Tom Cat - Smells

If you want to keep cats away you want Lion S**t.
http://www.dobbies.co.uk/acatalog/silent-roar-cat-deterant.html

One of the Game Parks here in the UK I've been told does a "roaring" trade in the stuff - sending fresh samples through the post.

 

Fox urine powder works well keeping many animals away. It will repel skunks, woodchucks, opossums and etc. including cats. They say you can take sections of panty hose and create a sachet containing a couple of tablespoons of the powder then toss it in areas that you wish to repel the animals from. It needs to be replaced after a rain.

I opted for a dog that hates all other animals. Now I end up with him stinking up the place.

 

A german shedder (not mispelling - some call them shepherds) works well.
I live in catville but they stay clear of yard (usually).
See the cat - see the dog charge - see the cat run.
Dog has yet to catch a cat - cats are smart - seem to always have half dozen escape routes planned.

Which reminds me of funny story.
Sister has a Bichon Frise (12 lbs dog).
Was visiting her.
Bichon saw n chased a BIG tom cat.
Tomcat reached base of tree n turned around - saw what was chasing it.
Arched back and HISSED.
Smart dog abruptly hit the brakes. Stopped 5 ft away hopping around n barking. Cat hissing. Dog barking, tail waving. This is FUN.

Suddenly cats eyes went big n it flashed up the tree. Bichon ran to base of tree barking happily - hey look at me - I chased a cat!!!!!

Attracted by barking my shedder was quietly padding up behind, feral look in eyes, trying to get in range.
Bichon never noticed. The cat did.
German Shepherd disgustedly turned away and came back to porch.

Sister now has TWO Bichons, they look identical - seems to work. Don't know if cats running to optometrist to get eyesight checked for seeing double - or just don't like being double teamed.

 

When my three Rottweilers were living, we never seemed to have unwanted animals around. Now I have a Jack Russell mix puppy and a miniature black lab that is ferocious, from behind the couch. I let them out the other day, and said "Go get 'em!" when I noticed a cat in the backyard, knowing the cat was in no danger from the dogs. The cat panicked, and did not go straight up a tree, which is what most of the cats do when surprised with a dog invasion. This cat went straight for the fence (5 foot chain link from the Rott days) and, I guess, wanted to go under it. He missed and his head went through it, but not his shoulders. All four paws were clawing frantically and he was not able to see the dogs, which got him more excited. The dogs were snickering and sniffing, and the cat became more enraged and more stuck. Now I felt bad... (for the "Go get 'em!" part especially) and I headed to the fence to see if I could free the cat. My husband observed, "You're going to get torn up!" I shooed the dogs away to help calm the cat, and took a good look at its predicament. I tried to help it back out, go forward, no dice, and the cat cooperated, sensing I was its only hope, probably. My husband went into the barn and came out with some long handled cutters, and clipped a link out of the fence. The cat was freed, and hissed at the barking clowns and headed for a tree at 90 mph without a thank you. I haven't seen that cat in the back yard since that day. Perhaps it was embarrassed?

Dogs have a chase instinct, but my Rotts couldn't have caught a squirrel on crutches, but they ran for everything with enthusiasm. I guess I'll have to keep an eye on the two dogs I have now because they would not know what to do if an itty bitty bunny or toad turned around and stared them down, much less a squirrel, coon or cat.

In the absence of dogs for entertainment, a .22 dispatches unwanted cats rather efficiently, and is more fun than spraying chemicals. If people love their pets, they neuter or spay them and do not compromise their safety by letting them off of their own property. Responsible cat owners have nothing to fear from me, because their cats won't be in my bushes urinating, capiche?
Johanna