Cat sitting on neighbours car

Kiith · 17-08-2020 12:40pm #1

Anyone have any advice on how to stop out cats from sitting on our neighbours cars? He's outdoors a fair bit, and we've seen him do it a bit, but didn't realise he might be scratching the car till we talked to our neighbour this morning. She's being great about it, but asked if we could stop him from doing it.

Googling it seems to be hit and miss, with some people suggesting a cat repellent spray might work. Not sure i'd fancy spraying it on their car, but maybe i could give it to them to do? Keeping him inside would do it, but he goes a bit mental if we try that, as he's always been an outdoor cat.

StillThinking · 17-08-2020 5:56pm

I throw water on my cat when he's doing something he's not supposed to be doing. I have said that before here and was told I'm psychological scarring my cat but I figure him getting a bit wet is a better option than chemicals.

Sardonicat · 17-08-2020 6:06pm

StillThinking wrote: »

I throw water on my cat when he's doing something he's not supposed to be doing. I have said that before here and was told I'm psychological scarring my cat but I figure him getting a bit wet is a better option than chemicals.

I'm a life long cat owner and this is the method I use if there's a fight between one of mine and another local cat. A water pistol. You don't even have to spray it on the cat, just near it. One squirt should shift it fairly nifty. If you get one for the neighbour and tell her to use it whenever she sees the cat on the car and the cat will soon get sick of it. I have to say I find it a bit strange that a cat could be scratching a car's paintwork. The claws are retracted when just moving about normally and looking for a place to perch/snooze and they wouldnt try to sharpen their claws on a smooth surface. Still, it's your neighbour's car and if she doesn't want a cat sitting on it then so be it.

ronivek · 17-08-2020 6:20pm

If there are any scratches they're likely to be only in the surface layer of clear coat; and would be fairly easy to buff out with a relatively cheap scratch repair kit.

More likely it's just marks in the surface dirt which coats the car; or dirt from the cats paws directly which will wipe away.

greasepalm · 17-08-2020 6:22pm

Do the clear bottles of water work against cats or is just birds?

FHFM50 · 17-08-2020 6:46pm

Cats usually sit underneath cars.

This is an unusual cat.

phormium · 17-08-2020 7:57pm

My cat has a habit of jumping up and sitting on bonnet or roof of my car, fine few years ago when I had an ancient old car but then I bought a new one and didn't want her doing it, I bought a water sprayer thingy that was battery and sensor operated, mind you though you do have to attach a water hose to it so I stuck the spike in the grass beside car and if she walked near it the water sprayed back and forth and she ran. It worked great until the frost burst it, I should have taken it in!

I got it online but I saw them in Mr. Price earlier this year. If there is a water hose nearby that can be attached then it is a very effective solution.

Kiith · 17-08-2020 8:04pm

Cheers folks, might try the water gun. I doubt it's much of a mark, but its a new car so i understand why they are concerned. And i think it's only when they try to move him that his claws might be an issue.

FHFM50 wrote: »

This is an unusual cat.

You have no idea :pac:

phormium · 17-08-2020 8:36pm

Cats love to sit on bonnets because they can be lovely and warm if the car has just parked up.

florawest · 17-08-2020 9:10pm

FHFM50 wrote: »

Cats usually sit underneath cars.

This is an unusual cat.

No one of our cats sits on the roof of our car too.

Sardonicat · 17-08-2020 9:29pm

greasepalm wrote: »

Do the clear bottles of water work against cats or is just birds?

You mean to stand them up around the place? Not a good idea - they'll just spray them to mark them off as their territory. You really don't want that stink.

OP, you mentioned the claws come out when your neighbour tries to move the cat. Is she actually lifting or gently pushing the cat off? If the claws are coming out the cat is being defensive and feeling threatened.even if your neighbour is trying to be gentle with the cat and trying not to frighten it. Simply clapping her hands could get the cat off the car. It won't hurt or traumatise the cat and is even easier than the water pistol.

endacl · 17-08-2020 9:33pm

Kiith wrote: »

Anyone have any advice on how to stop out cats from sitting on our neighbours cars?

Easy. There are no indoor cars. If your cat is causing your neighbour trouble, keep it indoors.

Dubl07 · 18-08-2020 2:12pm

Keep your neighbour supplied with Dreamies. A rattle of the packet and thrown treats will get the cat off in seconds. It's reactive rather than proactive, but was often the only way I could get my neighbour's cat out of my car or off the roof. She loved to bask on the parcel shelf or roof in summer and on the warm bonnet in winter.

Graces7 · 19-08-2020 5:04pm

Dubl07 wrote: »

Keep your neighbour supplied with Dreamies. A rattle of the packet and thrown treats will get the cat off in seconds. It's reactive rather than proactive, but was often the only way I could get my neighbour's cat out of my car or off the roof. She loved to bask on the parcel shelf or roof in summer and on the warm bonnet in winter.

My cats are more than capable of working out that if they sit on a car they get treats.. Water pistol = aversion therapy. Pretty soon you will not even have to use it, just wave it around,,;)

scilover · 21-08-2020 2:24am

Kiith wrote: »

Anyone have any advice on how to stop out cats from sitting on our neighbours cars? He's outdoors a fair bit, and we've seen him do it a bit, but didn't realise he might be scratching the car till we talked to our neighbour this morning. She's being great about it, but asked if we could stop him from doing it.

Googling it seems to be hit and miss, with some people suggesting a cat repellent spray might work. Not sure i'd fancy spraying it on their car, but maybe i could give it to them to do? Keeping him inside would do it, but he goes a bit mental if we try that, as he's always been an outdoor cat.

cat repellent also a good choice. Spray it to places you don't want your cat to be. Then, they wont be there.

Dubl07 · 21-08-2020 9:14am

Graces7 wrote: »

My cats are more than capable of working out that if they sit on a car they get treats.. Water pistol = aversion therapy. Pretty soon you will not even have to use it, just wave it around,,;)

I just couldn't wave a weapon at a cat. She actually behaved fairly fast, and didn't tend to do it nearly as much. I was very fond of her.

Del2005 · 21-08-2020 9:21am

scilover wrote: »

cat repellent also a good choice. Spray it to places you don't want your cat to be. Then, they wont be there.

Most likely do more damage to the car than the cat sitting on it, modern paint is crap for protection of the vehicle but good for the environment and any seals could be damaged. Water will do no harm to a car or cat.

Feisar · 21-08-2020 9:32am

scilover wrote: »

cat repellent also a good choice. Spray it to places you don't want your cat to be. Then, they wont be there.

Does cat repellent work? Neighbors cats are sh!tting in my garden and now the wee lad is more out and about I need rid of them.

Dubl07 · 21-08-2020 10:00am

Feisar wrote: »

Does cat repellent work? Neighbors cats are sh!tting in my garden and now the wee lad is more out and about I need rid of them.

I'd be concerned about the chemicals in repellents with a small child. Try putting down fine chicken-wire and gravel on the bare soil areas unless you want to grow veg. Or fill your coffee grinder with peppercorns and sprinkle that everywhere. Otherwise, cats don't like to go in their own area, so make your garden the cats' garden too. Treats and praise and cuddles and a few nepeta plants. A water bowl of some kind.

tk123 · 21-08-2020 11:30am

These were a godsend for us when our neighbours cats were pooing in our garden :
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FXSU2WK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Graces7 · 21-08-2020 12:01pm

Dubl07 wrote: »

I just couldn't wave a weapon at a cat. She actually behaved fairly fast, and didn't tend to do it nearly as much. I was very fond of her.

I never thought of it as a weapon! A reasoning tool. And as you say they learn fast. Many years though since I needed to do that and I no longer have a car. Mine have overgrown fields on every side and never need to use my garden. As I have six..

NB the wire netting is perfect on beds. Another aversion therapy tool.

And I would never use chemicals

I love my cats dearly but we do share a space so some rules are needed.

Feisar · 21-08-2020 12:19pm

Thanks for those suggestions, unfortunately it is going to be by hook or by crook. All going well the coaxing methods work.

bejeezus · 11-08-2023 6:55pm

My cats are divas and there’s no way I’d spray them with water. Seems a little cruel in fact. My cat regularly chills on my car, but it is twenty years old. The car! My cats are twelve.