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Sigh. I live in a semi-rural area and my wonderful builder and his family just moved in three lots away 2 months ago. They're delightful people and the best neighbors imaginable, BUT..they have two outdoor cats which are causing me two problems. They defecate in my garden, which I could live with in the name of neighborly peacefulness - though I have to admit, I really don't understand why dog owners can be fined for not picking up dog poop, but cat owners aren't responsible for, or expected to, pick up after their cats who use other people's yards for toilets, but that's another peeve for another day. My problem is that I have a smallish dog who unfortunately suffers from what our vet calls "dietary indiscretion," meaning she snacks on the little cat turds she sniffs and digs out of the sandy soil and mulch in our yard. Now this I could even live with except that on several occasions here and at my former home, my dog has gotten quite ill from these "snacks" and every time I take her to the vet, it involves a fecal analysis and sub-cutaneous fluids to correct the resultant dehydration, and so far other people's cats have cost me over $1200 in vet bills.
I just spent a really exhausting 24 hours letting my dog outside every couple hours, for the second time since these cats moved in down the street, and at this point I almost feel like I even have to keep her on a leash in my own backyard to make sure she doesn't ingest any more cat feces.
So I'm wondering if any gardeners who have had problems with cats using their gardens as litter boxes could suggest any cat repellents that actually WORK. Years ago when I had this problem with another dog, I called the SPCA and Animal Control in my former town and their solution was for me to spends thousands of dollars to install some kind of crazy angled, point-y fence topper that's designed to keep cats out. Besides not wanting to ruin my beautiful isolated, park-like wooded yard, I don't see why I should have to spend that kind of money to armor my property against trespassing pets.
Well, speaking from personal experience, if you supervise your dog during his outings, then he won't be able to snack on cat poo. Back in the day when I had a dog, he never went outside without me. This also prevents him from eating dead squirrels that are infested with maggots and good stuff like that. IMHO that's just what responsible pet owners do.
Now then, to answer your question you can try putting citrus peels out in the garden. Cats really dislike citrus smells. The downside being that you have orange peels in your garden which is not that aesthetic. Also, I believe that large pet shops have deterrents that you can buy that are effective.
Well, speaking from personal experience, if you supervise your dog during his outings, then he won't be able to snack on cat poo. Back in the day when I had a dog, he never went outside without me. This also prevents him from eating dead squirrels that are infested with maggots and good stuff like that. IMHO that's just what responsible pet owners do.
Now then, to answer your question you can try putting citrus peels out in the garden. Cats really dislike citrus smells. The downside being that you have orange peels in your garden which is not that aesthetic. Also, I believe that large pet shops have deterrents that you can buy that are effective.
20yrsinBranson
Let me get this straight. Two cats are roaming the neighborhood depositing their poop in other people's yards, and you take ME to task for letting my own dog out into my own fenced yard?
Also, the reason I KNOW what makes her sick is because I AM out in the yard with her, right? Otherwise I wouldn't know the cause. We have coyotes here that can jump the fence, so she is NEVER in the yard alone. Unlike a dead animal, a dog can snarf up a cat turd in seconds. Often I CAN grab her mouth and make her spit it out before she swallows it, but not always.
I'd just love to show your comment to the rescue lady and foster mom who I adopted this elderly senior dog from. If you knew 1/10 the things I have done for this dog you'd be ashamed of your comment.
A friend on FB solved my problem - ground pepper sprinkled in the flower beds where the mulch is. She's been using it for years because there are numerous outdoor cats in her neighborhood, and one wriggling-maggot-infested cat turd she uncovered a couple years ago was the last straw for her. She buys large containers at Costco; it doesn't hurt the plants or animals, and only has to be reapplied every 2-4 months, she says. Cayenne pepper works, too, she told me, but it's more expensive.
Let me get this straight. Two cats are roaming the neighborhood depositing their poop in other people's yards, and you take ME to task for letting my own dog out into my own fenced yard?
Also, the reason I KNOW what makes her sick is because I AM out in the yard with her, right? Otherwise I wouldn't know the cause. We have coyotes here that can jump the fence, so she is NEVER in the yard alone. Unlike a dead animal, a dog can snarf up a cat turd in seconds. Often I CAN grab her mouth and make her spit it out before she swallows it, but not always.
I'd just love to show your comment to the rescue lady and foster mom who I adopted this elderly senior dog from. If you knew 1/10 the things I have done for this dog you'd be ashamed of your comment.
You're right. My comments were uncalled for. I apologize.
Get a larger dog for outside. Cats will not be a factor. Your dog will have a friend. Or you can do a true sand box and they will stay out of the garden. But, I would go with the bigger dog.
What about talking to the owners of these cats? if the are nice neighbors they will understand. Yes they are outdoors cats but that doesn't mean they can just get into your yard and do their business everywhere. Good luck hope you figure it out without getting into arguments with your neighbors.
What about talking to the owners of these cats? if the are nice neighbors they will understand. Yes they are outdoors cats but that doesn't mean they can just get into your yard and do their business everywhere. Good luck hope you figure it out without getting into arguments with your neighbors.
If these neighbors let their cats outside despite the fact that there are coyotes roaming around looking for pets to eat, my guess is they don't care about their cats or this person's yard, or anything else, for that matter.
First, no one should have an outdoor cat as a pet. Their life expectancy is one third as long as an indoor cat. And, the vet bills for an outdoor cat can be substantial.
Having said that, I call BS on your story about the cat poo in your garden. I have cats roaming all over the yard (they trip my security cameras and I see the video of their antics) and I have never once seen a single piece of cat poo in my yard. I am betting your dog is eating his own poo.
Having said that, I call BS on your story about the cat poo in your garden. I have cats roaming all over the yard (they trip my security cameras and I see the video of their antics) and I have never once seen a single piece of cat poo in my yard. I am betting your dog is eating his own poo.
Wouldn't you need to see/not see the cat stuff in the O.P.'s garden, or yard, before you make a claim like that?
How does not seeing anything in your yard make the O.P.'s story invalid?
There are alot of stray cats in my neighborhood and I have to clean up cat stuff in my yard. I can mail you some, and a picture of me scooping it up, if you don't believe me.
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