How to stop cats shitting on my lawn?

[Clevs]

Has anyone got any tried and tested methods to stop neighbouring cats coming into our garden and doing their business?

Getting a dog or our own cat is out of the question so looking for harmless methods that work please.

Are you sure it is a cat? Cats don't tend to frequently poo in open areas and if they do they usually bury it. Far more likely a fox?

Well no, I don't know for sure. I'm only assuming it's cats as the house at the back of us has two and we are always having to shoo them off from the top of the fence/shed and we caught one of them pissing up the side of the hot tub once. There are also scratch marks on the rubber matting we have the hot tub sat on.

The latest poo that I had to dispose of was sort of buried - it was on the lawn and they turfed up some grass to cover it over. As soon as I spotted the loose grass I knew what was under it. It's bad enough as it is but I have a two year old that I don't want treading in it.

My sympathies, I was a fellow sufferer. Can you observe where they usually enter your garden and block or discourage this route? I tried sticking wooden skewers all over the flowerbed but felt aggrieved by having to shell out and try lots of cat deterrent products. The cat was lazy though so I just blocked a few holes in the hedge and he started shitting in his own garden.

I totally agree with a little one not good. We have a similar issue with shooing but thankfully not poop- that's the fox! Fox poop is very distinctive it is pinched in at one end and very smelly. If it was half buried that does sound more like a cat. To be honest I don't rate much advice around planting certain things, I don't think it deters them. I'd suggest a water pistol close to the house though that may be enough to encourage them to go elsewhere and is harmless.

The poo I had to pick up the other day was very smelly. I was sat in the garden eating lunch and even after disposing of it the smell lingered and I was a few metres away from it.

I know which way they come in. They are from the house directly behind us so jump up on the fence, then down onto the shed and along the other fence (on the side of the garden) and onto the roof of next doors extension. My husband did spray vinegar on the back fence and roof of the shed which did seem to work for a bit but of course as soon as it rained they were back on there.

I also had to shoo one off from my little boys treehouse the other day. They've not had a dump in there yet but were sat on the edge of it. The same cat was also sat inside our bird table the other day too 😣

Currently, we have this problem with a cat that has loose poo! Yuk!
I am putting strong smelling spice on the spot, cumin, paprika, etc.
The cat will go back to where it has ‘scented’. I also try coffee and vicks vapour rub.
Works until they find a different spot.