Re: [CH] Cat repellant

Mike Stallcup (michael.stallcup@msfc.nasa.gov)
Mon, 3 Apr 2000 16:57:34 -0500 

=Mark wrote:

>  >47. You know how to 'tape' a cat
>  > OK, I don't know; do I WANT to know?
>  >Gareth
>
>This goes back a few years to when one of the listmembers (I believe it was
>John Gunterman) was having a hard time with a neighbors "show" cat 
>that would come over and use his pepper garden as a litterbox.

Well, =Mark got it mostly right on the origin of how to tape a cat. 
I did some digging and found the original posts from John Gunterman. 
I think the thing that made his experience really funny was the 
arrogance of the cat owner who finally got her just desserts.  This 
has since become part of the C-H culture.  Enjoy.

>Date: Wed, 26 Apr 95 08:54:12 EST
>From: gunterman@ccmailpc.ctron.com
>john@gunterman.mv.com
>Subject: Cats 27 : Humans 0
>
>Okay Folks,
>
>I need a surefire, no fail, guaranteed way of keeping a particular 
>cat out of my  garden.
>
>No cruel hurtful means will be acceptable! No striated fish hooks, 
>Daisy  PumpMaster Air Rifles, etc. (YET) I do not want to make this 
>a cruelty to  animals thread.....
>
>This damn cat has just (last night) destroyed 2 full flats of pepper 
>plants, except 1 seedling. Only 1 Calai seedling survives after  a 
>month and a half of  nurturing under lights in the basement! All 
>that work and care to be ruined by 1 single cat w/ a bad attitude I 
>caught it digging the plants out of the flats and  before I could 
>get my "Super Soaker" pumped up it saw me and took off.
>
>This has been a problem for over a month since I took the sod off my 
>yard and reseeded it. Ever since then it has taken a crap in my yard 
>every night and dug little trenches all over the place.
>
>I have tried covering the yard in cheesecloth, scattering a full 
>pound of white pepper around the perimeter of the yard. I even drank 
>a gallon of iced tea and  spent the net 3 hours "marking my 
>territory". NOTHING WORKS, and I am getting quite angry and 
>frustrated. The only thing that marginally worked was the super 
>soaker but I can't stay up all night watching  over my yard 
>"snipering" for that cat. I need some sleep!
>
>And yes, I have talked w/ the owner, sent registered letters to them 
>etc. and  they continue to do nothing about it.  And all this in a 
>Condo Assn. where pets are NOT allowed to begin with.  These people 
>actually pay a 15 dollar "fine" every month to keep it!
>
>Thanks
>John (Col. Hogan)
>gunterman@ctron.com
>
>**************
>
>Date: Fri, 28 Apr 95 13:18:01 EST
>From: gunterman@ccmailpc.ctron.com
>Subject: Cat 27 : Human 1 (HUMAN WINS!)
>
>  >Take both owner and home owners assoc to small claims court.
>
>Normally would be a good suggestion but:
>
>I am on the board of directors of the Condo Assn. So I must be extra 
>careful of my actions in relation to this issue
>
>I can't really sue the assn if I am on it could I.. Well maybe I 
>could..hmmmmm. Anyway,
>
>I think the problem is now solved.
>
>I got a suggestion (off list) that sounded so great I HAD to try it. 
>It was recommended that I take a few rolls of scotch tape and take 
>them off the roll and lay it loosely around the yard. So I stopped 
>on my way home from work last evening and got a few rolls.
>
>This AM I saw the owner of the cat sitting on her front porch in her 
>nightgown with this cat in her lap, covered with tape, scissors in 
>hand, snip snip snip, peel peel peel, grumble grumble. The cat is 
>one of them long haired types I think it  is called an agora or 
>angora or something like that.. well now it is called  "Butch."
>
>I was laughing so hard I almost could not wave to her and cheerfully 
>yell "Good morning!" The cat was not hurt at all but is a little 
>bald in a few areas.

Now, go protect those seedlings!

- Mike
Carpe Capsicum!