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Original poster

SPike rods on fence to stop cats coming in?

226 replies

Hitmewithit · 22/04/2017 07:46

My garden is lovely, my daughter will love it this summer, but unfortunately the neighbours cat keeps coming and shitting all over my grass. I bought repelant and used it for a week, i thought it worked but then a massive shit in the middle of the lawn followed by a load of sloppy shit by the fence. I only have a small grass area and I'm getting really fucked off with the grass being shat on. It makes me feel like the lawn stinks and full of germs if my daughter wants to crawl around on it or if we sit on it. I feel like I'll need to disinfect it if I want to go out there with her.

I've seen the cat that does it, I've chucked water at it, chased it away etc but it still comes back!!

I'm tempted to go to Homebase today and get some of these spiked rods that I've seen. Is this legal to do?

OP posts:
llangennith · 22/04/2017 08:49

I saw an advert recently for strips of plastic things you attach to the top of your fence and when the cat reaches the top it rotates so the cat can't get up. Hope this makes sense?! I'll try and find it.
That said, cats poo on soil not grass as they like to cover their pop. More likely a fox.

TamzinGrey · 22/04/2017 08:55

We've successfully banished the cat next door from our garden by attaching a mesh barrier to the top of the fence. It was easy to do and didn't cost much.

First you need to screw one of these to each fence post www.screwfix.com/p/sabrefix-roll-edge-restraint-strap-bend-500-x-100mm-5-pack/85398 . Then attach a roll of this www.screwfix.com/p/apollo-25mm-pvc-coated-wire-netting-0-5-x-10m/70359. Even the most agile of cats will not be able to climb over this.

It's worked like a dream for us, and now my old blind cat can lie out in the sun without being beaten up.

User2468 · 22/04/2017 08:55

You'd smell the difference between can and fox a mile off!

We had massive issues with cat shit last year as neighbours got two new cats, this year they're a bit more familiar with the village and have stopped using our garden so much.

Plus I have a water pistol and a (friendly) Terrier to chase them off.

User2468 · 22/04/2017 08:56

Also, when I looked into deterrents the only one that seemed to work in reviews was a mains water powered motion sensor sprinkler. Just remember to turn it off before you go outside and move it round the garden to keep them guess where they'll get sprayed or not.

justgivemethepinot · 22/04/2017 09:06

On non rainy days I found a liberal coating of deep heat on the top of the fence helped. Cats hate that as much as citrus. We have a dog now though so rarely get cats.

ThatsNotMyMummy · 22/04/2017 09:08

My foxes poo doesn't smell stealth boast?! but it is runny. Sometimes you can see what he's had for dinner and we use it as an ecology lesson.
I digress, we chuck a bucket of water over it and let nature do its thing.
Cat shit is cat shit but I think the runny stuff on your lawn is fox.
Yes cats do poo in the open occasionally - my old one did. But he poo'd in places with leaves or soil so he could scratch.

If the deterants don't work I'd also second the suggestion of an area with gravel so you can teach your child to not go near that bit. The cats will chose it. but not the fox

WateryTart · 22/04/2017 09:15

Anti climb paint woks quite well.
These are uncomfortable and appeared on Countryfile so should be legal.

www.amazon.co.uk/SECURITY-REPELLER-DETERRENT-INTRUDER-REPELLENT/dp/B00E5CGAVM?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Northgate · 22/04/2017 09:25

The roller ideas for fence tops sound good.

Sadly wouldn't work so well for us - neighbours have a shed right next to our fence, so cats would still be able to get in via the neighbours shed. Stopping cats from climbing on our fences would probably just trap them in our garden.

TamzinGrey · 22/04/2017 09:48

Northgate our neighbours have a shed right next to the fence as well, but our wire mesh method now prevents their cat from jumping over.

StarlitTrees · 22/04/2017 10:02

I've read that chicken wire is very good at deterring cats. So where you would put the spikes, just put some chicken wire down.
It won't hurt them if they step on it, but hate the feeling of walking on it, so they won't!

Mumzypopz · 22/04/2017 10:09

I used to think cats didn't poo in the middle of the lawn too, but since getting my cat, I was proved wrong. She goes all over the lawn, daily. It's also a fallacy that if it's solid it's a cat.....Cats do all sorts of different types, solid, runny, the lot. Bet your bottom dollar it's a cat.

Nanny0gg · 22/04/2017 10:12

I can't believe, how ever precious your garden is to you, that you would consider seriously injuring an animal.

If you do, I hope you get reported to the RSPCA and prosecuted.

Sparklingbrook · 22/04/2017 10:15

A friend's neighbour has spikes on the fence between them. She says it looks awful and she hates watching the birds trying and failing to land on it. Sad

NurseButtercup · 22/04/2017 10:15

My neighbours cat shits on my paved front driveway(no grass or shrubs), shits in front of my other neighbours front door, occasionally in the middle of her front garden. The poo varies from really sloppy to "normal", presumably depends upon what's been consumed. And contrary to what people have said, nope it's not a fox, I've come home in the evening and caught the mingy old cat leg cocked in the middle of my driveway (was a very bizarre sight I'm still traumatised).
It pisses me right off, I don't own any pets but I'm cleaning up after one!! Angry
I'd say go ahead and get the spikes and fingers crossed it works.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/04/2017 10:18

No, because they fuck off into the neighbours' gardens and shit there.

We have a dedicated bit at the end of our garden for our two cats to poo in. I clear it regularly but it's pretty obvious that it's become a communal facility!

SuburbanRhonda · 22/04/2017 10:19

I've come home in the evening and caught the mingy old cat leg cocked in the middle of my driveway

Cats don't cock their leg to poo Hmm

NurseButtercup · 22/04/2017 10:24

Just bought some of this to try as well:
www.silentroaronline.com

JacquesHammer · 22/04/2017 10:36

Another alternative- create a space that the cat will shit in in your garden like a bed of soil that you can keep clear. Obviously this isn't for responsibility but it might help the issue

This is an utterly barking idea - so someone who doesn't have cats has to create a cat loo to stop someone else's pet shitting all over their garden.

My neighbours are the worst kind of entitled cat owner. They've actually asked me to reconsider my plans for my garden as their cat likes to play under one of my shrubs. Needless to say the whole lot is getting ripped out.

BadKnee · 22/04/2017 10:53

Agree with others - unlikely to be cats. Probably foxes. Hedges, especially slightly prickly ones work well.

AnyFarrahFowler · 22/04/2017 11:02

Haven't read the full thread so apologies if this has already been mentioned but we use sonar cat repellents that emit a high sound that cats hate. We had a huge problem with the neighbours cats shitting on our driveway and the last straw was when I accidentally wheeled DS's pram through it.
The sonar things work - we had to buy 2 because they just changed where they were shitting, the little bastards, but it's stopped completely now. I completely get your frustration though!

Matchstickbox · 22/04/2017 11:12

I need to poo poo you all with idea cats don't shit in open. Coz they do.
We have communal field between our houses here, I frequently see cats going for a crap in the middle of the field in daylight. Rather annoying when it's where all our child play but can't stop them.
We also have fox, badger and hedgehog shit too

QuitMoaning · 22/04/2017 11:25

Nanny0gg. My garden is precious, we spent a lot of time and money making it a lovely place to be and then we have to pick up cat poo all the time. And it is cat, not fox. I see them do it.
All you cat lovers must realise how annoying it is when you have no pets yourself but cannot use your property due to disgusting cat crap. My garden is small, lawn is about 2m by 4m and we normally get 2 or 3 piles to clear up each time.

I am trying all humane methods and spoken to neighbours to say I would try anything but will not actually harm the animals, I am not cruel, just frustrated.

BoneyBackJefferson · 22/04/2017 11:31

JacquesHammer

I had the same thing when I ripped out my garden and gravelled the whole lot.

llangennith · 22/04/2017 11:32

Cat rollers.

illegitimateMortificadospawn · 22/04/2017 11:34

All those people saying cats don't shit on lawns or in the open are COMPLETELY WRONG. We have only garden with lawn in a run of terraced houses and our lawn is basically a giant cat toilet. We can see them hunkering down for a shit from our kitchen window and there are many repeat offenders. We are at the point of getting quotes to have the garden paved over, as it's impossible to sit on the patio on a warm day without the smell of sun-baked cat shit. Even when one of us has cleared it up the smell lingers. /rant over