Keeping cats away

[John F]

Not catamarans!!!!  Cats as in miau, miau...

We are facing a cat infestation at our boat sheds! Yeap, cat infestation!!!

Used to be rats. Now after a few years of heavy poisoning by the Club as well as us individually, cats were introduced. In the beginning they used to be munched by the rats.

Now, they seemed to have the upper hand. Yesterday peterblace found 3 ou 4 in his shed, and they run from one shed to the other. Got some in mine as well. Spoke to people at the club... they seem to be causing lots of  all around.

Don't want to kill them. Simple keep them away form my boat.

Read that citrus oil and moth balls might be good repellents.

Anyone had similar issues? Harmless ways of getting rid of them (that don't necessary involve plastic bags or broken glass?)

[colin]

Introduce dogs 

[Rory mundy]

Don’t think there is a nice way other than having them spade,got the issue in st lucia with my boat but rather them than rats eating everything.

[FishStyx]

Introduce dogs 

Once the dogs get out of control, bring in the crocs.

[John F]

Introduce dogs 

Once the dogs get out of control, bring in the crocs.

Yeah... biological control usually brings more trouble than solutions....

Will try moth balls and take it from there...

[Plugger]

Put up owl nesting boxes.They will quickly get the rats under control and the cats will have to go elsewhere to find food.No poison no surgery.

[maganything]

Hi Marcos.


With cats they will continue to breed and the situation will get out of control.
If you trap and remove them another one will move in.
The best solution is to spay the females and release them back where you found them, but obviously by spaying them it stops them reproducing.


It takes time but eventually the population will die out.

[John F]

Put up owl nesting boxes.They will quickly get the rats under control and the cats will have to go elsewhere to find food.No poison no surgery.

Problem is they eating the scraps and leftovers from the trash bins... I'm afraid the club does not keep high levels of hygiene... there's always lot's of fish guts lying around... people come back from fishing and clean their fish right there... meaning plenty of easy food for them. They don't even need to chase rats anymore...

Hi Marcos.


With cats they will continue to breed and the situation will get out of control.
If you trap and remove them another one will move in.
The best solution is to spay the females and release them back where you found them, but obviously by spaying them it stops them reproducing.


It takes time but eventually the population will die out.

Eish... that's discouraging....   

[John F]

Don’t think there is a nice way other than having them spade,got the issue in st lucia with my boat but rather them than rats eating everything.

Agree. Better cats than rats. although their pee and poo stinks and they really mess up your shed!

[Ninja]

Howsit, the citrus oil should work. Also anything which contains lavender, citronella, peppermint, or eucalyptus. Citrus peels would also work. Spray or scatter to mark a perimeter and you should be ok.


If they leaving mess in an area you can consider putting stones or something rough down as they like to scratch and mess in loose soil.


Another option is sprinklers or water guns - cats will take the hint and leave eventually. They dont dig getting wet.


For where they pee - use an enzyme based cleaner and they will stop returning to mark the same spots.


I think one of your best options would be to block any entrance points to your shed and then try some of the above to keep them away.


Hope this helps 

[John F]

Update: looks like the moth balls are actually working... had them every where in Peterblace's and my own shed....

Haven't seen any signs of them and according to the club staff they have been seen in other sheds but not ours....

Not claiming victory but pretty happy so far....

[MichaelK]

John i have the same issue at the club i belong to.
Dont get me wrong i'm an animal lover and the cats at the club are all very tame and friendly.
My issue is with the guys feeding them left over bait, the chap who parks his boat at the club next to mine tends to do this.
Unfortunately the way my boat cover is designed, it leaves small gaps near the motors.
The cats jump up and eat their bait on my deck.
Many times ive wanted to launch early but have had to remove and clean up rotting maggot infested bait from my deck first.
To gripe about it falls on deaf ears unfortunately 

[John F]

Try moth balls... maybe it will keep them away from your boat/shed...

It's so bloody annoying...

[liquidity]

Bit of a random move, but if you have a zoo or lion sanctuary nearby, try and get hold of some lion droppings. No cat or dog will go anywhere near it. mothballs obviously a lot easier to collect....