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.

Reviewed by Jeff Ellis, Posh.co.uk's resident tradesman and fully qualified joiner. With decades of hands-on experience on building sites and in gardens, Jeff specializes in evaluating outdoor deterrent systems for professional-grade durability and real-world trade use.

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.

How We Evaluate Cat Scarers

Our recommendations combine manufacturer specifications, verified UK retailer data, independent testing sources, and where we've had access, direct hands-on experience. We focus on the factors that matter most for effective, humane cat deterrence in UK gardens.

What We Look For

• Performance & reliability: Detection range and angle, deterrent effectiveness across different species, consistency in various weather conditions, and reported success rates against habituated animals
• Build quality: Materials and construction standards, waterproofing (IP ratings), durability in year-round UK weather, and expected operational lifespan
• Ease of use: Setup and installation options, operational simplicity, maintenance requirements (battery changes, solar charging efficiency), and adjustability for different pest types
• Value: Features and performance relative to typical UK pricing, running costs (batteries, power consumption), and coverage area per unit
• Safety: Humane operation that deters without harm, compliance with animal welfare standards, and absence of known safety issues for pets or humans

Note: Where exact measurements aren't available from manufacturers, we provide clearly marked estimates based on typical specifications for similar devices. We never list live prices—our focus is on function, features, and value for real-world UK garden use.

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

Runner Up

Joomouney Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent

Best Budget

Funnaura Ultrasonic Solar Cat Repellent

Best Ultrasonic Cat Scarers

BestCool Cat Repellent Ultrasonic Repelling PIR Sensor

Best for: Gardeners needing adjustable frequency for multiple pests and USB backup

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).

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Adjustable frequency for multiple species
• Solar + USB charging flexibility
• Ultrasonic + LED flash for double deterrent
• Low-maintenance, weatherproof construction

Cons:

• Setup required for frequency adjustment
• No explicit range stated by manufacturer
• No on/off switch (must remove batteries/adjust dial)

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Power Source	Solar with USB backup
Detection Range	Approx. 8–10 metres (est.)
Detection Angle	Not specified by manufacturer
Coverage Area	Approx. 25–35 m²
Deterrent Method	Ultrasonic + LED flash
Waterproof Rating	Weatherproof
Frequency Adjustable	Yes
Installation Options	Stake or wall mount
Target Animals	Cats, dogs, foxes, rodents
Maintenance Level	Low
Seasonal Effectiveness	High with USB backup

Detection range estimated based on typical specifications for similar devices. Manufacturer does not publish exact range.

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

Best for: Simple install, no-solar, renters or low-maintenance users

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Plug-and-play, no setup or frequency adjustment
• PIR motion sensor maximizes battery life
• Waterproof; can be wall or ground-mounted
• AA batteries easy to source

Cons:

• Requires battery replacement every 2–4 months
• No frequency adjustment for specific pests
• Battery compartment design not tool-free

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Power Source	3 x AA batteries
Detection Range	Approx. 8–12 metres
Detection Angle	Not specified by manufacturer
Coverage Area	Approx. 25–40 m²
Deterrent Method	Ultrasonic, fixed frequency
Waterproof Rating	IP44
Frequency Adjustable	No
Installation Options	Stake or wall mount
Target Animals	Cats, dogs, foxes
Maintenance Level	Medium (battery replacement)
Seasonal Effectiveness	Consistent year-round

Battery life varies based on activation frequency. Higher activity areas require more frequent replacement.

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

Best for: Gardeners needing wall-mounting, value solar repellent with fixed frequency

This cat scarer is very similar to the BestCool 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.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Wall-mount design offers extra flexibility
• Solar-powered eliminates battery costs
• Motion-activated, energy saving

Cons:

• Quality varies by batch; limited support
• Solar only; weak in winter/cloud
• Effectiveness reported inconsistent in some batches

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Power Source	Solar-powered
Detection Range	Approx. 8–10 metres (est.)
Detection Angle	Not specified by manufacturer
Coverage Area	Approx. 25–35 m²
Deterrent Method	Ultrasonic + LED flash
Waterproof Rating	Weatherproof (not IP rated)
Frequency Adjustable	No
Installation Options	Wall mount or stake
Target Animals	Cats, dogs, foxes, rodents
Maintenance Level	Low
Seasonal Effectiveness	Reduced in winter

Note: Some batches have shown inconsistent performance. Purchase only from retailers with easy return policies.

Best Infrared Cat Scarers

Defenders Jet-Spray

Best for: Large gardens/ponds needing physical water deterrent against persistent animals

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• 10m spray with 120° arc covers 100+ m²
• Physical water shock deters persistent wildlife
• Customisable sensitivity/detection area
• Independent of daylight/solar

Cons:

• Requires mains water and hose connection
• Draining needed in winter; risk of freeze damage
• Noisy operation can be audible to humans

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Power Source	2 x AA batteries
Detection Range	0–10 metres (adjustable)
Detection Angle	120°
Coverage Area	100+ m²
Deterrent Method	Water jet spray
Waterproof Rating	Encapsulated; not for freezing conditions
Frequency Adjustable	N/A (water spray)
Installation Options	Ground stake; hose connection required
Target Animals	Cats, foxes, herons, deer, birds
Maintenance Level	High (winter draining required)
Seasonal Effectiveness	Not suitable for winter use

Must be drained and stored indoors during freezing conditions to prevent damage. Requires continuous hose connection.

Pest XT Jet Spray Battery Operated Motion Sensor Activated Cat Scarer

Best for: Economical double pack for multi-area protection/larger gardens

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.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Usually sold as double pack: economical for large gardens
• Identical performance to Defenders Jet-Spray
• Bulk pricing for multiple units

Cons:

• Requires hose and winter draining
• Double pack may be overkill for small gardens

Key Specifications

Specification	Value
Power Source	2 x AA batteries per unit
Detection Range	10 metres
Detection Angle	120°
Coverage Area	100+ m² per unit
Deterrent Method	Water jet spray
Waterproof Rating	Weatherproof (not for freezing)
Frequency Adjustable	N/A (water spray)
Installation Options	Stake/hose connection
Target Animals	Cats, foxes, deer, herons
Maintenance Level	High (winter draining required)
Seasonal Effectiveness	Not suitable for winter use

Typically sold as double pack. Each unit requires separate hose connection and battery installation.

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.