How to Keep Cats Away From Squirrel Feeders

Keep cats away from squirrel feeders by installing a fenced-in enclosure around your property.

Cats are a common nuisance to squirrels. If not properly kept away from your squirrel feeders, your cat may catch and seriously harm or kill squirrels. Both feral and house cats are known to have serious impacts on populations of small mammals and birds. Use a variety tactics to successfully keep cats away from your squirrel feeders.

Things You'll Need

• Hazelnut shells
• Spray bottle
• Brackets
• Garden netting/chicken wire
• Wire
• Zip/cable ties
• Cat fence-in containment system

Instructions

1. Place hazelnut shells under the squirrel feeders. According to Backyard Bird Care, cats avoid walking on hazelnut shells because the shells are sharp. In addition to deterring cats from the feeders, hazelnut shells also last more than five years, prevent weeds and are attractive in color and appearance. Visit your local gardening store to find hazelnut shells.

2. Place water into a spray bottle and spray the cat every time it goes near the squirrel feeder(s). Cats detest water and will think twice about visiting the feeders, if they know they'll be sprayed with water as a result. Spraying your cat with water will only be an effective deterrent if the cat gets sprayed every time it goes near the feeders.

3. Keep the cat indoors or confine it to a fenced-in area outdoors, as far away from squirrel feeders as possible. Cat-proof the fence by attaching brackets at a 45-degree angle to the top portion of your fence. Stretch garden netting, chicken wire or a similar material over the brackets and secure it in place with wire or zip ties. Purchase a cat fence-in containment system from hardware and pet stores, if you don't want to build one yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep all grass, weeds and shrubs around the squirrel feeders trimmed to prevent the cat from sneaking up and catching the squirrels while they're eating.

• If you don't have the time necessary to stand guard and spray your cat every time it meanders near the feeders, install motion-activated sprinklers near the squirrel feeders. Squirrels aren't as water-shy as cats and will get used to the motion-activated sprinklers over time, yet most cats will avoid areas where motion-activated sprinklers are installed.

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Directory of Illinois Wildlife
• Backyard Bird Care: 6 Steps to Turn Your Yard into a Sanctuary for Birds