What smell will keep a cat from using an outdoor sandbox as a litter
box. I am interested in true documented smells that will deter a cat
from using an outdoor children's sandbox as a litter box, not
'wives-tale' substances have no proven effect. The smell must be
non-toxic for the children who would use the sandbox. In effect, I
want a substance that can be applied to a sandbox to keep cats from
using it as a restroom.

Hi puravida77-ga:

I get the impression that you have already tried certain deterrents
that have not worked for you.  Keep in mind there is no one single
solution because individual animals, even within the same species,
have personal preferences and dislikes--just like humans!  So while
one cat may dislike one odour, another may not find it as offensive.

Also, it may be possible (unless you have personally witnessed a cat
using the sandbox) that an animal other than a cat is using the
sandbox and cat deterrents will not work on that animal.  Even an
experienced veterinarian would have difficulty telling the difference
between cat droppings, squirrel droppings, raccoon droppings, etc.

Many people choose to have a cover for their sandbox (much like a pool
cover) for those times when the sandbox is not in use.  A sandbox
cover will keep ALL animals and their droppings (including bird
droppings) out of the sandbox, as well as rain, leaves, and other
debris, etc.  A sandbox cover is probably the best way to keep the
sandbox reasonably hygienic, given the impossibility of eliminating
animal life from our environment.

Please see the following links for humane deterrents for unwanted cats
that may be visiting your yard, including unpleasant odours and other
deterrents you may also wish to consider, such as motion-activated
sprinklers:

http://www.cats.org.uk/news/20020319.html
http://www.spcaonline.com/catsinyard.PDF

If you need any clarification on this answer, please use the
clarification feature before rating this answer.  Thanks!

Good luck!

websearcher-ga

Search strategy:  personal experience working on local animal control
issues and by-laws, local veterinarian consultation, plus previous
internet research for related information

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Request for Answer Clarification by puravida77-ga on 20 Aug 2002 19:26 PDT

Are there any sources for statistics (or other similar data) about how
efefctive these scents can be as a deterant? Because of product
constraints being worked within, the deterant has to be an odor (I.E.:
It can't be a cover over the box, or motion sprinklers, etc). It has
to be something "added" to the actual sand.   I will check back in
again tomorrow, and if there truly isn't any source of data or
statistics or studies-- then I will consider the question fully
answered.

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Clarification of Answer by websearcher-ga on 20 Aug 2002 20:35 PDT

Hi puravida-ga:

I did an exhaustive search for scents you could add to sand in a
sandbox in order to deter cats. Unfortunately, the only studies I was
able to find involved:

* sound deterrents
* water-spray deterrents
* toxic chemical deterrents

There are no studies that I can find that show the effectiveness (in a
clinical sort of way) of non-toxic, scent-based additives for
sandboxes.

From your original question, I thought you were were looking for an
odor that you could apply to (around) the sandbox, not necessarily to
the sand itself. I'm sorry that I can't find more information for sand
additives.

However, if you were to try adding any of the scents listed in the
pages I've suggested to your sand, I'd think you'd have good luck.

Given my experience in this area, if such a specific product existed,
I'd likely know about it. :-)

websearcher-ga

Good job!.
Well answered.