I have a huge problem with stray cats, too! Three of my neighbors feed all the strays. (They put out food in their driveways.) On average, there are roughly 15-20 cats on my little 6-house cul-de-sac!
I have tried a few things, too, but none have worked.
- I used some store-bought deterrent (from PetSmart) that you scatter round your garden. This did not work.
- I have a huge pine tree in my front yard, and it drops its cones all over my front garden. The cats seem to have no problem with the pinecones.
- I use vinegar as my natural alternative to weed killer, and the cats have no problem with that.
- The cats LOVE sleeping underneath my lime tree. I know that a lime tree is perhaps not as pungent as using the cut limes or oil, but the cats sleep right next to (and on top of) the dropped, over-ripe limes.
- My next plan of attack with be putting chicken wire in my flower beds.
One of my neighbors (one who doesn't feed the cats and does not like the cats) called animal control to get rid of the cats. Animal control's solution? Sending out one trap to put in her front yard to catch the cats. One trap for 15-20 cats. My neighbor wanted me to put a trap in my front yard, too, but I refused. As much as the cats annoy me with their spraying and pooping ALL over the place, obviously three of my neighbors care about them because they feed them.
I don't mind having the cats around, I just don't want them using my front and back gardens as their personal toilet. Also, I am *severely* allergic to cats. So I have to wait a while to go near any area where they've been recently. Like when I want to tend to my lime tree (their favorite sleeping spot). Or any other gardening work I care to do around my property.