How to Keep Stray Cats Out of Your Yard

how to keep cats away from your house

Unfortunately, a dog requires a lot of maintenance, care, and attention, but it should keep cats away from your yard. Usually, dogs like to roam and cause chaos, so if you get a dog, it may scare away the stray and feral cats. Sprays that contain garlic, citrus, dog urine, lavender, and citronella can deter cats. Unfortunately, you’ll have to spray these scents around your yard regularly.

More Tips to Keep Cats Away

Although cats are notoriously good climbers, there are some specially designed fences which help to stop cats from entering. At the top of the fence, a perpendicular outcrop will make it very difficult for the cat to climb over. While you may need to secure the entire perimeter of the property, it is one of the most effect deterrents for cats.

how to keep cats away from your house

Plant herbs cats hate in your yard.

Other substances that deter cats are aluminum foil, double-sided tape, and the underside of a carpet runner. However, this will likely only be effective when the dog is physically outside, as many cats aren’t bothered by the scent of canines. It’s also important to keep your yard clean and well-maintained. An overgrown lawn will attract all sorts of animals that enjoy the cover, such as mice, birds, etc. This in turn, attracts cats, which enjoy killing and eating anything in their path. By depriving them of a food source, they’ll likely head elsewhere.

Use Commercial Repellent

how to keep cats away from your house

Deterrents will only go so far, and you’ll also need to remove whatever’s attracting them in the first place. Cats love dirt, and uncovered dirt in yards or gardens are great litter boxes. Keeping your grass neatly trimmed will help reduce the number of small prey animals hanging around, encouraging cats to find food elsewhere. Like all animals, community cats settle where food and shelter are available, and they are naturally skilled at finding these on their own. We all know cats hate water, so try a motion-activated sprinkler. This device detects movement and ejects a strong burst of water up to 70 feet in diameter to scare pesky cats away.

Remove Potential Shelter Spots

It’ll also put them off balance, which will make your backyard even more uninviting to a curious feline. Apple cider vinegar is also acidic and can cause skin irritation if an inquisitive cat gets too close. The odor will deter the animal, but like citrus, it can cause more harm than good. It can cause damage to their digestive system if large amounts of undiluted apple cider vinegar are ingested. Fortunately, there are many ways to deter nuisance cats from your home. Some are harmless, while others require caution when using them.

If you have a cat, you already know how much they dislike it when you touch their paws. They contain large concentrations of nerve receptors that make them extremely sensitive so cats will avoid any rough or sticky surface. Animal welfare charity Mayhew told Newsweek that "what would work for one cat probably wouldn't necessary work for the other ten cats coming into your garden." You can usually find fencing that runs on simple D-cell batteries. Your fencing will keep out more than cats and is a great way to prevent woodchucks and squirrels from chowing down on your veggies, too. Mr. McGregor’s Fence is an excellent brand choice when you’re selecting an electric garden fence.

Sharp-Edged Mulch

When the cat climbs over or walks on the fence, it’ll scare them. Stray cats usually become attracted to a property in search of food. Trash or garbage can appeal to cats, so it’s best to keep your trash secure and not leave garbage in your yard. Some of these devices require access to a water source while others use a reservoir. Afterward, you can remove the device and the cats will continue to avoid the area. Suitable materials for mulching purposes include sharp-edged pine cones, eggshells, holly cuttings, or stone mulch.

They are made from synthetic compounds designed to mimic urine or other scents of predators. Unfortunately, they are not always effective and their safety for both the cat and your garden are not always guaranteed. Cats can be endearing pets, but they aren’t always welcomed visitors. Understanding why cats are attracted to your home and using some of the deterrents discussed in this article can help solve this problem.

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5 ways to keep cats out of your yard - Lebanon Daily News

5 ways to keep cats out of your yard.

Posted: Thu, 27 Jul 2017 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Another way to prevent cats from digging in gardens is to add more plants and reduce the amount of exposed soil. Many TNR groups report success using motion-activated sprinklers, particularly for large yards. The device emits an infrared field covering an average backyard and is connected to a hose.

Felines hate the feel of chicken wire or bristle mulches under their feet. Cats have a more robust auditory sense than humans and tend to hate sudden or loud noises. For this reason, use sonic devices, which emit high-pitched ultrasonic waves that are inaudible to humans but unbearable for felines.

The same thing applies to plants growing around other outbuildings or wood piles in your yard. Eliminating hiding places can provide an effective deterrent for making your yard their stomping ground. If you keep seeing strays urinating in your gardens, laying down ground cover is a quick way to get rid of stray cats permanently with home remedies. Sprinkle gravel around your garden, or spread out mulch, or even place pine cones around to prevent cats from walking where they shouldn’t. Many of our natural cat repellent methods are low-cost and use accessible materials. They are also all harmless to the cats, so you don’t have to feel bad about scaring the strays away.

This is because they can irritate the cat's nose, catch on their throat and even cause itching. However, it won't poison them and the result will be more annoyance than any actual damage. They met when he was walking past the elderly man's garden, where he was pruning on his wife's behalf as she was now in a local care home. Cats can be neat freaks, so clean the litter box regularly. Try different types of toys that allow your cat to stalk, chase, pounce and kick. When you've tired out your cat, store toys that could harm them (such as toys with strings attached) out of reach.

To take care of your feral cats for good, use a humane trap, and neuter your local strays. Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) is the most effective way to reduce feral cat colonies. Electric fencing is a fantastic option to prevent strays from coming into your garden beds. Yes, ultrasonic devices can be effective in deterring cats.

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