How to stop cats using area as toilet!!

[Cazbaby1]

I have 2 cats and one of them has recently started using a gravelled area, right near our back door as their toilet :(
I was wondering if someone knew of something that I could put on the area to make it unattractive to them but that will not repel them too much as it is close to cat flap!
Any ideas gratefully received :)

clean the area, to remove the smell, then put their food there for a bit. they won't poo/wee near their food.

Thanks for your idea but I can't really put the food outside as the neighbours cat will be straight over to demolish the lot (comes in the house if back door open!) Also would be worried about flies / maggots in this heat!
Any other ideas?

Tin foil apparently works well.

If you google there are many ideas/solutions that are out there but once the smell is in a particular area it is nearly impossible to get rid of and the cat will continue to soil there.

Sorry not to be more positive but I have been there, bought the tee shirt etc!

I wish you luck.

Have they got a cat litter somewhere?

They don't have cat litter, except for when they have to be kept in due to illness etc

I don't want to be mean, but where would you prefer that they went? At least they're not going in your neighbours' gardens.

You might be able to train them to use another area of your garden. I'm sure someone will be along with more specific advice on how to do this.

Yes! TheFarSide I would definitely prefer them to use another part of the garden!!
They are 12 years old and have only just started using this area, as it is just outside the back door the smell on a warm day can be really bad even after cleaning up - it also attracts flies - YUK!
We have a big garden and so is loads of other space for them to go!

I have purchased some granules to put down so I am hoping they will work.

Many Thanks