sprinkled over larger areas; growing the herb in beds can protect small areas.