FREE DELIVERY ON MOST ITEMS & ALL ORDERS OVER £500 
Call Free
Call Free 
Search Blog Posts...
Installers Directory
Category Posts
Follow Us!
Best Cat Scarer - Complete Buying Guide and Review | Posh Living Magazine
Dealing with cats can be a real challenge for gardeners. On the one hand, even if you’re not a cat fan, you don’t actually want to hurt them. Apart from anything else, cats have owners and while cats do like to roam, they usually don’t roam too far, which means that their owners are probably your neighbours. On the other hand, cats cause all kinds of problems in gardens so you want a tactful way to persuade them to go (and do their business) elsewhere.
Persuading cats to leave your garden
There are a few “old-school” tactics which still work very well, especially if you use them in combination.
Anti-cat plants
Basically these are plants which give off a smell cats don’t like. Most of them smell at least passable to humans (although this does depend on taste). There are a few which smell pretty bad to most people but you might see that as a price worth paying if you really need (or want) to deter cats.
Lion dung
Yes you did read that correctly. The basic idea behind this one is that the average domestic cat gets the smell of a really big cat and decides to respect the big cat’s territory. This does tend to work very well but the problem is that it can work out very expensive to cover larger spaces and that’s before you get to the fact that it needs to be reapplied regularly to stay effective.
Rough surfaces
Cats don’t like rough surfaces so deploying anything with rough textures or spikes can be a way to deter them. This approach does, however, have its limits. Cats are very skilled at picking their way through obstacles and if they can they will. In fact they may just do it on point of principle. Where this can work very effectively is when cats have to jump as this severely limits their options.
Using cat scarers
The “new-school” way is to use cat scarers. In principle, these come in two forms. One form is ultrasonic and emits a noise cats hate, but humans can’t hear. The other form sprays jets of water, which cats hate. In practice, ultrasonic cat scarers are now by far the more popular option and hence more widely available. This is probably because they are much easier to implement.
Water-jet cat scarers can be very effective, but the need for water can cause problems in both winter (frost) and summer (water shortages). They can also be surprisingly noisy as they tend to make a loud clicking noise, which humans can hear. On the plus side, this noise on its own can be a fairly effective deterrent against cats, even when there is no water.
Cat Scarer Review
Here is our guide to the best cat scarers on the UK market. Most of the list is made up of the best ultrasonic cat scarers, but we’ve also included a couple of jet spray cat scarers, also known as infrared cat scarers (although most cat scarers are infrared these days). We’ve based our list on a combination of performance and price, in other words, overall value for money.
Editors Pick
Custom Catch Solar Powered Cat Repellent with Motion Sensor
The Custom Catch Solar Powered Cat Repellent with Motion Sensor is an effective solution for homeowners looking to keep unwelcome animals out of their gardens.
This device leverages advanced technology and user-friendly design to provide a humane, chemical-free method of animal deterrence.
Key Features:
- Solar Powered: The built-in solar panel ensures the device is always charged, providing continuous protection without the need for battery replacements.
- Easy Installation: Comes with three removable grounding stakes for quick setup in the soil, plus a hanging option for placement on trees, fences, or walls.
- Safe for Use: Emits a strong ultrasonic signal that effectively repels animals without harming them or your family, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
- Durable Construction: Crafted from high-grade ABS material and certified IP44 waterproof, it’s built to withstand adverse weather conditions.
We recently tested the Custom Catch Solar Powered Cat Repellent in our garden, a popular spot for small animals. Impressively, its motion detection sensor, with a 25-33 feet range and wide detection angle, ensured a peaceful outdoor area.
This versatile deterrent effectively repels cats, dogs, squirrels, and deer, suitable for gardens, lawns, and patios. While its discreet appearance and quiet operation are major pluses, it requires direct sunlight for optimal charging, and its efficacy might decrease in shaded areas.
Additionally, it may struggle against larger wildlife or in heavily infested areas. Despite these minor points, the Custom Catch device stands out as an exceptional, eco-friendly solution for maintaining tranquillity outdoors.
It's safe, effective, and non-intrusive, making it highly recommendable for managing unwanted animal visitors.
Runner Up
Joomouney Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent
The Joomouney Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent is a contemporary solution designed to deter unwanted animals from your garden without causing harm. It combines innovative technology with user-friendly features to offer an effective and humane animal control method.
With its dual power options—solar and USB charging—this device remains operational in various weather conditions, ensuring continuous protection for your outdoor spaces.
Key Features:
- Dual Power Options: The repellent can be charged via a solar panel or a USB cable, providing flexibility and reliability in energy sources.
- Adjustable Settings: Two buttons allow for easy adjustments of sensitivity and mode to tailor the device's operation to specific environmental needs.
- Eco-Friendly: Solar-powered functionality not only conserves energy but also reduces the need for battery use, aligning with eco-conscious values.
- Humane Repellent: Utilising ultrasonic waves and flashing LED lights, the device safely repels animals by startling them rather than harming them.
- Effective Range: It covers an effective distance of 9 meters with a 110° detection range, ensuring broad area coverage.
- Motion Detection: A built-in PIR motion sensor activates the device only when movement is detected, enhancing energy efficiency.
- Waterproof and Durable: Rated IPX4 for water resistance, it is suitable for year-round outdoor use under various weather conditions.
After we installed the Joomouney Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent in a sun-rich location, we quickly observed a remarkable reduction in the presence of small animals like cats and rodents.
The installation proved to be straightforward, offering versatility with options to mount on a wall or stake into the ground. We found the device particularly effective at repelling a range of animals, excelling especially during nighttime, which is often when most disturbances occur (as detected by our security devices).
Despite its stellar performance, there are minor caveats; on very cloudy days, the device may require occasional USB charging to maintain its effectiveness.
Nonetheless, the Joomouney Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent stands out as a robust, environmentally friendly, and humane solution. If you're looking for a top-notch deterrent that respects both wildlife and the environment, this product is definitely worth your consideration.
Best Budget
Funnaura Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent
The Funnaura Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent is a top-notch solution for deterring unwanted wildlife from your garden. Leveraging solar power and cutting-edge sensor technology, it effectively keeps pests at bay without the use of harmful chemicals.
Key Features:
- Effective Deterrent: Combines high-frequency sounds and flashing lights to repel various animals like dogs, cats, and more. Its range is effective up to 6-8 meters depending on the animal's size.
- Solar-Powered & Waterproof: Equipped with a solar panel, the device charges itself using sunlight, making it both economical and eco-friendly. Its sturdy build is designed to endure harsh weather conditions.
- Safe & Harmless: Emits ultrasonic waves ranging from 400Hz to 1000Hz, ensuring it's harmless to both humans and pets while effectively keeping pests away.
- Motion Sensor Technology: Features a sensitive motion sensor that triggers the device to act for 30-40 seconds upon detecting movement, then reverts to standby to conserve energy.
- Versatile Installation: Can be easily installed anywhere in your outdoor space, whether flat on the ground, staked into the soil, or mounted on fences and walls.
We've found the Funnaura Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent to be an exceptionally effective tool for maintaining a peaceful garden. Since installing this device, we've seen a significant decrease in unwanted animals, transforming our once frequently disturbed patio into a calm space.
The device uses solar power, making it economical and eco-friendly—a major benefit for eco-conscious users like us. It features a motion sensor that triggers ultrasonic waves and flashing lights, deterring a variety of animals safely and effectively.
This technology not only keeps pests at bay but does so harmlessly, protecting both humans and pets. Although its performance is generally excellent, it's worth noting that effectiveness can vary with the animal's size and environmental factors.
Nevertheless, the Funnaura Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent remains a reliable and humane solution for protecting outdoor spaces, making it an essential part of our garden care toolkit.
Best Ultrasonic Cat Scarers
BestCool Cat Repellent Ultrasonic Repelling PIR Sensor
Although we’ve listed this as a cat scarer, it’s actually designed to deter a variety of pests and as such it’s important to set the right frequency. Once you’ve done that, when the motion detector is triggered, this cat scarer will not only emit a sound, but also start flashing a light for extra effect (at least at night).
The fact that this cat scarer is solar powered means that, for the most part, it’s “set and forget”. There’s no worries about cables and you probably won’t need to charge the battery, but if you do there’s a USB port and cable and you can always take a powerbank out to the garden if you want to leave the cat scarer in the ground.
This cat scarer is also reliably waterproof, so you can leave it outdoors all year round without any worries.
Pestbye® Battery Operated Ultrasonic Cat Scarer
This ultrasonic cat scarer is simple but effective. When the infrared sensor detects warmth and movement, it emits a sound which is intended to deter cats (and also works on dogs and foxes). As it’s designed and sold as a cat scarer, there are no frequencies to set, you just pop in 3AA batteries and you’re good to go.
Obviously the batteries will need replaced from time to time (how long they last depends on usage) but given that AA batteries are widely sold, this is unlikely to be a problem. This cat scarer can be put in soil or mounted on a wall. It’s reliably waterproof and so can stay outdoors in all weathers.
Zonpor Ultrasonic Cat Repellent
This cat scarer is very similar to the BestCoolCat option, in fact the functionality is essentially identical. The only real difference is that this cat scarer is shaped in a way which makes it possible to mount it to a wall if you wish and there is a mounting hole for this very purpose.
Best Infrared Cat Scarers
Defenders Jet-Spray
This spray can blast up to 10 metres and has a 120-degree arc with adjustable height. Some people find that this cat scarer is still a bit too tall if you put it straight into the ground, but you can always solve this problem by putting it in at an angle. In addition to water, this cat scarer needs 2 x AA batteries.
Pest XT Jet Spray Battery Operated Motion Sensor Activated Cat Scarer
The functionality of this cat scarer is essentially the same as for the previous one, however, they are usually sold as double packs and hence might be a more economical choice if you need multiple cat scarers to cover a large area.
Cat Scarer Review
For most people, realistically ultrasonic cat scarers are likely to be the best cat scarers as they do not require a water connection. If, however, you’re really against the ultrasonic option and/or you want your cat scarer to do double-duty against certain other types of animals or even birds (notably herons if you have a garden pond), then a water-jet cat scarer could be the best cat scarer for you.
Content editor, marketer and product tester. A regular contributor for the ‘Home And Garden’ and Modern Homes Magazines, now part of a close-knit team, I oversee all the content on Posh. All roads have led to this job which I love. I get to focus on my love of interior design and health and work with a fabulous team. The role brings me a good level of freedom to my family and me and keeps me productive
SHOP THE SALE
Big Sale Event Now On
We've dropped prices on some of our leading luxury items
So you can enjoy the luxury you deserve for a whole lot less!
