Keeping the Neighborhood Cats Out of My Yard

[Dia Minha]

Does anyone know of any inexpensive, but effective ways to keep the neighborhood cats out of my yard? These cats are very weird. They poop and puke in my grass. They don't dig in the dirt (as far as I know), but I do have concerns that if they are pooping in my yard, they also might be leaving disgusting teasures in my garden boxes.

I am so sick and tired of having to clean up my yard before the kids can play. I do not have pets for a reason. That reason is I do not want to have to pick up poopy piles. Yet, everyday we go out to play I have to pick up poopy piles.

[runamyrun]

I have heard that sprinkling cayenne pepper works.

[Erudite]

Do you know whose cats they are? Cats should NOT be leaving "treasures" you can see. They call that a "broken cat" and the owners should be caring for that cat in a different way. Unfortunately, they should be burying their "treasures" so you do have to be aware of any dirt your kids might be playing in.

The fact that they bury their bathroom is one of the reasons we have cats over dogs. We don't deal with what you're talking about.

[Dia Minha]

I have no idea who they belong to. We see a few cats wondering around the property sometimes. I have never actually seen which one is leaving the piles. Before we got the fence we thought it was a dog. Maybe it is, but it would have to be a liitle one that could fit under the gap of the gate and the piles are small. The reason I believe it is a cat is because we have found piles of puke with hairballs as well.

We have talked about renting a trap from the humane society, but it seems like that might get rid of one cat and it might not be the one causing the problems.

Amy I have heard of the cayenne pepper to. The only problem is we would have to sprinkle it around the whole yard and garden and it has to be redone every time it rains or we water the yard. So it is't very effecient. I have order some motion sensor sprinklers. I'm hoping that after getting sprayed a few times, the cats will just stay out. They just better work, because they are expensive.