How do you deter cats?

[lissalischicks]

We had a new cat move into the neighborhood. I don't know whose it is but the cat has popped up in my backyard a few times and we chased it away. Tonight was the first night it was stalking around right outside the coop so I was wondering what people did to deter them. Couple things first:

1. I am not going to kill and/or shoot the cat. Mainly because I don't own a gun and if I did, don't know how to use it so it wouldn't do me any good.
2. Tried trapping it and it didn't work
3. Tried cat repellent and that obviously didn't work.
4. Sprayed essential oil with fragrances cats are supposed to hate around my property and around the coop to deter the cat... didn't work
5. I am not able to have a rooster so that's out
6. I cannot have a dog at this time so that's out too

Any other ideas???

 

[AlleysChicks]

Water hose?

 

[lissalischicks]

We tried the water hose but it only works when we are outside and catch the cat.

I was looking at the motion detector sprinkler but I would have to place it where the chickens free range and I don't want them or me to get hit when I go outside.

 

[townchicks]

Maybe try to borrow a friend's male dog and have it mark the yard.

 

[Littleshadow]

So you've tried using a close trap hidden with bushes and twigs around and over it so it's out of sight with some wet cat food? That's what I've always done. Id trap them and take them to the farm that's down the road.

Animal control could also be helpful if you have them in your area.

Either that or I'd get a sensor that barks when triggered. Depending on budget. That also deters other animals and people...

 

[ChickNanny13]

Fly Ribbon We had several cats coming around, so I got fly ribbon/tape & hung it from the ceiling in the patio. Make sure it will come loose when pulled & won't stick to anything when the wind/breeze blows. At the loose end I tied chicken bone for bait. My thinking is when the cat grabbed it, the tape will fall & stick on the cat's fur. Cat will go home & the owner may get the message

Another time we used a homemade cat trap. Caught the cutest long white haired, blue eyes (sad) looking up at me. We were going to take it to the Humane Society but decided to let it "go home" but as Hubby released the door, I dropped fly tape on it's back. Never saw it again I considered keeping that on but my dog didn't agree

You may consider those sticky rat traps too, only trouble with it is birds. Oh yea, I put out the fly tape only at night, no birds & that's when the cats were coming around.

 

[336White Phoenix]

I had a problem like that before what I did was I fed the cat for a week then when I was used to getting food in a certain place I then put a trap there and the cat didn't suspect a thing

Then me and the cat went for a drive 1 hour away I let him go

 

[The Moonshiner]

 

[Acre4Me]

We moved into a home that feral male cats were spraying one (maybe2) spots, and pooping in the front garden, and occasionally longing on our front door step. Ick and pew. We wanted to get rid of the stench, but researched first. So, we read that bleach can attract cats but using full strength white vinegar was a good way to remove the smell and deter cats. We poured vinegar down the foundation walls where it seemed they were spraying, and this worked!

In addition, we added moth balls under the bushes as the cats don’t like the smell and they stopped coming around. Moth balls are toxic, so you would not want your chickens or other animals to access them. Cats are carnivores and will not eat the mothballs - and yes, we did see all the same feral cats around for months to years following the mothball application, so it didn’t kill them, but they hung out in other peoples yards and in the bushes farther away. Moth balls do stink though, so it wasn’t pleasant to smell but was decidedly better than male cat pee and cat poop by the front door.

We did not have chickens to entice them, so might make it a longer term struggle. But a smart cat would not keep coming around if it got tangled up with fly paper.....

 

[CannedMonster]

Are you worried the cat will go for your chickens?
If they’re adult large fowl chickens I wouldn’t worry about it.
They’re too big for a cat.
It’s probably just curious.
We have a cat of our own and she ignores the chickens. Wants nothing to do with them.
The neighborhood cats like to watch our chickens and will hunt songbirds but the chickens put up a very loud alarm when they see other cats so they have no success when they’re out.

Interestingly, the chickens don’t sound an alarm when our cat crosses the yard coming and going.
It’s like they know she belongs to us and isn’t a threat.