How to Keep Cats Away From Squirrel Feeders

Cats are a common nuisance to squirrels. If not properly kept away from your squirrel feeders, your cat may catch and seriously harm or kill squirrels. Both feral and house cats are known to have serious impacts on populations of small mammals and birds. Use a variety tactics to successfully keep cats away from your squirrel feeders.

Things You'll Need

  • Hazelnut shells
  • Spray bottle
  • Brackets
  • Garden netting/chicken wire
  • Wire
  • Zip/cable ties
  • Cat fence-in containment system
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place hazelnut shells under the squirrel feeders. According to Backyard Bird Care, cats avoid walking on hazelnut shells because the shells are sharp. In addition to deterring cats from the feeders, hazelnut shells also last more than five years, prevent weeds and are attractive in color and appearance. Visit your local gardening store to find hazelnut shells.

    • 2

      Place water into a spray bottle and spray the cat every time it goes near the squirrel feeder(s). Cats detest water and will think twice about visiting the feeders, if they know they'll be sprayed with water as a result. Spraying your cat with water will only be an effective deterrent if the cat gets sprayed every time it goes near the feeders.

    • 3

      Keep the cat indoors or confine it to a fenced-in area outdoors, as far away from squirrel feeders as possible. Cat-proof the fence by attaching brackets at a 45-degree angle to the top portion of your fence. Stretch garden netting, chicken wire or a similar material over the brackets and secure it in place with wire or zip ties. Purchase a cat fence-in containment system from hardware and pet stores, if you don't want to build one yourself.