How do I keep a cat away from my yard.

I have severe allergic reactions to cats. Unfortunately one seems to like to hang out in my backyard on my patio furniture. The instant I step outside I can smell it and have had two full blown asthma attacks this week. I haven't had attacks like this since I visited my sister who had three cats at that time.

What I'd like to do is find a way to make my place seem less desirable to it. Is there a smell or something that cats hate?

The only sure fire way that I know of involves a dried out corn cob soaked in tabasco sauce and doing some really berkeleyed up things that I'm sure would land me in jail but the cat will never want to come back after that. I'd really rather not go there.

Luckily, there is a video just for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbkLjjlMV8

In reply to SkinnyG:

While hilarious it didn't seem like the cats learned to stay away in the end. Maybe I could rig it up with pepper spray instead...

Tried to come up with a snarky idea, decided to try to be helpful instead.

Cat repellents

Get a dog.

https://www.google.com/#q=bottle+of+coyote+piss

Trans_Maro wrote: Get a dog.

that's too simple and makes too much sense... i think he's looking for more of a Rube Goldberg type of device..

No pets allowed per the lease.

We had one that was irritating our dogs a while back. I got a big Rubbermaid tub and put it in the back of the car. I grabbed a bit of lunch meat and called the cat to the car, lured it in to the tub, and one the cat was in the tub, I snapped the lid on, at the lunch meat myself, and drove it over to the animal shelter.

When I got there, I wanted to make sure the cat was still alive, so I cracked the tub open and the thing rocketed out of there and started running around. A couple people sitting outside decided to busy themselves with chasing after the God forsaken thing so I let them do that while I went inside. They asked me if that was my cat and I said "No. It's YOUR cat" left my name, number, and address and, viola, no more cat problem.

Funny part is that a few days later someone sent out an email to the neighborhood asking if anyone had seen that adorable little black and white stray cat that they had been feeding on their deck. I figured discretion was appropriate in that instance.

Other than physical removal or dogs, I don't know of anyway to get rid of those things. They always seem to hang around the people that are allergic.

Trans_Maro wrote: Get a dog.

Not guaranteed to work, and can backfire completely, my dog loves cats.

If she were alive, I'd rent you my dog.

In reply to DrBoost:

That is one of my all time favorite photos. They are having such a good time!

Cats do not like strong citrus odors. If the cat likes to hang out on the lawn furniture, wipe it down with an undiluted citrus degreaser at least once a week.

EastCoastMojo wrote: In reply to DrBoost: That is one of my all time favorite photos. They are having such a good time! Cats do not like strong citrus odors. If the cat likes to hang out on the lawn furniture, wipe it down with an undiluted citrus degreaser at least once a week.

Thanks Eastcoast. And that's a good tip about the citrus. I had no idea.

SkinnyG wrote: Luckily, there is a video just for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbkLjjlMV8

Came in here to post the same thing!

In reply to EastCoastMojo:

I have some of that so that's the first thing I'll try. I've never seen the cat but there is no denying it's there.

EastCoastMojo wrote: Cats do not like strong citrus odors. If the cat likes to hang out on the lawn furniture, wipe it down with an undiluted citrus degreaser at least once a week.

This. Cats hate citrus smell. Hard part with your situation is where to put the citrus? If it's a big area, will be hard to get full coverage. It'll stay away from the direct area where the citrus is, but will walk everywhere else.

wae wrote: left my name, number, and address and, viola, no more cat problem.

Have a heart trap and take it to the shelter if you are a kind hearted soul. I know people who are less kind but I don't go in for that sort of thing.

First I'd check with the neighbors to see it they claim the cat. If so explain the situation. If not call the local Humane Society or last resort Pound. Often the HS or the Pound can you refer you to a group that rescues cats. They will come trap it and take it away to try to find it a new home.

Nick_Comstock wrote: In reply to EastCoastMojo: I have some of that so that's the first thing I'll try. I've never seen the cat but there is no denying it's there.

If you've never seen the cat, how do you know it's a cat?

Also, that's some ridiculously sensitive allergies if a cat sitting outside on furniture gives you that kind of a reaction. I'd be inclined to keep the cat off the furniture but in they yard, they are good at keeping away rodents and other things.

You could turn it into a dog. douse in gasoline, light with match. They go WOOF!

Sorry... sad joke. I don't hate cats.

I had a neighborhood cat that was into the habit of sleeping on my car. (when parked outside) Of course it did this most often after the car was freshly washed. (creating streaks-- dust marks) I placed red pepper on and around the car. (the kind you put on pizza) I figured the amount of time they spend grooming, and licking themselves, the pepper would annoy them. It worked--- I'll occasionally see a cat in my yard (until my dog scares them off) but they don't get on the car anymore.

I like cats--but am also allergic to them. I can tell immediately upon entering a home if they have a cat or not---- even extremely clean homes. I avoid them, and can never touch them--- or my head explodes. It isn't pleasant.

Graefin10 wrote: First I'd check with the neighbors to see it they claim the cat. If so explain the situation. If not call the local Humane Society or last resort Pound. Often the HS or the Pound can you refer you to a group that rescues cats. They will come trap it and take it away to try to find it a new home.

This. Someone will trap it for you so you don't have to, that way you won't have to worry about having a reaction.

I'm allergic to both cats and dogs and we have both in and out of the house. I do weekly shots, pills, eye drops, Advair, and nose spray. It works for us, and we don't have (or want) kids, so the pets are our family.

Klayfish wrote:

EastCoastMojo wrote: Cats do not like strong citrus odors. If the cat likes to hang out on the lawn furniture, wipe it down with an undiluted citrus degreaser at least once a week.

This. Cats hate citrus smell. Hard part with your situation is where to put the citrus? If it's a big area, will be hard to get full coverage. It'll stay away from the direct area where the citrus is, but will walk everywhere else.

That's funny, considering the cats we had that loved eating oranges.