# Cats on cars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800 "2008-09-09T16:54:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/1 "2008-09-09T16:54:14Z")
Anybody have any clever/practical ideas on how to dissuade cats from climbing up on cars and scratching the paint? A friend of mine recently moved into a neighborhood and the neighborhood cats like to get onto her black car, and leave trails of claw marks when they slide down off of it. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/2 "2008-09-09T18:12:59Z")
[Obligatory cat-on-car picture](http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/sassycme/210.jpg) (not my cat, not my car) ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/3 "2008-09-09T18:36:17Z")
Ugh, the car-guy in me cringes when he thinks of cat claws on dark paint! ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/4 "2008-09-09T18:40:05Z")
assuming a garage is not available, I’ve seen car covers in catalogues ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/5 "2008-09-09T18:43:24Z")
Yeah, a car cover works fairly well. But it’s a bit of a pain, especially if you come and go several times a day. ---
**Author:** ![ashenRiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/65b543/32.png) [@ashenRiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ashenRiot)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/6 "2008-09-09T19:15:13Z")
I also would like to know if anyone has any ideas other than a car cover… My neighbor’s outdoor orange tabby uses my convertible’s black cloth top for a hammock every freakin’ night. Unpacking/putting on and taking off/stowing a cover would take a lot more time than just passing a lint roller over the roof every day or two. It’s really annoying though… ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/7 "2008-09-09T21:15:23Z")
How about a really sensitive car alarm for a few days? That would discourage almost any cat I can think of… ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/8 "2008-09-09T21:47:00Z")
Catch them napping and then: a. Squirt 'em with the garden hose. b. Hit the panic button on the keyless entry. I love cats, btw. Neither of these would cause any lasting harm and they’ll both create a pretty lasting impression on even the densest, most stubborn cat. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/9 "2008-09-09T22:30:12Z")
I love cats too but they can be really stubborn. They truly think we are here to serve them. And the reason they often lay on car hoods is for the warmth of the engine. I’d suggest a paintball gun but you’d have to watch the car 24/7. It needs to be something that works by itself. They make scat mats that shock cats when they jump up on them. Would require a cord to the car. [Here](http://www.ehow.com/how_4471883_keep-cats-away-car.html) is a list of suggestions from the net. They include a sonic alarm and the use of citrus smelling wax. Then there is this [cat repellent](http://www.critter-repellent.com/cats/test/cats-test-car.php). ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/10 "2008-09-09T23:59:26Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’d suggest a paintball gun but you’d have to watch the car 24/7. It needs to be something that works by itself. I’m sure that you’re joking but a paintball gun will seriously injure or kill a cat. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/11 "2008-09-10T00:31:01Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I love cats too but they can be really stubborn. They truly think we are here to serve them. And the reason they often lay on car hoods is for the warmth of the engine. > > I’d suggest a paintball gun but you’d have to watch the car 24/7. It needs to be something that works by itself. > > They make scat mats that shock cats when they jump up on them. Would require a cord to the car. > > [Here](http://www.ehow.com/how_4471883_keep-cats-away-car.html) is a list of suggestions from the net. They include a sonic alarm and the use of citrus smelling wax. Then there is this [cat repellent](http://www.critter-repellent.com/cats/test/cats-test-car.php). Thanks for the list. I’m thinking car cover will be the simplest suggestion. I’ll have her try the panic button too. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-on-cars/462800/12 "2008-09-10T01:16:45Z")
Since it’s black I think a coating of Black Jack roofing sealer would keep them off, or stuck if the cats are stupid. Take all the cats to the pound that people let roam.