keeping the pests out: boundary protection idea

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Clare G, Nov 29, 2017.

  1. Clare G

    Clare G Super Gardener

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    Just wanted to share something that seems to be working for me - I've created a new thread rather than adding to @Fat Controller's Fox thread because it was created to deal with a cat problem rather than foxes. (Actually I think it might well work for foxes, too, but I haven't had a problem with those since my old greyhound - predecessor to the one in my signature - chased one out of the garden, biting it on the bottom as it leapt the fence. I guess the word got round!)

    Anyway - there is a corner behind the shed where my garden adjoins three others. The trellis runs out and although the fence is still six feet tall, it was a regular route in and down for neighbours' cats, especially with a compost dalek below. I really don't want Ken chasing those, so first I tried adding a bit of clematis netting to the top of the fence, so that it wobbled around a bit if touched. That did help but we still had some regulars coming in.

    So I have now rigged up a plastic line across the space, and hung it with windspinners made out of old aluminium drinks cans. These move easily, rustle and tinkle gently and look quite pretty I think with all their different designs. At first they kept getting tangled up, so then I fixed the ringpulls on the line and that keeps them apart. So far it has been working - no more cats. Fingers crossed!
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    The windspinners were easy to make - you just need some aluminium drinks cans, a knife and a pair of scissors. Lots of instructions on the web, eg here:

    With mine as I was fixing them to a line rather than a stick I just cut them into shape and then stabbed a hole through the centre with a bradawl.
     
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    • "M"

      "M" Total Gardener

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      Nifty idea @Clare G :thumbsup:

      Have all the cats stopped visiting now?
       
    • Clare G

      Clare G Super Gardener

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      So far so good @"M" - mind you cats are canny beasts so it may just be that they are staying at home by the fire during this cold weather!
       
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      • ricky101

        ricky101 Total Gardener

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        Hi,

        With having Ken around does limit your options, but if he cold get used to one, then these devices do work, though it could also act as a play thing for him :smile:
        Never had any signs of cats in my back garden since fitting one, and we have way too many around here !
        Though the pir and water jet only covers a smallish area they thankfully seem to keep out of all the back garden.
        About £20 on the usual sites.

        Biggest problem with them, soggy bottoms when we forget its there !:snorky:


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        • Clare G

          Clare G Super Gardener

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          That's useful to know - thank you @ricky101. A friend found an ultrasonic device that worked well, too - so long as she remembered to change the batteries before they ran out!
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            Oh, B&*$"............so you're not supposed to throw it at the Pest?:scratch::doh::wallbanging::hate-shocked:
             
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            • Irmemac

              Irmemac Total Gardener

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              @Clare G What a good idea. I couldn't use it, as my own cat is quite timid and it would keep him out! Might pass the info to my neighbour, who is a bird watcher and doesn't much like my cat in his garden.

              Nice to see you have Scotland's national drink on display - Buckfast Irn Bru!
               
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              • "M"

                "M" Total Gardener

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                :rolleyes: No! :nonofinger: You're meant to strap it to its back so you can *track* it ;) :whistle: :heehee:
                 
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                • Clare G

                  Clare G Super Gardener

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                  I must confess I've never tried it! The cans were all picked up in the park/ streets round here, in wombling style - and I couldn't resist the Irn Bru, it was such a nice bright orange. Maybe what I need next is this ... something I would be prepared to buy and drink myself! [​IMG]

                  Ken says: :thanks: No more pesky cats!
                   
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                  • Irmemac

                    Irmemac Total Gardener

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                    Not very sure you'd want to. Filled with sugar and very sweet-tasting. I like the sugar free version, but very few people do. Now beer... bleurgh!
                     
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                    • Dave W

                      Dave W Total Gardener

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                      In the past I've had ultrasonic devices and they worked pretty well but replacing batteries was expensive. I've recently invested in a pair of solar powered ones and they are working very well and at around £20 for the pair I reckon they were worth it.
                      In one remote corner of our garden there's a wall where cats jump down from so whenever I trim our holly bushes I scatter some of the leaves there and it seems to work.
                       
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                      • Cliff1932

                        Cliff1932 Gardener

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                        the best that saw advertised at a desprat time I fell for it was tiger poo and the advert said that one smell would keep cats away Ispred it a yard wide were the cats usualy came then watch as one cat after another walked across it without noticing it, it came to me then that for it to work I would have to gather all the cats up and take them to the zoo, as they did not what a tiger was.
                         
                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        Cliff, you should have read the advertisement next to the Tiger Poo advert where you could have hired the Tiger for some time at a slightly higher rate.:dunno::heehee:
                         
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                        • Cliff1932

                          Cliff1932 Gardener

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                          nice one ' cats rule hear, and dogs are not safe, I like cats but it would it would be nice if we had some thing to put them in their place.
                           
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