# Stopping cat poop **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200 "2002-03-14T03:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/1 "2002-03-14T03:49:51Z")
I am trying to find a way to stop neighborhood cats from using a flower bed by my front door as a bathroom. Any suggestions? I don’t want to hurt them; just make my flower bed an unappealing outhouse. Justin’s wife ---
**Author:** ![cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/2 "2002-03-14T05:35:36Z")
A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting my parents and I saw my dad dusting his flowerbed with ground _cayenne pepper_. I didn’t ask him about it. I just assumed it meant he was getting senile. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/3 "2002-03-14T06:19:31Z")
I had this problem once-- someone recommended coyote pee, which apparently some garden stores stock for this very reason. I, though, being cheap, tried to use homemade pungee sticks and a ground cover of juniper swags. I don’t think it worked. You might call a garden supply and ask about the wild doggie piss. ---
**Author:** ![Theobroma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@Theobroma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theobroma)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/4 "2002-03-14T09:15:59Z")
You might try a citrus spray on those flowers. Cats don’t like the smell. They sell it at fine pet stores everywhere (including Petsmart) Or, try catching the cat in the act, and spraying it with the hose. That oughtta work! ---
**Author:** ![LiquidLobotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/898d66/32.png) [@LiquidLobotomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiquidLobotomy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/5 "2002-03-14T14:15:01Z")
A BB gun is quite effective… 😃 You need to either catch it in the act, or set up a trap to catch it. ---
**Author:** ![Dilbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Dilbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilbert)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/6 "2002-03-14T14:29:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LiquidLobotomy \* > \*\*A BB gun is quite effective… > \*\* at getting you slapped with a lawsuit to pay for the vet bills for the cat. ---
**Author:** ![Paxil30](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@Paxil30](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paxil30)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/7 "2002-03-14T14:38:19Z")
A spray called ‘Repel’ works. You can buy it in most pet areas. So does sprinkling around lemon juice. My cats are all inside cats, because here we have laws about unleashed animals running free and because I love my cats and don’t want them turned into road kill or savaged by some stupid dog. ---
**Author:** ![LiquidLobotomy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/898d66/32.png) [@LiquidLobotomy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiquidLobotomy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/8 "2002-03-14T15:27:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dilbert \* > \*\* > > at getting you slapped with a lawsuit to pay for the vet bills for the cat. \*\* I was just kidding:D ---
**Author:** ![Dilbert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58f4c7/32.png) [@Dilbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dilbert)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/9 "2002-03-14T15:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LiquidLobotomy \* > \*\*I was just kidding:D \*\* I figured you were, but I decided to add some reality to your statement anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Alexxandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/278dde/32.png) [@Alexxandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexxandra)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/10 "2002-03-14T16:23:52Z")
My Dad has a huge beautifully manicured back yard with herb, veggie, and flower gardens. Roaming cats were a BIG problem, were destroying his plants, shitting in the beds, and spraying his patio furniture on a daily basis. He tried everything - commercial repellants, mothballs, hosing the little buggers, you name it. Finally, the last resort: a low powered wire that runs across the top of his fence, that gives said cat a mild buzz if it jumps on the fence to get in. They have never had a cat in their yard since. I know that it sounds mean, but it’s not a big enough voltage to harm them, just to scare the heck out of them. I AM curious about the legality of it. Just FYI, I’m a cat owner, and I’m not condoning harming cats. I don’t think they should roam free and be allowed to destoy other people’s property. ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2002, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/11 "2002-03-14T18:26:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by capybara \* > \*\*I had this problem once-- someone recommended coyote pee, which apparently some garden stores stock for this very reason. I, though, being cheap, tried to use homemade pungee sticks and a ground cover of juniper swags. I don’t think it worked. You might call a garden supply and ask about the wild doggie piss. \*\* Hmm. Sounds like fun for parties, too! Kidding. Mostly. My local garden store was less than helpful. I’ll try going down to Eugene, seeing as they are more Earth-friendly and all. Thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/12 "2002-03-15T02:59:45Z")
I found something at Home Depot a few years ago, for the same thing, roaming cats pooping in my flower beds. It was dried cougar (?) poop. It was big flakes, sorta like fish food flakes, but much bigger. You just sprinkle it around the flower beds. Something about it says, “Big cat was here, stay away.” It worked like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stopping-cat-poop/98200/13 "2002-03-15T14:30:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > \*\* > It was dried cougar (?) poop. It was big flakes, sorta like fish food flakes, but much bigger. You just sprinkle it around the flower beds. > Something about it says, “Big cat was here, stay away.” > It worked like a charm. \*\* a real cougar is even more effective - though I suppose that you then have to deal with cougar poop. Sigh!