How to teach neighborhood cat that my garden is not its personal litter box?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's another idea. The cat needs a litter box. If you just try to take it away with nothing to replace it, he's not going to give up easily.

What if you get the cat a litter box and put it by your garden? You'd have to get his scent on it. it's not like you'd have to clean it often.

NO, no, no! A million times no!
Do not encourage a cat to poop in your yard. Gross. Encourage the cat to leave!

Personally I like the paint/food coloring idea. Eventually, the owner is going to get sick of cleaning a blue or green or orange cat. They’ll keep them indoors more frequently and the cat will hopefully find another litter box away from your yard.

[Anonymous]

Curious about the vinegar - do the cats not like it or is it just to alert the owner?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious about the vinegar - do the cats not like it or is it just to alert the owner?

Both

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's another idea. The cat needs a litter box. If you just try to take it away with nothing to replace it, he's not going to give up easily.

What if you get the cat a litter box and put it by your garden? You'd have to get his scent on it. it's not like you'd have to clean it often.

Umm you got the part where this is not her cat and she doesn’t want it on her property, right?

[Anonymous]

motion activated sprinkler

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/insect-and-animal-control/animal-repellents/7692353?x429=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8vHm4fuA6QIV9AiICR1RfgzXEAYYASABEgIs9PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's another idea. The cat needs a litter box. If you just try to take it away with nothing to replace it, he's not going to give up easily.

What if you get the cat a litter box and put it by your garden? You'd have to get his scent on it. it's not like you'd have to clean it often.

Umm you got the part where this is not her cat and she doesn’t want it on her property, right?

OP here again. I absolutely want to keep this cat out of my yard. Not only has it left copious poos in my garden, it also sprays and tries to hunt birds. I don't know who owns the cat but I have my suspicions and will do some more detective work. If the owners are who I think they are, the irony is that they are big time gardeners and are always out working in their yard. I'm sure they would be equally upset to discover cat crap all over their own precious garden.

Anyway, this is what I'm going to try:
1. motion detector to attach to hose as several of you have suggested. The problem with this is it sounds like a pain to have to attach and detach every time I want to use the hose for something else. And I discovered that the cat has been going in at least 2 place in our yard so I'll have to move the sprinkler around to really scare it away. Like I said before, this cat seems either really dumb or really brave because isn't scared of me chasing it away at all. Stupid thing just keeps coming back.
2. the cat scat mat in the area of the garden where the cat has been pooing all winter long. Hopefully the spiky mat will provide instant feedback that this garden is off limits.
3. some type of repellent like many of you suggested. I'm less optimistic about this after reading reviews of multiple products on Amazon but I'll spread that stuff everywhere if it helps at all.

The cat is actually really cute but I wish they would keep it inside

[Anonymous]

They will never keep it inside until you have it covered in wet paint or similar. And you have a much better chance of doing that now before things like automatic sprinklers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will never keep it inside until you have it covered in wet paint or similar. And you have a much better chance of doing that now before things like automatic sprinklers.

If the cat has been going outdoor for a long time, it’ll be difficult for owners to keep it indoor. Op will have more success with things that deter the cat from specifically using her yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

Gross. You're more of a turd than what the cat is leaving in the OP's garden. It's hard to imagine you are a mature adult. Most adults outgrow their childish pleasure in punishing others way before they become teens. Don't waste your time preaching about "selfish people don't care about others" or "incentive to do the right thing" since you are clueless about both. You are a closet sadist. Terrible neighbor material right there.

Forget about the cat -- I would keep my children and family away from you. But I'm sure people who interact with you get a good read on what you're all about on the inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

This is a very good idea. After using the watered down ammonia the cat stayed in their house and stopped using our vegetable garden as their personal potty. Cat crap should not be on food.

Ammonia is toxic you idiot. Maybe the cat stayed inside because it was sick. You are nasty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

Gross. You're more of a turd than what the cat is leaving in the OP's garden. It's hard to imagine you are a mature adult. Most adults outgrow their childish pleasure in punishing others way before they become teens. Don't waste your time preaching about "selfish people don't care about others" or "incentive to do the right thing" since you are clueless about both. You are a closet sadist. Terrible neighbor material right there.

Forget about the cat -- I would keep my children and family away from you. But I'm sure people who interact with you get a good read on what you're all about on the inside.

Just keep your animals, trash and “family” on your own property and you won’t have a problem with any of your neighbors.

[Anonymous]

You could put perfume on the cat.

My cat LOVED the woman who lives next door, and used to go freely into her house. The woman reeks of strong, spicy perfume, and so did my cat every time she came home. Now I keep my cat indoors.

[Anonymous]

I tried cayenne spray etc. It washes out every time it rains. The ground mats are the only things that work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

Gross. You're more of a turd than what the cat is leaving in the OP's garden. It's hard to imagine you are a mature adult. Most adults outgrow their childish pleasure in punishing others way before they become teens. Don't waste your time preaching about "selfish people don't care about others" or "incentive to do the right thing" since you are clueless about both. You are a closet sadist. Terrible neighbor material right there.

Forget about the cat -- I would keep my children and family away from you. But I'm sure people who interact with you get a good read on what you're all about on the inside.

Just keep your animals, trash and “family” on your own property and you won’t have a problem with any of your neighbors.

Like I said, don't worry. I will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

Gross. You're more of a turd than what the cat is leaving in the OP's garden. It's hard to imagine you are a mature adult. Most adults outgrow their childish pleasure in punishing others way before they become teens. Don't waste your time preaching about "selfish people don't care about others" or "incentive to do the right thing" since you are clueless about both. You are a closet sadist. Terrible neighbor material right there.

Forget about the cat -- I would keep my children and family away from you. But I'm sure people who interact with you get a good read on what you're all about on the inside.

OP! Over here! We found the selfish entitled cat owner!