Living With Cats

Our member survey revealed that the huge majority of you suffer problems with cats in the garden. We've responded to this finding by testing a wide range of deterrents

Even ardent cat-lovers usually admit that our feline friends can be a nuisance in gardens. Other people's cats, at least. Most of us are only too aware how the interests of gardeners can conflict with those of cats.

According to a survey we carried out last year, 84 per cent of readers have at least one cat-related problem in their garden.

Cats & the law

Cats are recognized in law as free-roaming animals. This means their owners can't be held guilty of trespass on their behalf. However infuriatingly a cat behaves, it is an offence to cause it suffering.

Our Survey

In May 2003, we questioned 2821 Gardening Which? readers about cats and the problems they cause in their gardens.

• 30 per cent owned at least one cat. Of these, 43 per cent did nothing to control their pet's behaviour. 38 per cent said they kept their cat in at night but only four per cent had a litter tray in their garden.

• 84 per cent of readers had at least one cat-related problem in their garden.

• 65 per cent said cats use bare soil as a toilet. Other frequently mentioned gripes were cats flattening plants and seedlings (33 per cent), killing adult birds (44 per cent), raiding birds' nests (28 per cent) and using gravel as a toilet (19 per cent).

• Only half of those with problems had tried to do something about them. Of the solutions tried, netting, tree guards and barriers made from prickly prunings were found to be the most effective.

Common Problems

The most common complaint by far is cats using bare soil as a toilet. 65 per cent of readers reported this problem. If only cat owners were neighbourly enough to provide their pets with somewhere to use in their own gardens, these readers would find gardening considerably more pleasurable!

Other frequently cited cat crimes included fouling gravel, flattening plants and seedlings, using trees and shrubs as scratching posts, killing birds and raiding their nests.

The more car-proud among you may also identify with the few readers who were aggrieved that cats sometimes left muddy paw prints on their vehicle's paintwork.

So what's to be done? Initially, there are some simple steps worth trying:

Impede garden access Block boundary gaps with prickly plants or prunings such as holly or berberis. Fit taut wire or string 10cm-15cm above the top of fences to make it difficult for cats to balance on them.

Borders Plant closely to leave no exposed soil. Cover seed beds with netting. Use this to cover other bare areas too, or mulch with stone chippings or pebbles.

Young trees Cats often use tree trunks as scratching posts. This can harm and eventually kill trees. Wrap tree guards or small-gauge chicken wire around the base of trunks as a deterrent.

Ponds Cover with netting to protect fish, or create a boggy area around the edge.

Containers If digging is a problem, mulch with stone chippings. If the container is at least 60cm tall, plants in it should avoid being sprayed with urine.

Bird feeders Position these in a clear area of the garden, away from cover and where they will be inaccessible to cats. Fit a squirrel baffle (a downward-opening cone or biscuit tin) to the posts of bird tables to prevent cats climbing up them. Alternatively, place prickly prunings like holly beneath them - or plant something spiky. Avoid putting bird food on the ground unless you then cover it with a cage of some sort to exclude cats.

Cat owners Impose a hunting curfew by keeping cats indoors throughout the night and early morning. This will also protect them from traffic and foxes. Provide a litter tray or other toilet area in your garden, and another indoors. Also train your cats to use a scratching post for claw sharpening to avoid damage to tree trunks.

If, despite taking these steps, you're still having moggie troubles, consider investing in a branded cat repellent.

Solutions

Child's play

The Chapman family had a problem with their children's sand pit, which neighbourhood cats had begun to presume was for their benefit. Something had to be done for hygiene's sake, so they were keen to take part in our trial. The Chapmans assessed the Scarecrow, a motion-activated device that squirts water at whatever triggers it.

Cats soon took the hint, but an unexpected bonus was the amount of fun the kids got out of deliberately setting it off during last year's long, hot summer. Dad Nigel also admitted to being accidentally soaked a few times when he forgot the device was on. He's since angled the spray so he can creep up behind it and switch it off without getting wet.

Going hi-tech

Jeanette Footitt was fed up with cats using her garden as a toilet and lying in wait beneath the bird table. She's tried discouraging them by squirting water, erecting barriers of prickly prunings and scattering citrus peel and various granular cat repellents, all with limited success. We asked her to try out the ultrasonic Cat & Dog Repeller for three months. Although effective, it didn't keep the entire garden cat free. Also, the family found the device irritatingly noisy. Jeanette was especially sensitive to the high-pitched sound and, because birds set it off so often, she resorted to relocating it to the front garden out of earshot! Being activated so frequently also meant the batteries ran out within a month, so Jeanette recommends buying the optional extra transformer so it can be plugged into the mains.

Solutions: II

Scaredy cats?

Barbara Couch's all-too-familiar gripe with cats is that they habitually dig in unplanted areas of soil, leaving their calling card. Citrus peel and numerous brands of chemical repellents have been scattered, but to no avail. Last summer she trialled 'scardy cat' plants (Coleus caninus) for us.

Barbara wasn't impressed. The offending cats were so untroubled by the scent of these plants that they sauntered through the row she'd planted en route to do the usual in the dry, clear area of soil behind. One tabby even lay down among the plants to bask in the sun!

The answer, Barbara quite rightly feels, is to cover the ground with more desirable plants so there isn't any bare soil for cats to use. Meanwhile, she has found that keeping bare areas constantly wet seems to do the trick.

Pong power

Cats used to raid Tunja Stone's fishpond and use her seed beds as a toilet. Netting helped to put a stop to this, but nesting birds and Tunja's tubs still attracted unwelcome attention.

She agreed to assess Vitax Scent-Off Gel in our trial. While it did keep cats away from her tubs, the gel didn't go very far and smelt too awful for her to contemplate using long-term. 'It reminded me of the carbolic my gran used to scrub everywhere.' The smell even drifted into the house if doors or windows were open. Her children have since created a giant spider's web from string to protect patio displays. It's effective, odour- and chemical-free - and even quite attractive!

Cat Repellents on Test

Last summer, we asked 150 cat-plagued gardeners to try out a branded deterrent for three months. Fifteen brands were each given to ten gardeners, including examples of the most widely available types. Each trialist used the product according to the supplier's instructions and gave us their verdict on its ease of use and effectiveness by completing a detailed questionnaire.

Chemical repellents | Ultrasonic devices | Physical Deterrents

Chemical repellents

Most aim to deter cats by irritating their noses and/or disguising the smell of previous fouling. Products are likely to be at their most potent when first applied - rain dampens their effectiveness and smells fade with time regardless of the weather. Unless you are lucky enough to break the cat's habit quickly, you may need to apply these products more than once - particularly in previously fouled areas.

There are numerous brands of chemical repellents, but most contain one of only eight active ingredients - you'll usually find these specified on the packs. We put brand-leaders of each type to the test.

Bio Cat-a-Pult Animal Repellent | Bio Pepper Dust | Bio Scat-a-Cat | Get Off My Garden scatter crystals | Green Bs Professional Cat Repeller | Growing Success Cat Repellent | Renardine | Silent Roar | Vitax Scent-Off Gel | 'Scardy Cat' Plant

1 Bio Cat-a-Pult Animal Repellent

Type Liquid spray containing aluminium ammonium sulphate. Also claimed to deter dogs, birds, rabbits and other animals.

Cost £3.99 for 750ml

Testers' findings Smells okay and not unpleasant to use, but only two of the ten testers found it effective.

2 Bio Pepper Dust

Type Black pepper powder. Also claimed to deter dogs.

Cost £2.99 for 300g

Testers' findings Ineffective when it rains and then needs reapplying - preferably on a still day so it doesn't blow everywhere! Application instructions rather vague. Only two trialists would recommend it.

3 Bio Scat-a-Cat

Type Granules containing citronella oil.

Cost £2.99 for 150g

Testers' findings Some found the tub hard to open and/or the lemony smell unpleasant. Only a third reckoned it worked well.

4 Get Off My Garden scatter crystals

Type Jelly-like crystals containing citrus-smelling methyl nonyl ketone, said to discourage dog fouling, too.

Cost £2.50 for 225g, £4.50 for 450g, £5.50 for 600g

Testers' findings Most objected to the smell, and some had difficulty opening the bottle and dispensing the required amount. Nobody found it particularly effective at ridding their garden of cats but half reckoned it did reduce fouling.

5 Green Bs Professional Cat Repeller

Type Citrus-scented plastic rods.

Cost £3.99 for a pack of four

Testers' findings Most didn't mind the smell of these but found they usually failed to keep cats away.

Chemical Repellents: II

Bio Cat-a-Pult Animal Repellent | Bio Pepper Dust | Bio Scat-a-Cat | Get Off My Garden scatter crystals | Green Bs Professional Cat Repeller | Growing Success Cat Repellent | Renardine | Silent Roar | Vitax Scent-Off Gel | 'Scardy Cat' Plant

6 Growing Success Cat Repellent

Type Granules treated with orange and garlic oils.

Cost £2.99 for 225g, £3.99 for 500g

Testers' findings Some found the instructions a bit vague and/or had difficulty pouring out the prescribed amount. Several disliked its smell and it seems that some cats thought likewise. Forty per cent of our testers found this worked well. One even claimed they'd be prepared to spend £50 a year on it!

7 Renardine

Type Liquid containing bone oil, said to repel dogs, rabbits, foxes, moles and badgers as well. It's not applied to the ground directly but poured onto pieces of firewood, rags or builders' sand.

Cost £10 for 1 litre

Testers' findings Most found the tin awkward to open initially, and some had difficulties pouring the liquid out. No one liked its smell but half found it effective enough to want to continue using it.

8 Silent Roar

Type Pellets soaked in 'essence of lion dung' which are also said to deter deer.

Cost £7.99 for 500g

Testers' findings Perhaps surprisingly, most found this didn't smell too bad, but only two rated it highly as a cat deterrent.

9 Vitax Scent-Off Gel

Type Jelly-like crystals impregnated with mothball-scented naphthalene, and supposed to discourage dog-fouling as well.

Cost £2.76 for 225g, £4.50 for 450g

Testers' findings Opinions on how easy this is to apply and how pleasantly it smells were strongly divided. Only a third found it effective at deterring cats. (NB: the bottle now has a different label from the one pictured.)

10 'Scardy Cat' Plant

Type Tender perennial (Coleus caninus) that, once established, releases a scent said to deter dogs and foxes as well as cats.

Cost Around £2 each from garden centres. Young plants, for delivery next April, available by mail order from Thompson & Morgan at a cost of around £10 for six, and £18 for 12. Prices were yet to be confirmed as we went to press.

Testers' findings The idea of using a plant rather than synthetic chemicals to deter cats was appealing, but most trialists found this one wasn't effective.

Ultrasonic Devices

These battery- and mains-powered alarms emit sound at frequencies inaudible to most of us, but thought to be disliked by cats. Most are triggered by an infrared heat and movement sensor, like those on security lights, which helps prolong their battery life. Unfortunately, cats outside the sensor's line of sight (eg behind the sensor - or the shed) won't set it off. Another downside is that ultrasound doesn't pass through solid objects, so it may not always be heard by the cat in some gardens. Not to mention the obliviousness of deaf cats! Apparently, some pure-white cats and exotic breeds tend to be hard of hearing, even before they get old.

The three ultrasonic devices we tried ranged in price from £30 to £60. We used them with batteries although all can also be plugged into the mains via an optional extra transformer.

Cat & Dog Repeller | Catwatch | Yard Control+

11 Cat & Dog Repeller

Type Infrared sensor detects movement and heat, triggering a burst of variable ultrasound said to deter dogs and foxes as well as cats. It's intended to monitor a 70° fan-shaped area with a radius of 12m. The manufacturer is planning to add an ID system to suit cat and dog owners who don't want their own pets setting off the alarm.

Cost £29.95 excluding batteries (2 x 9V) from independent garden centres and diy stores Optional mains adapter around £9. Mail-order company Queenswood also sells this model for £45 including p&p.

Testers' findings Most found this easy to use, although some had problems finding a suitable position for it. Everyone found it at least reasonably effective but some wished it protected a larger area. There were concerns about how long the batteries would last - one trialist needed to replace hers after only three weeks. A couple also said they could hear the device and found the sound unpleasant. However, most were happy to recommend this deterrent, although they would only be prepared to pay £10-£25 for it.

12 Catwatch

Type When triggered, this model produces ultrasound with a slightly different frequency pattern to the Cat & Dog Repeller. The manufacturers reckon this sound only affects cats but claim it protects a larger area: a 100° arc up to 12m from the unit.

Cost £54.95 excluding 9V battery. Optional mains adapter, £15.95.

Testers' findings Easy to use and all but two trialists found it effective. Again, some wished it covered a larger area and there were concerns about battery life. One trialist said one of his only lasted six days, whereas another one lasted over ten weeks. The device was uncomfortably audible to one tester's daughter. The manufacturer wondered whether this noise might be caused by soil or an insect on the speaker. Eight of our ten testers would consider buying this model, but they only reckoned it was worth between £10 and £30.

Yard Control+

Type This has a 360° motion sensor and the frequency of sounds emitted can be adjusted to deter its intended audience. The supplier says this could be humans, dogs, rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits or foxes as well as cats. They reckon its adjustable detection range is up to 4.5m.

Cost We bought it by mail order for £60 last year, but it is no longer available.

Testers' findings Easily installed by most, though a couple had problems sourcing a suitable width of pole to mount it on. The other alternative is to fix it to a fence or other vertical surface. Once again, most wished it covered a larger area and one trialist found their batteries only lasted six weeks. But all but two found this model at least reasonably effective. Seven out of ten would recommend it, but opinions regarding what it was worth ranged from a rather mean £10, to £50.

Physical Deterrents

Netting and prickly twigs and leaves like holly can make effective anti-cat barriers but aren't particularly convenient to install. We decided to try a couple of more sophisticated branded barriers to see what they have to offer.

Catscat | Scarecrow

14 Catscat

Type Plastic, spiky, mesh-like mat.

Cost £9.75 for five 20cm x 16cm mats.

Testers' findings Most found these mats fairly easy to cut to size and lay but, at best, they only kept cats away from the small area they covered. Only two of our trialists would consider buying these and they would only be prepared to pay a fiver for them.

15 Scarecrow

Type A motion-activated battery-powered sprinkler, designed to be attached to a garden hose. The supplier reckons it can detect animals as small as squirrels and the three-second pulsating spray adjusted to reach up to 10.5m within a 100° arc.

Cost £69.95 excluding batteries (2 x 9V).

Testers' findings Most found this easy to set up, although two had difficulties adjusting the spray satisfactorily, and three found that joints leaked. The manufacturers say they have rectified the latter problem. Everyone had some success at deterring cats with this, though four said the offending animal simply went elsewhere in the garden, out of the device's range. The sensor's inability to distinguish between cats and people was demonstrated by all, but seven out of ten trialists would still recommend this product, and be willing to pay between £25 and £50 for it.

Verdict

None of the branded deterrents we tried worked for everyone but the ultrasonic devices and the Scarecrow were the most successful. Of these, the Cat & Dog Repeller is the cheapest. To conserve battery life, try to position it where the movement sensor won't pick up a lot of non-cat movement such as people or traffic. Alternatively, dispense with batteries and use it with a mains adapter. Or stick to using low-tech netting and twigs to protect seed beds.

Whichever method you choose, clear away evidence of fouling first - this acts as a magnet for further fouling.

Contacts