Help with cat nightmare!! There are three neighbourhood cats that regularly use our outdoor patio as a latrine at night. This area has cane furniture, glass water features a juke box...

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

There are three neighbourhood cats that regularly use our outdoor patio as a latrine at night. This area has cane furniture, glass water features a juke box and a covered BBQ that are constantly crapped against and squirted on and it's DRIVING US MAD! Noelene made a large cloth cover for the juke box but that is now stained and bleached with urine. There is constantly fur on the cushions and we have tried everything we can think of to deter or catch them. I've put rubber snakes outside. Tried a sonic device activated by motion. Tried sprays and tried to catch the damn things. The Council wont get involved and we don't want to get a dog. I like most animals but this is completely out of control and driving us up the wall. Plus it stinks out there too. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

RaeRae Loc: Seattle Wa

New Zealand wants to ban cats as pets....maybe Ozzies should do the same? I would say try ammonia but that is what their pee smells like...

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I have unintentionally caught a couple of neighbors cats in my live trap using canned sardines as bait. We just let them go as we were trying to get rid of raccoons that were being pests, but in your case, I would give this a go.

chase4 Loc: Punta Corona, California

Put some household amonia (diluted) in a squirt gun/bottle and shoot the little buggers in the face and then use the same stuff in the areas of your yard that they frequent. That should get rid of these pest. Good luck and let us know what works for you. chase

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

RaeRae wrote:

New Zealand wants to ban cats as pets....maybe Ozzies should do the same? I would say try ammonia but that is what their pee smells like...

Didn't know about that in NZ. The problem is we've got several neighbours who have multiple cats. I will try the ammonia as another responder mentioned :thumbup:

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

BassmanBruce wrote:

I have unintentionally caught a couple of neighbors cats in my live trap using canned sardines as bait. We just let them go as we were trying to get rid of raccoons that were being pests, but in your case, I would give this a go.

I've tried traps Bruce for a long time but they're too smart and don't go near them. Spent a small fortune on sardines, tuna salmon...

PaulG Loc: Western Australia

chase4 wrote:

Put some household amonia (diluted) in a squirt gun/bottle and shoot the little buggers in the face and then use the same stuff in the areas of your yard that they frequent. That should get rid of these pest. Good luck and let us know what works for you. chase

No hope of getting a direct hit on these things Chase as they come in the early hours. The times I do get up I can't get anywhere near them as they scarper soon as a light goes on or they see me. I might spray a bit of ammonia around but as someone else said, the smell's not too crash hot either!

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

bird shot :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

mullumby Loc: Australia

Try pepper paul cats do not like it.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Why not put a patio light shining on the area with a motion sensor. If light drives them away, wouldn't that work?

PaulG wrote:

No hope of getting a direct hit on these things Chase as they come in the early hours. The times I do get up I can't get anywhere near them as they scarper soon as a light goes on or they see me. I might spray a bit of ammonia around but as someone else said, the smell's not too crash hot either!

TonyP Loc: New Zealand

RaeRae wrote:

New Zealand wants to ban cats as pets....maybe Ozzies should do the same? I would say try ammonia but that is what their pee smells like...

Not quite true :)
ONE chap, whos son sold his website (trademe), is trying to have cats banned because they kill native birds. And he just doesnt like cats.
Won't happen.
Amazing the News (albeit a little misreported) has reached the USA tho.

larimarpugs Loc: california

try covering the traps with vegetation -- and use a can of cat food that is partially opened -- they will go in and fiddle with the can of food and the trap will snap shut. I live on a ranch and people are constantly dumping cats...of course I catch the ranch opossums and racoons but they are easily turned loose. I bring the cats to the local shelter....had one that jumped on me from the roof of my kennels - took me a while to trap him as he was wise to the trap. When it was covered with branches and leaves, he went right in. Good Luck!!!

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

chase4 wrote:

Put some household amonia (diluted) in a squirt gun/bottle and shoot the little buggers in the face and then use the same stuff in the areas of your yard that they frequent. That should get rid of these pest. Good luck and let us know what works for you. chase

No, not a good idea of shooting them in their faces.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

PaulG wrote:

There are three neighbourhood cats that regularly ... (show quote)

Hi Paul

Sorry to hear of cat problem. You would understand how the Brits love their animals and I have found that diluted household disinfectant in a watering can will deter them for a while and hopefully, they will get the message and go elsewhere. I suggest you do this in the evening when it is dark so that the smell is still there when they appear during the night.

With regards your cushions, perhaps you should cover them with plastic at night. I know that it doesn't look attractive or you could move them indoors. Just think how cosy they are for the cats to cuddle up to. I am sure that they think that you left them there for their comfort.

Please report back with which of our suggestions have worked and for how long as the information may be beneficial to others with a similar problem.

GOOD LUCK. YOU SURE NEED IT JUST NOW, BUT NO SQUIRTING THE CATS IN THEIR FACES AS THE RSPCA WILL BE AFTER YOU.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

Any cat roaming at night & with bad dirty hygiene habits, isn't a nice cat & deserves to be eradicated.
I've had them in the past, & I caught them in a trap & shot them.
You just have to outsmart them. Be patient with trapping them, they'll eventually take the bait.
Don't shoot them near by since they can smell death & become more wary.
I tried bagging them & dumping at a rubbish tip but found their way back, so a bullet put an end to that.
Unfortunately my rifle fell victim to our gun buyback scheme, but I haven't had the problem of cats since.
It would be a surprise thump on the head through a bag if so.
If cats are owned, look after them. If they roam onto my property, they risk their fate.