Cats on Cars

[funniegrrl]

My neighborhood has 3 or 4 cats that are always out and about. I don't know if they are strays or if they belong to someone, impossible to tell. They love to hang out in my yard and on my front porch. Every morning when I come out to go to work, I find my car covered in cat prints -- the roof, the hood, the windshield. This definitely falls into the "minor annoyance" category as I am NOT picky about my car. Still, I'd like to stop driving around town in the CatMobile. Any tips for keeping the kitties off? Would spraying with cayenne water or something help?

[BaileyJune]

For some reason, cats just like to get up on cars. When I used to park outside, neighbor cats prints were ALWAYS on my car. And my own cat hops up on my car all the time in the garage - when I let her go in the garage, she thinks she's "outside." I haven't found anything yet to keep cats off.

[Hammster]

I had a similar problem with cat paw prints on my Nissan Pickup hood. One day I realized I hadn't parked as close to the gate/block wall as I normally do and there weren't any paw prints on my hood. So, I just had to run an experiment. :D I parked within 2-3 feet from the gate/wall and sure enough paw prints. I parked more than 3 feet away and no paw prints. My thought is that the cats were using my truck to help them get onto the block wall. Now it's too far of a jump for them and so they don't go up on it anymore.
I guess I'm saying see if there is anything nearby they might be jumping to or from that your car is just the right distance to help them with that.

[tamawrite]

I haven't found a solution, either. Fortunately, I think cat prints are adorable, even if they're on my windshield. More than once, DH has heard me say, "Awww, look at the little kitty-puts..." :rolleyes: :p :D

[Gracie]

Our neighbor's cat gets on our cars, too. I always snicker when DH complains of paw prints on the Vette. :D

Loren

[BarbaraL]

My mom didn't like cats, so naturally they always curled around her legs and left pawprints on her car. I like cats, so they usually left me alone. Contrary little things, aren't they?;)

[DeeK]

I don't mind the muddy pawprints, but I seriously mind the scratches from their claws when they jump up and down.

The cats doing in our cars are most feral. I think they like sleeping on the warm hoods in the evening. :(

[TKay]

At an apartment I lived in years ago, there was a stray that sort of belonged to the neighborhood (people would feed it). I liked the cat, and it LOVED my car. One morning I came out to go somewhere and it was parked on the hood. I tried to shoo it, but it wouldn't budge. I thought, well, if I start up and drive, it will jump off. Nope. It just layed there. I had the brilliant idea of moving and then slamming on the breaks. I'm so lame! All the cat did was slide down the hood, claws out, scratching the paint from windscreen to edge. And STILL it didn't jump down. I had to physically pick it up and move it to the grass (something I'd avoided since I was dressed for a meeting and didn't want cat hair on me).
I guess I don't have any advice for you. Just wanted to warn you to not try to get the cats off that way. :D