How to keep cats away from semi-enclosed deck area

Guru Maith Agut

So it's not exactly a "DIY" question, but it will involve some form of DIY by me to put in place any/all suggestions... Feel free to move if this is deemed not to be a DIY problem Mods

I have made an outside room. Three walls and one open end, which I have decked and roofed (to the point of being water tight). There are a lot of moggies (other folks wandering pets and/or strays) around my area (they pester my aviary birds regularly 🙄) and I would like suggestions as to how I can keep them away from this area. I intend to leave seating out that will have seat cushions and have a large outdoor rug and possibly a few other furnishings like a pillow or two. Oh and there is a fireplace, so there will be warmth (at times of a lit fire) remaining after we vacate to go back indoors. And I know cats will love that! 😠

I don't have a dog and don't own a gun (🤠), before those suggestions are thrown about.

Basically I need to keep these nuisance pets out of my "outdoor room" so it can be enjoyed scent and animal hair free for the remainder of the summer.

All assistance welcome! 😁

olestoepoke

Ive heard of people using 2l water bottles 3/4 full of water. Not sure how effective this is. Also heard of people laying down cayenne pepper. Apparently it gets on their paws and eventually irritates their nose etc so they dont like your garden and avoid it. Again not sure how effective, or humane.

cj maxx

The only thing I can think of is to close the open end. Otherwise you'll have all sorts of animals visiting

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117617584#Comment_117617584

Fair point actually. We do get the odd fox at certain times of the year and a stray dog shows up every month or so, but he doesn't stay long and just sniffs around where all the feckin' cats have been.

speckle

Distract ...plant catnip in a sunny spot away from the deck.. have lattice doors that close over when not around to keep them out. Choose cushions wisely cat hair etc sticks to some materials more than others. plant herbs that they dont like the scent off nearer your room. train them that it is off limits repeated loud clapping of your hands consitantly until they get the message by ALL members of your household. Provide beter scratching post/branch awsy from the deck. Have an allergy free cat yourself who makes it his alone's teritortry. Have friends with both birds and cats that get on. If you dont want them in the garden at all top fences with curved rail which safely stops them walking on fences which they love... or allow them a walk way there only...remember they will take advantage of trees to jump in. Hope that is a starting point. what sort of birds? Do they get to fly about outside in the room and you are worried? Must route out photage of my cats when younger feeding beside our houses family of crows!🐓🐱

HeidiHeidi

I'd say if you had a webcam you'd be amazed at the variety of visitors you'll have!

I'd recommend building a large box that you can toss all soft furnishings into at night - quite apart from the odd cat (or more..... ahem, exotic...... animals) having a kip, stuff will be destroyed with damp after a while with the dew of early mornings. Then you can occasionally clean down the hard furniture.

Room sounds fab, btw - any pics???

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117617643#Comment_117617643

No the birds are further away from the area in question. Its a large site so special fencing just to keep other folks cats away is a non starter. I am also somewhat allergic to pet hair as it causes severe sneezing and wheezing so keeping them out totally is the ideal scenario. Trees to jump on and other treats to keep the cats away from this area sounds like a lot of effort given the size of our site. I'm not looking to make a cat sanctuary. More like kittie hell! 😂

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117617676#Comment_117617676

I'll stick a few up tomorrow. It's still a work in progress. ☺️

Roof to go on early next week. Then I have to add some patio slabs around fire area. Fire bricks need to be put in etc etc etc

There's a LONG list to get it ready for the end of July (fingers crossed).

FishOnABike

A fourth wall?

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117617803#Comment_117617803

🤣

It just might come to that dude. lol

ozmo

Would love do exactly this / please post photos when you can - especially roof :)

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117617836#Comment_117617836

Will do. I'll stick a few pics up later today.

Lumen

How about some rope netting as a curtain for the open side? You'd presumably need to have it tightly enough anchored to stop them ducking around it. Might not need to be very tall as I don't think cats like climbing this sort of thing (although they love curtains, so maybe I'm wrong).

This sort of thing.

Guru Maith Agut

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117630759#Comment_117630759

I like the look of that actually. Would be perfect for hanging and attaching to some fixings along the wooden base structure. Nice find! 👍️