Foiling the feline

[steve.ledger]

I have a cat.
He's a great cat - lazy, quiet, patient, well behaved and he enjoys my company, as I do his.


Ok - there is another cat, the opposite of everything I said in the sentence above.
It belongs to a neighbour.


I'd like to kill it - but that would upset the neighbour I'm sure.

Why should I like to kill it?
Well - because its evil. It has what I believe is a wicked sense of humour.
It apparently finds it amusing to wait until I have washed my (white) car before it finds it irresistible to climb on and leave muddy paws prints all over it.
I think the amusement must be heightened by watching me (from a safe distance) turn a bright pink to red colour (and the air turns blue) while I madly try to remove the (now dried) muddy stains.
Now I'm not a fastidious person, but I do not like my efforts to be wasted by feline vandalism.

I have no garage to put the car away, we have no high fence or hedge, we have no dog.
It would not be convenient to cover the car or to install a laser alarm system which surrounds the car in a lace work of red beams.

So, my question is - and please take this matter very seriously:
How does one prevent a cat from jumping onto a car?
(bearing in mind that he is quicker and far more agile than I)

Does anyone know of a method (which has worked) to prevent cats from getting on their cars?

[RTK]

How does one prevent a cat from jumping onto a car?

An alternative question that would also solve the problem: How does one GET a cat to jump onto a car when it's travelling at 120 mph?

Water... Super-soak it a few times and it will get the message. It worked for me to convince a cat to choose another yard to do it's business in. Water is more humane than making fondue or paella...

Risto

[zaphodeist]

Cats dislike lavender and lemon (any citrus fruit really) ... or change car for a muddy paw coloured one

[steve.ledger]

An alternative question that would also solve the problem: How does one GET a cat to jump onto a car when it's travelling at 120 mph?

Or rather - "How does one GET a cat to jump in front of a car when it's travelling at 120 mph?"

[steve.ledger]

Cats dislike lavender and lemon (any citrus fruit really)

Yes I could trade my car in for a lavendar patch - but how would I get to the shops??
I don't really want to buy (another) a lemon

[ivan louette]

Or give it a tablet pc with the latest Xtreme version

And PLEEEEAAASE ! Show us the results !!!

kindly,
ivan

[The Alien]

Sprinkler?

If that doesn't work he may be boycotting you in order to get a cheezburger

[handrawn]

lace the water you rinse the car with - lavender rather than lemon [acidic stuff not good for car body]

also if the cat jumps up immediately after - it may be something in the stuff you currently use that attracts it - you could try changing that..

if all else fails risto's method is a good one - as long as you do it so that the cat makes the right association[s]

[Ross Macintosh]

I have no garage to put the car away

Maybe you should consider a building a garage. They are useful things. If eventually you can't be bothered putting the car inside then you can fill it up with junk. Very useful things indeed.

Regards, Ross

[AndFarr]

Building a garage is a good idea, but for a quicker and less expensive option I would recommend buying a car cover. You can get a good one for less than $50 USD and it will protect your car from dirt, bird dropping, snow, etc and your neighbor's cat.
I know they carry them online at www.jcwhitney.com
Just type "car cover" in their search bar to get to the relevant page.
- Andy