Personally I would go for skunk shot, been there done that several years ago and the cats have never been back in our gardens. Not even our own cat - probably goes to the neighbours We have neighbourhood cats passing through, haven't got a big section but lots of garden.
The skunk shot is liquid, stinks to high heaven, spread it liberally, especially where your neighbour can smell it. Nasty piece of goods aren't I. but it was sprayed along under our bedroom windows too and the result was worth it.
The last two years our gardens have had very liberal coverings of horse manure and no doubt that deters them too. No where to scratch

Skunk shot sounds good - where is it available? We have one very persistent ginger tom who just won't go away, even knows how far the water reaches when I get the hose out. Sits and looks at me as if to say - OK what yer gonna do about it lady!!!

Simon actually had it in his van but I am pretty sure I have seen it in Mitre 10. I guess any gardening/hardware place would have it. As I said it does stink to high heaven but worth it. Smell doesn't last forever. Possibly about 6 "visiting" cats every day here. Next door neighbour complains like fury about deposits on his property but all we have ever had is a couple of obviously small dog ones I bet ginger is still a tom too

Hi everyone
I watched a gardening programme recently on the Living channel and there was a plant which cats just hate and keeps them away the trouble is I forgot to write the name of it down but seems a good idea and going to try to find out from the plant shops if they know about it here. A cat on the programme was put near it on the garden and couldn't get away quick enough.

The plant (and others) are mentioned here:

http://www.cat-repellant.info/html/diy-cat-deterrents.htm

That sounds good Going Grey, I looked it up and have saved it for future reference. May tell the neighbour too. Ta for that

i hate cats..... i think all gardeners do.... people who have cats have no idea what its like... cats never shit in their own back yard. i have a couple of wee dogs that chase any on sight (my place is fenced so they can only go as far as the fence). the cats then took to sitting on rooves and screeching at each other, my roof as well, so now if i see any cat sitting on any roof that my hose will reach i squirt it. its been yonks since there has been any on the rooves, but i still have to work on the tomcat that marks my boundary and makes that tomcat yowl.

My weapon of choice (against cats) is Chilli Powder, which I buy in scoopfuls from Binn Inn.

After I finish gardening I sprinkle it on the freshly dug soil. (on my vege patch and around potted plants).

My two neighbours three cats have dug my garden and pot plants up with regular monotony (as well as using my lawn as a toilet on a daily basis) so it was time to get revenge.

Within two days of my using Chilli Powder the cats stopped digging my garden up.

To deter them from using my lawn as a loo I started sprinkling the chilli powder on the top of my garden fence. They now no longer walk along the fence and jump down into my garden.

The pain to the cats is short-term. They get it on their paws (or bum if they squat too low) and when they lick it off it burns their tongue for a short time. They quickly learn where not to go.

The local vet told me this trick.

You need to wear rubber gloves if you plan to hand-sprinkle the chilli powder and avoid getting it near your eyes.

I made myself a sprinkler by drilling holes in a jar lid. Much easier to handle and store.

If it rains you need to sprinkle again, but believe me, it is worth-while doing (just to be able to walk on one's lawn without having to look where I'm treading!)

To Sandy re cats on garden: I use sheep pellets on my gardens especially veggies soak them well itseems to work and it also fertalises the soil at the same time.
Best of luck and good gardening.
Allan

Thank you Growing Grey for that chilly story.....might have to try it as my garden gets dug up daily.....don't have problem with vege garden as I have a couple of dogs that protect the bk yard but aren't able to get the monsters out the front had thought of sending my dogs to do there business on the neighbours gardens each morning and see how they feel about that