Hobbies And Interests
Remove Scents
Cats mark their territory by releasing pheromones, which they rub onto objects. Scent glands are located on their feet and cheeks. When cats want to demonstrate ownership of an area, they spray urine to warn other cats that this space has been taken. It is mostly male cats that have not been neutered that exhibit this behavior. Cat repellents won't be effective until you have removed scents that have been left behind by territorial cats. Remove any cat feces as they also have a scent that can mark territory. Wash and scrub any walls or objects in the yard that have been sprayed before applying cat repelling products.
Chemical Repellents
There are a variety of products on the market that can be purchased online or in garden or pet stores. Some use coyote or fox urine to keep cats away. Shake Away Domestic Cat Deterrent is such a product, which is in powder form. The formula claims to repel cats 5 feet on either side of where it has been sprinkled. Havahart has a cat repellent that contains the essential oil of mustard and chilies as well as lemon. Other repellents use the oil of orange, citronella and Bergamot as well as lemon grass. These are sold in liquid form in spray bottles.
Home Remedies
Rue is an herb that gives off a very strong odor that cats do not like. Plant this herb in the garden and near places where the cat may be gaining access to your yard. Make your own cat repellent using natural ingredients. Many of the home remedies used to repel cats depend on the cat's sharp sense of smell and its dislike for certain smells. Citrus peels and cayenne pepper are among the ingredients that cats don't like. Cutting raw onions in half and rubbing the juice on an area or sprinkling vinegar are other natural cat repellents that you can try.
Water Sprays
There are several devices available that use water as a method for repelling cats. Cats are not fond of getting wet, and water-spraying devices use motion detectors that are activated when a cat-sized animal walks by. The device is hooked up to a garden hose and delivers a sudden, strong spray of water over the area. The cat is startled and gets wet. After triggering the device a few times, it learns to avoid the area. You can move the device to maintain the element of surprise and the hope is that soon the invading cat will realize that there is no safe place in your yard.