How do you keep feral cats from using your yard as a litter box?
by
Bet30725423
+9
My side yard gets very little sun so it's mostly dirt. I tried to grow grass but haven't been successful. The cats have taken over. I tried vinegar, Mr Clean floor cleaner, ammonia, commercial cat training spray, and finally rolled out some chicken wire over the whole area. After that didn't work, I rolled some black plastic over the wire and have layered that with long planks and bricks to make it difficult for them to find an inch of space to leave a "deposit". Nothing works! And the side yard now looks like a junkyard. Any suggestions?
https://www.alleycat.org/resources/how-to-live-with-cats-in-your-neighborhood/
cats don't like water usually, get a motion detector pet deterent hose attachment to put on your hose.... it will go off when something moves and give them a blast..... move it around once in a while. https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Motion-Sensor-Sprinkler-Repellent/dp/B0742MB4MR/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1518301220&sr=8-11&keywords=motion+detector+pet+deterrent if you get the hose splitter at the bottom of the page you will still be able to use your spikot for watering.. If your not using that side yard, you could also put down landscape fabric and put sharp gravel on top that their paws won't like.
Use motion detector sprinkler heads - several. After a few times, they'll get the message. Good luck.
Get a dog, or see if a friend or neighbor will loan you one for a few days.
Get an animal trap from your city and catch them and take them to the pound!!
It the area is more than 50 feet away from and plumbing or water lines, plant Oleander bushes. Or you could plant Nandina or Catnip. Google plants toxic to cats to find something suitable for your zone. Try plan to g to create a barrier to to space. Cats generally sense them as dangerous and avoid the area. Worse case you can install a low voltage invisible fence around your property if you don't have small trees they can climb and jump over the electrical charge.
Call your local Animal ControlorHumane Society! These kitties need help-
I have heard that cat will avoid orange peels. Perhaps you could have your friends and family save them for you so you could sprinkle them around the litter box area of your yard, or search the web for essential orange oil to mix up and spray around. I think they are repulsed by walking on coffee grounds as well. Maybe you could have friends and family saving their used grounds for you, at least the ones that haven't switched to K cups.
Plant cactus!
Get a motion activated sprayer at your local diy store, it will spray them when they come near and kitties don't like to get wet.