Cat deterrent advice in Exeter
Professional cat deterrent advice services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Practical, honest advice about keeping cats out of your garden. I'll assess your space, tell you what actually works, and recommend solutions you can buy locally - no magic fixes, just real options worth trying.
The Reality Check You Need
Let's be honest: there's no perfect cat deterrent. Anyone selling you a guaranteed solution is talking rubbish. Cats are intelligent, persistent, and they don't read the instructions on deterrent packaging.
But that doesn't mean you're helpless.
💡 Pro tip: The best approach combines multiple deterrents - cats learn to avoid one method but struggle when you layer several together.
What This Visit Gets You
| ✅ Honest Assessment | ❌ Magic Solutions |
|---|---|
| Walk through your problem areas | Promise to banish all cats forever |
| Discuss what you've already tried | Sell you expensive gimmicks |
| Recommend practical next steps | Give you one-size-fits-all advice |
| Suggest where to buy locally | Leave you to figure it out alone |
This isn't a sales pitch. It's genuine advice from someone who's seen what works in real Devon gardens and what's a waste of money.
What We'll Cover
🔍 Garden Assessment
I look at:
- Where cats are actually entering
- Why they're attracted to your beds
- Which areas are being used as toilets
- What physical barriers might work
- Whether your soil type matters (it does)
💡 Practical Solutions Discussed
| Method | Effectiveness | Reality Check |
|---|---|---|
| Motion-activated sprinklers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Actually work, but need power/water |
| Prickly plant borders | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Effective barrier but takes time to grow |
| Chicken wire under soil | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Works great, looks awful |
| Ultrasonic devices | ⭐⭐ | Hit and miss, cats adapt |
| Scent deterrents | ⭐⭐ | Need constant reapplication |
| Coffee grounds/citrus | ⭐ | Cheap to try, rarely effective |
🛒 Where to Buy
I'll tell you which products are stocked at local Exeter/Devon garden centres and which ones you'll need to order. No point recommending stuff you can't actually get.
Common Exeter Garden Scenarios
Raised beds getting dug up? Wire mesh laid under mulch stops digging without ruining the look.
Cats using borders as toilets? Dense prickly groundcover makes the area uncomfortable. Takes a season to establish but lasts years.
Neighbour's cat has a favourite spot? Motion sprinkler aimed at that specific area. Works brilliantly, annoys the cat, doesn't annoy you.
Newly planted beds being disturbed? Temporary chicken wire until plants establish. Looks crap for 6 weeks but actually works.
Pricing
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Garden assessment & advice | 1 hr | £60 |
If you want help installing deterrents (planting prickly borders, laying wire, setting up sprinklers), that's quoted separately based on the work involved.
Good For Devon Gardens Because...
✅ Honest about local availability - I know what's in stock at Exeter garden centres
✅ Realistic expectations - Devon has a lot of cats, you won't stop them all
✅ Weather-appropriate advice - some deterrents don't work in wet winters
✅ Neighbour-friendly - humane solutions that won't cause disputes
Why Choose Us for Cat deterrent advice in Exeter?
Practical advice on what actually works
Garden assessment for problem areas
Product recommendations you can actually buy locally
Humane solutions that respect your neighbours
What to Expect
Step 1: Walk the Garden
We tour your garden together. You show me where the problems are, I look at entry points and favourite spots.
Step 2: Discuss What You've Tried
No point recommending something you've already proven doesn't work in your garden. I want to know what you've tested.
Step 3: Practical Recommendations
I suggest 3-4 approaches worth trying, explain why each might work for your situation, and tell you where to buy them. You decide what's worth the effort.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tackle this yourself? Here's what actually works:
🌿 Plant-based deterrents
- Coleus canina (scaredy cat plant) - smells awful to cats
- Roses, berberis, holly planted densely
- Rosemary and lavender borders (cats dislike strong scents)
- Thick groundcover like hardy geraniums (nowhere to dig)
🔧 Physical barriers
- Chicken wire laid under 2-3cm of mulch (invisible but effective)
- Bamboo canes pushed into soil at awkward angles
- Stone mulch instead of soft compost (uncomfortable to walk on)
- Raised beds with overhanging edges (cats won't jump blind)
💦 Repellents worth trying
- Motion-activated sprinkler (expensive but effective)
- Citrus peel buried in problem areas (cheap, worth a try)
- Lion dung pellets (sounds mad, sometimes works)
- Chilli powder mixed with soil (reapply after rain)
⚠️ What doesn't work
- Ultrasonic devices (cats adapt within weeks)
- Plastic bottle "scarecrows" (myth)
- Human hair clippings (old wives' tale)
- Yelling at the cat (they don't care)
💡 Pro trick: Attack the problem from multiple angles. One prickly border won't stop a determined cat, but prickly borders PLUS stone mulch PLUS occasional citrus peel makes your garden less appealing than next door's. Cats are lazy - they'll pick easier territory.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🐱 Neighbour relations: This is sensitive. You can't stop people's pets going outside, and most cat owners genuinely don't realise their moggy is destroying your dahlias. Deterrents are about making your garden less attractive, not declaring war.
Not all methods work in all gardens. Dense Victorian terraces with interconnected gardens need different approaches than rural properties with visible boundaries.
Seasonal variations matter. Cats are more active in spring/summer when they're using gardens as toilets. Winter problems are usually about shelter-seeking.
Some cats are just persistent bastards. If you've got a really determined regular visitor, layered deterrents are your only option.
Call and we'll work out what's actually worth trying for your specific garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually works to keep cats out?
Honestly? Nothing works 100%. Cats are clever. But motion-activated sprinklers work reasonably well, as do prickly plant borders (roses, holly, berberis). Ultrasonic deterrents get mixed reviews. Physical barriers like chicken wire over soil work but look rubbish. I'll walk your garden and suggest what's worth trying for your specific setup.
Can you install deterrents or is this just advice?
This is advice - I'll tell you what's worth trying and where to buy it. If you want help installing something physical (like buried chicken wire or prickly borders), that's a separate job but I can absolutely do that too.
Will you tell me to just accept it?
No - if cats are ruining your beds or using them as a toilet, that's legitimately annoying. I'll give you practical options. Some are cheap to try (citrus peel, coffee grounds), some need investment (motion sprinklers). You decide what's worth the effort for your situation.
Do cat deterrents work on foxes too?
Some do, some don't. Motion sprinklers work on foxes. Ultrasonic devices are hit and miss. Physical barriers work on both. If you've got fox problems as well as cats, I'll suggest solutions that tackle both.
How long does the advice visit take?
Usually about an hour. I walk your garden, look at problem areas, discuss what you've already tried, then suggest practical next steps. You get honest advice about what's worth the money and what's probably a waste of time.
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Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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