How to keep stray cats away and your own cat safe

Guide 27 September 2026 · 2 min read

Why they come

• A litter box. Soft, dry potting soil is perfect.
• Territory. Tomcats spray to mark it, and pick fights with the cat who lives there.
• Food and shelter. Pet bowls, bird feeders, the gap under the deck.

What works

1. Cover the soil

Lay chicken wire flat on the soil and pin it down: plants grow through, paws can’t dig. In bigger beds, pine cones, river stones or coarse mulch do the same.

2. Take away food and shelter

Feed your pets indoors, move bird feeders away from the planters and close off the space under decks and sheds.

3. Wash away the smell

A sprayed spot tells every cat nearby “taken”. Flush it with plenty of water right away. On decks and tiles, use an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine.

4. Startle them, every time

In a backyard, a motion sprinkler works well: a burst of water, no harm done. Cats learn fast, so consistency matters. If every visit ends with a surprise, they move on.

A neighbour’s dog?

The same fixes stop digging. A dog running loose is a bylaw matter in most cities: talk to the owner first, then call animal services.

Keep your own cat safe

• Neuter. Neutered cats spray and fight far less.
• ID and microchip. If yours goes out, a collar tag and a chip bring it home.
• Strays nearby? A local trap-neuter-return group can neuter them, which calms the whole street over time.

What to skip

• Mothballs and poison. Toxic to cats, your pets and children.
• Predator urine. Often collected inhumanely.
• Trapping and moving them. Another cat takes the spot. Call animal services or a trap-neuter-return group instead.