# need help with neighbor cats!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824 "2003-05-22T15:23:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![phraser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a88e4f/32.png) [@phraser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phraser)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824/21 "2003-05-24T10:02:44Z")
Bitter Apple spray or citronella oil spray are supposed to repel cats. ---
**Author:** ![herwono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9f8e36/32.png) [@herwono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herwono)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824/22 "2003-05-24T13:45:50Z")
[http://www.doctorgreenfingers.co.uk/clinic/cats.html](http://www.doctorgreenfingers.co.uk/clinic/cats.html) > [@](#): > > PRICKLY SOLUTION: Keep cats off the borders by gathering fallen holly leaves and keep hawthorn cuttings from summer and spread them around the plants and borders . > > The Bottle Trick : Ever wondered why people put bottles on there lawns? You may have been told its to keep cats away and its true. But does it work and how? First of all we must half fill a clear plastic bottle with water .( Its very important to fill half full of water. ) Put lid on and place in the middle of the lawn. If you have a big lawn then put a few about. Leave out and see if it works! Cats are suppose to be scared away by the bottle, but how you ask? It works best at night and if there a breeze. Take a light say from a street lamp, car or one of your windows. This light travels through the bottle and the water which is then reflected away like laser beams in different directions giving off little flashes. The cat sees these flashes and Zap! He’s away. There you have it so go out and try it out on your lawn. > > Spice Cats : Purchase some dry grounded chilly peppers, or ground some yourself and sprinkle over the area were you wish to keep cats off. Eastern and Persian cats maybe immune ! ---
**Author:** ![Eegba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Eegba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eegba)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824/23 "2003-05-24T15:26:08Z")
From the local SPCA’s [website](http://www.spcaec.com/departments/wildlife/wildlife.php3): > [@](#): > > SPCA BUNNY STAY-AWAY > > 1 whole Spanish onion > 1 Jalapeno pepper > 1 Tblsp. Cayenne pepper > > Chop onion and Jalapeno pepper. Mix together with Cayenne pepper and boil in 2 qts. water. Let boil 20 minutes. Let cool. Strain water through cheesecloth into container. Put Bunny Stay-Away in a squirt bottle or garden sprayer, and spray all affected areas. Spray regularly for 2 weeks, and then repeat spray every two weeks and after rain. Non-toxic to bunnies and other animals. Safe for plants and vegetables. Should work for cats too. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824/24 "2003-05-26T16:33:56Z")
I’ll second the “humane trap” idea. There’s _no reason_ you should have to work extra-hard for irresponsible pet owners (my particular city code prohibits cats “at large”). If you have to put out any type of repellents, you’re going to be doing this forever. If you have a trap and take the animals to your local animal control or equivilent, one of two things could happen: (1) the cat has tags, the owner will be called, and the owner will have to pay fines, room, and board. The owner will think twice about letting his damn cats get at your garden. (2) the irresponsibile owner was also irresponsible enough not to register his pet. Someone else will adopt the cat or it will be destroyed. In both cases, you’ve eliminated the problem, which is that _cat_. Okay, the problem is the cat owner; the cat is innocent and only doing what’s natural, and it’s the owner’s fault. I’ll concede that. But it’s illegal to trap owners and animal control won’t accept them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-with-neighbor-cats/176824.md?page=1)