BS: A problem with cats

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:26 PM

Could NOT keep the goats off of it!

A good goat'll do that!

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: GUEST,Terrier
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:51 PM

Our two cats had a phase of tyre hugging. They'd wait 'till I came home from work in the car, then they would crawl into the wheel arches and lie on the warm tyres. When the tyres cooled, the cats moved somwhere else.
The problem with cats scratching the car paintwork isn't when they climb on, but when they SLIDE OFF.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Les from Hull
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 04:59 PM

You could try any citrus essential oil, as long as that doesn't damage the paintwork, and you don't mind a lemon-scented car.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 03:44 PM

Be glad it's not goats as in the case of my ex-husband's parents. They had a 1955 Crown Victoria with the glass roof. Could NOT keep the goats off of it!

I agree with Ron, though, the cats should be kept inside away from any cars/traffic.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 03:06 PM

Anyway, maybe they won't like your new car.....

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:20 PM

Midchuck--you had Willie and Waylon, too? I used to work at a vet clinic that had Willie and Waylon the economy-sized orange tabbies, official greeters and blood donor for felines in need. Ha ha!

Cats don't need claws to jump onto cars, and leeneia is right--there's nothing for them to grab. They just leave little dusty prints.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 11:28 AM

And then of course there are the drop-bears........

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 11:08 AM

Have you ever observed scratches on a car from a cat jumping onto it?

Why would a cat put out its claws to jump onto a steel car? The cat knows its claws cannot dig in and get a purchase.

I have heard stories from mothers of newborns, telling of strange fears they felt when they brought the new baby home. One mother lay awake for hours, visualizing bugs dropping from the ceiling onto her baby. Another came home from the hospital and entered into a cleaning frenzy, to keep all germs away.

I suspect your fears about cats are something similar, only the new car replaces the new baby.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Midchuck
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:08 AM

Set up a ramp next to the car, so the cats can get up without jumping and trying to dig in their claws for purchase.

We had a fine cat named Willie, who left us too soon (his brother, Waylon, is still a family member and now Senior Cat in Charge). Willie used to climb up on a former neighbor's jeep, the same way. The neighbor complained about the paw prints.

I showed the neighbor the brand plaque over the back bumper. I said, "Look, it says 'Willys.' How can you blame him for thinking he has a right to it?"

This neighbor wasn't the sharpest tack in the box, and it took him a minute to figure out I was funnin' him.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: JennyO
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:55 AM

My cats love basking on the warm bonnet of my car, and will stay on there even after I start it up. Once I reach a certain speed reversing out, they finally reluctantly jump down.

I do find little dusty pussy paw prints on it, but I haven't noticed any scratches. I think they keep their claws pretty well tucked in. My car wasn't in pristine condition when I got it anyway, so I haven't worried too much about that kind of thing. To be honest, I'm glad it isn't new - it's a big responsibility, trying to keep a new car looking new. Other things can mark your car if it's in the driveway - twigs falling off trees, neighbourhood kids throwing balls etc, people accidentally scraping the side as they walk past etc. Failing a garage (which I assume you don't have, or the car would already be in it), I'd go with a cover.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:17 AM

Keep the cats indoors where they belong

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Scoville
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:45 AM

I'd go with car cover, or keep the car garaged if possible. I have yet to find an effective way to keep sunbathing cats off a car that isn't also unbearable to humans.

Or just learn to think kitty prints are cute.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Dazbo
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:28 AM

Scrump, apparently lion dung has the same effect (but not just on cats unfortunately), anyone got any tiger or lion dung they want rid of?

Thanks for the suggestions although I've have problems with car covers in the past so that wouldn't be my prefered solution.

Guest, the problem is not the sleeping it's the scratch marks they leave when climbing up or down that I'm trying to avoid.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: skipy
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:27 AM

It's a cats right to choose where & when it sleeps!
Dogs sold out, so they can be told when & where.
Don't you dare even think about moving your car if there is a cat on it! Regards Zimba & Charlie, trammitting through Skipy.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:25 AM

Shotgun...


















Awww, just funnin'... I loves all the kitties... If you find a solution, let me know.... I can't keep my cats off the car neither...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:14 AM

I don't understand the problem. My cat sleeps on the roof of my car quite a lot. No harm to cat or car. Let the cats be I'd say, its not the end of the world.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Scrump
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 07:51 AM

Tiger dung is supposed to be a deterrent to cats. Put some around your car to prevent them coming near it. Just be careful not to tread in it when you get in the car though :-)

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: ranger1
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 07:39 AM

Try leaving orange peels around. Cats don't like the smell.

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: kendall
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 06:40 AM

fly paper

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 04:46 AM

Water pistol. Means you have to stand guard for a while but they soon get put off. And it's such fun;-)

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 04:30 AM

Try shaking pepper around the car, they'll soon get the idea. Don't know what pepper does to car paintwork though...

Subject: RE: BS: A problem with cats
From: John O'L
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 03:17 AM

A car cover? A dog?

Subject: BS: A problem with cats
From: Dazbo
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 03:09 AM

I've recently acquired a new car and it lives on the drive outside my house. Unfortunately there are an large number of domestic cats that live in the area and they liked to sunbath on my old car. To keep the car paintwork as pristine as possible are there any ways of disuading cats from wanting to use it as a perch? Obviously these solutions should be car friendly!