How To Keep Bobcats Off Your Property

Bobcats are fast and feral predators. These cats thrive in rural and suburban environments throughout North America. While less intimidating than bigger cats like mountain lions, they are still felines you never want hanging out in your yard. If you’ve seen a bobcat on your property or have heard neighbors mention multiple sightings of them in your area, you’ll want to know how to keep them out of your yard.

The most effective way to keep bobcats off your property is to surround your yard with a cat-proof fence. Bobcats hate water and loud sounds, so install motion-activated sprinklers in your yard or play loud sounds whenever you see one. Keep pets indoors, and create secure enclosures for chickens and other small livestock. Eliminate rodents and other food sources from your yard by removing bird feeders.

Bobcats can kill your pets, destroy your yard, and even spread diseases. While they are majestic creatures, they are also wild animals you don't want living in your yard. If you live in an area with bobcats, keep reading. Below is a list of all the best ways to keep them out of your yard for good.

14 Effective Ways To Keep Bobcats Off Your Property

1. Build A Tall Fence 

While there is no foolproof way to keep bobcats off your property, building specialty fences is the most effective way to keep them out. Bobcats, like most wild cats, are good climbers. Many standard and short fences are ineffective against them. A bobcat-proof fence should be a flat or chain-link fence at least 8 feet tall, with an overhang at the top. to prevent these climbers from getting over the fence and will significantly reduce their ability to get into your yard.

2. Get Rid Of Bird Feeders

Bird feeders are one of the best ways to attract birds to your yard, but they can also bring predators, too. Bobcats might not eat the bird seed, but they will eat the birds that are drawn to it. These feeders also attract various rodents, like squirrels, mice, and rats, which are among bobcats' favorite prey. If there are bobcats in your area, consider pausing your bird feeding until the threat has moved away from your area.

3. Use Loud Sounds

If you see a bobcat, don't run in fear, as it may chase you. Instead, from a safe distance, make loud noises to scare it away. A fog horn, loud bells, or simply banging pots and pans are all ways to startle these animals. Wheb you notice a bobcat in the yard, scare it off immediately. The less welcoming your property feels to these cats, the less likely they are to return.

4. Keep Small Pets Indoors

If you have a cat or a little dog, keep a sharp eye on your small pet when there are bobcats nearby. These big cats can stalk small prey for a long time, and pounce on your tiny dog or kitten when they least expect it. To make your yard less appealing to bobcats, keep your animals inside. Instead of letting them wander the yard unsupervised, keep them on a leash and stay close by when you let them out to deter bobcats from approaching.

5. Keep Landscaping Tidy And Trimmed

Bobcats like to stalk prey and hide from predators. If your yard has tall grasses and unkept shrubs or bushes, it's the perfect environment for these cats to hide. Keep your landscaping sparse and tidy. Avoid growing tall grasses, and keep large shrubs trimmed and pruned to make your yard less appealing as a resting place for these and other predators.

6. Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Cats don't like getting wet. While they don’t hate water, they don’t like getting sprayed by it. If you have stray cats or bobcats in your yard, install motion-activated sprinklers. As soon as these predators enter your yard, water will immediately shoot in their direction. It won’t cause pain or harm them, but it will be enough to send any wild feline running far in the opposite direction. These sprinklers are also effective at keeping nocturnal predators out of your yard.

7. Secure Trash And Compost

Bobcats go where there is food. While they hunt for most of their prey, they will also dig through trash cans for a meal. Rodents often linger around trash cans, which makes them even more appealing to bobcats. Securing trash cans is one of the best ways to keep pests and predators out of your yard. Close and lock the trash can tightly, so it can’t be opened by claws. If you have a compost pile, find a way to enclose it to keep animals out.

8. Address Rodent Issues Immediately

Since rodents are among bobcats’ favorite prey, you’ll want to address all rodent issues as soon as you notice them. In addition to making your yard less appealing to squirrels and chipmunks, you should remove all nesting and burrowing locations of moles, voles, and other rodents as soon as you notice them. Rodents can destroy your yard more than bobcats, so you should do all you can to keep them out of your yard.

9. Remove Clutter

Since bobcats love to hide and seek shelter, they are big fans of mounds of junk, piles of wood, and other sheltered locations. If you have clutter in the yard, get rid of it. Not only will removing clutter make your yard look better, it will also help reduce the threat of bobcats in your yard.

10. Keep Chicken Coops And Animal Cages Locked

If you have small livestock, such as chickens, ducks, or rabbits, keep them as secure as possible. Ensure their enclosures are bobcat-proof. Use chicken wire to prevent bobcats from entering your chicken coops, and ensure the fence extends underground, as bobcats are excellent diggers.

11. Soak Rags In Ammonia

One smell that bobcats can’t stand is ammonia. The strong odor is reminiscent of many of their predators, and will often send them running in the opposite direction. You can soak old rags in ammonia and leave them in your yard anytime you see a bobcat or hear they are nearby. The smell of this substance is often enough for them to leave.

12. Use Bright Lights To Scare Them

If bobcats prowl your neighborhood at night, you can often startle them and scare them away with bright lights. Use motion-sensor flood lights to spook these felines any time they enter your yard. Shine a bright flashlight directly at it, and it will likely run away.

13. Purchase Predator Urine

Another smell bobcats hate is that of other predators. You can purchase various types of predator urine online. Bobcats tend to be repelled by coyote and wolf urine. Spray this substance in your yard, and there is a strong chance these cats will stay far away. Reapply after it rains, and continue the process until there are no more bobcat sightings in your neighborhood.

14. Use Citrus Smells

One organic way to deter bobcats is to use citrus and citrus-scented products. These cats don’t care for the smell of citrus. Therefore, planting citrus trees and using orange rind or essential oil may help deter bobcats. Keep in mind, however, that this scent is considered less effective than predator urine and ammonia.

Wrapping Up Ways To Keep Bobcats Off Your Property

Bobcats are fascinating to watch, but they aren’t animals you want to see roaming in your backyard. These cats can pose a threat to your pets and even small children. If there are bobcats in your area, or if you’ve seen one recently, you’ll want to do all you can to keep them off your property. Building a tall fence with an overhang is the most effective way to keep them away.

Eliminating rodents and birds from your yard is another way to make your yard less appealing. Secure your trash bins and compost, keep small pets on a leash, and consider installing motion-activated sprinklers to deter these felines. You can also use smells like predator urine or ammonia-soaked rags to keep them away.

Related Guides:

• What To Do If A Skunk Sprayed My Property/Backyard
• Why Are There So Many Rabbits In My Yard?
• Eight Things To Know If You Live In Bear Country