Subject: [Tweeters] Cat in my yard: sprinkler
Date: May 8 16:30:10 2006
From: pam2who at juno.com - pam2who at juno.com


I've had experience with the motion detector Scarecrow Sprinkler. It keeps just about everything away from the area you point it at. I especially like it for keeping deer out of the garden, but I think it would be great for keeping cats away from the birdfeeding area, as long as it's an open enough area that they couldn't just hide behind a shrub to avoid getting squirted. The biggest problem I have with it is remembering to turn it off before I walk in front of it (but it's very entertaining when it happens to someone else!). You can adjust the sensitivity so birds wouldn't set the thing off.

Other ideas:
1.I'm told that putting a mulch of hazelnut shells under the feeders discourages cats since it's uncomfortable to walk on. Plastic forks buried with tines up will do that too.
2.a low fence around the feeding area will create a barrier that the cat has to jump over, slowing it down enough for the birds to fly off.
3. Coyote urine granules circling your yard. Shake-Away makes one that is rain-resistant
4. The same people that make the scarecrow sprinkler (contech) makes a product called CatStop, which emits a sound that cats hate (that we can't hear) when a cat enters the area. (also motion-activated)

Pam Parrish
The Wild Bird
Poulsbo, WA