The skewer-like rods can cause injury to soft kitty paws. This type of spike does tend to be sharp, as it is meant to replicate thornbush and is intended for use with birds only. These are typically made of thin skewer-like metal rods meant to deter birds, such as pigeons and crows, from landing on a fence or building ledge. Bird spikes in particular are commonly used with cats. When considering the other options for keeping cats off fencing, and out of flower gardens and other areas, a third option is other various versions of spikes designed for other animals such as fox spikes, squirrel spikes, chicken spikes, and bird spikes. The laws, rules, and regulations regarding the use of cat spikes vary from one location to another, so it’s always best practice to check with your local regulatory authorities before installing these types of deterrents. This ultimately reduces the effectiveness significantly over time for the majority of cats. Interestingly, many of those cats who avoid the cat spikes initially, will slowly get used to the spikes and become less bothered by them. For just about every cat that cannot stand the feeling of the spikes under their feet and will avoid the cat-proofed area altogether, there is another cat who is completely unbothered by walking on cat spikes or scat mats - or perhaps they are just too stubborn to be discouraged! For these cats, the rate of effectiveness drops to essentially zero. As you may surely know, all cats are different and have unique personalities. The most commonly cited issue is that the spikes don’t bother or deter cats. The plastic spines feel strange under the cat’s feet and should prevent them from exploring these areas deemed “forbidden.”īased on our analysis of thousands of product reviews from various retailers, the consensus is that most cat spike products are effective on approximately 50-60% of cats. Scat mats can also be lined up on a countertop or table to prevent a cat from jumping up and making themselves comfortable. The mat covers the ground so the cat is not able to dig or do their business comfortably. For example, a scat mat can be placed in a garden where a neighborhood cat prefers to use the bathroom. A scat mat is capable of covering a much larger space both outdoors and indoors. Scat mats are larger and made with a series of small plastic spines (think: the underside of a plastic desk chair mat, enlarged). “Scat mats”: These are similar to cone spikes in utility but have a slightly different design.Each strip of spikes can be secured to a variety of surfaces from concrete to metal and wood, and easily cut to specific lengths making their applications quite versatile. The spikes have a blunt tip design so they don’t harm the cat, but do make the surface uncomfortable and difficult to walk on. “Cone” spikes: This option features a strip of material with a series of plastic or rubber cone-shaped spikes attached.While the term “cat spikes” may conjure up images of sharp metal points that could harm cats or other animals, they are actually most often made of plastic or rubber. In theory, this should prevent them from walking over the spikes into areas where they shouldn’t be. Some cat owners may even place them indoors in areas like countertops and furniture to show their cats that these areas should be avoided.Ĭat spikes are designed to create a physical barrier that is unpleasant for cats to step foot on. Others may place cat spikes on the ground to prevent digging or in more specific areas where they don’t want roaming paws to enter, such as underneath bird feeders, inside flower beds, or around vegetables. Some people may line the tops of their fences with cat spikes in an attempt to prevent cats from climbing into their yard entirely. One common solution that people turn to for keeping cats out of their garden or other areas of their yard is cat spikes. However, these solutions typically work to keep cats safely contained inside a designated space rather than deter them from entering a specific area. There are several cat containment solutions available from cat fencing to cat rollers, and even catios. Cats are naturally curious and when allowed to roam freely outdoors most domestic cats explore as far as about a quarter-mile away from their home, although there are reports of some cats traveling as far as two miles ! Generally preferring to explore their own neighborhoods, cats climb trees and hunt in wooded areas nearby, hang out with other neighborhood cats, and most certainly explore their neighbors’ yards and gardens - even though some neighbors may not care for cats wandering in their yards.
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