Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent Reviews

• It stopped the cat

  
  By AAYGK1SRKACGB on 2005-03-14
  Contrary to the other reviews I have to say it has worked for me so far (update: now 4 months!). I found the range to be more than sufficient, turning on when I'm a good 20 feet away. The construction is solid and it has an extension to raise the height over the grass which seems to help the range. I was worried that I wouldn't know it was working or not, or whether it was defective since the sound is suppose to be in the high frequencies, but I can hear a very high pitch sound and a red light also turns on inside the sensor. One thing to watch out for that might explain some of the other bad reviews is the fact that some cat breeds and older cats are deaf to high frequencies so this device doesn't bother them at all. The company warns about this in their instructions. All the stray cats pooping on my lawn seems to have excellent hearing so far.
  
  

• Worked for me!

  
  By A2YJT693OQAH2L on 2005-10-20
  Apparently this item has had mixed reviews. In my case, I have 2 cats and at least one of them decided that the bathtub and one spot in my dining room were suitable places for urinating. I put one of these devices in each location, and within minutes the cats (and my dog for that matter!)avoided the areas in front of the sensors like the plague. They've learned how to walk in back of the one in the living room, such that it doesn't trigger, (just in case someone is afraid they will not enter the "room" it is in and so forth), but my problem is FINALLY solved. It was my last hope - thank heavens it worked. Note: The first Catstop I rec'd was defective, such that once it was triggered, it remained on (i.e., emitting sound) at all times. I simply called Contech and they replaced it within a week - no questions asked, nor did they ask me to return the product I had. Finally, the product does state that it is not for indoor use, given that the sound is probably not too healthy for human or animal ears in confined spaces, but since it rarely if ever gets triggered anymore, I was willing to take the chance until/unless I found it wouldn't work as a deterrent.
  
  

• It works great - just be patient!

  
  By A2USDFRGEAN9CX on 2005-05-10
  I really feel like I must defend this product and encourage others to give it a try, because thanks to this green box my yard is cat free and will stay this way as long as I keep this box.
  
  When I purchased this device a year ago to fend off hordes of neighboring cats who found our yard to be a perfect litter box, I expected immediate results. I just wanted to see my yard completely cat-free the next day or at least in a week, but I had no such luck.
  
  The problem is not poor functioning or ineffectiveness of the device, the problem is the nature of cats - they are incredible creatures of habit and it takes a very long time to brake those established habits. So, if you think that this device will miraculously get rid of the cats in a day or in a month - you will be disappointed, the cats are extremely persistent.
  
  Once I learned this, I started methodically moving the device from one corner of the yard to another and kept it at every new location for several weeks until cats stopped going there. Of course they found a different spot in my yard, and I moved the device there, and so on.
  
  I think that the main idea is to leave the device in one spot for a long period of time (at least a few weeks) which teaches the cat that this place is always off limits and they stop going there. In the course of nine months I have moved the devise consistently following the patterns of favorite cat passages. At times I was losing all hope but my persistence has been rewarded - our yard is cat free, but I am not putting the device away, I keep using it as a precautionary measure.
  
  I am very satisfied with this product.
  
  
  
  

• Excellent product

  
  By AT19LX1Y8RU27 on 2006-01-19
  The Cat-Stop has mixed reviews so I purchased it with uncertainty. I assure you
  that it works very well. I believe the reason negative reviews exist is because
  during early production prior to mid 2005, the manufacturer Contech, concedes that
  there were technical problems with some of them. The problem has been resolved.
  
  I'm an engineer, inquisitive as to how and why things work, so I tested it to see
  just how effective it actually is. In my community more and more stray felines have
  become present. We adore cats, but we certainly don't want them on the hoods of
  our new cars, and defecating all over.
  
  I placed it adjacent to the area we park and waited for a stray to walk within range.
  It activated. The cat became startled and ran away. I unintentionally tested it with
  our neighbors cat who often exits their upper level window and rests on their porch
  roof. I walked in front of the Cat Stop. Their cat made a beeline inside the window,
  and I haven't seen him since.
  
  There were cats galore in our yard until I began using it. A very effective way to
  use it is to place it where YOU'll walk past it often. Repeatedly activating its loud
  high frequency sound will keep felines far away. I haven't seen a cat nearby since
  day two.
  
  It really works, and the folks at Contech company are very nice. If you happen to
  receive an older defective model, they'll replace it, I'm sure, they did for me.
  They're a very upstanding company!
  
  

• My Front Door can be Beautiful Again!

  
  By A36RG6G6D4VNOU on 2006-09-16
  We have three cats- and one of them (I don't know which-- and urine DNA testing on each of them is probably not reasonable!) Has decided it would be a good idea to 'mark' our pretty, Leaded Crystal with a brass kickplate front door. The original Kick Plate was pitted and ruined-- so before I installed the new one I waited... and sure enough-- after only a few weeks, there was urine markings on the door again. I bought a scat mat to zap them (just a little!) and that worked until the mat was removed. This little (it's smaller than what it looks in the photos) gizmo has been working like a charm for the past couple of weeks we have had it. Another week or two and I will be comfortable enough to install the new brass kickplate! Anyway, we have it situated where if anyone or anything comes to the front door.. off it goes.. and believe me, my tow 8 year old cats hear it just fine... Mr. Barkeley (14) seldom if ever leaves the garage- so I have not actually tested it on him... but I am SO very happy to NOT have urine all over the door anymore! YYYIIIIPPPIIIEEEE!
  
  Update: 2 months later: After a couple of weeks the prodct started making a little noise when activated like perhaps the speaker had blown-- I called Contech- they were very helpful and promptly sent a replacement unit at no charge. I also added the AC adapter they offered because ours gets a workout being at the front door. While waiting for the replacement to arrive, I changed the battery and the noise went away- so I returned the replacement to Contech.
  
  
• Cat Stop WORKS!
  By A3CE4CDABHXXJG on 2005-03-15
  I was skeptical at first, but we installed two
  of these in our backyard (urban, phx metro area)
  no cats...! in fact, we haven't even had to
  put new batteries in the units, since the
  cats have been conditioned to stay away
  (pavolvian respsonse? :-)
  
  Recommended, these things *DO* work, no more
  cat c**p to clean up anymore
  
  
• Battery life isn't as claimed
  By AGFW67L13I7R8 on 2005-06-17
  The thing works just fine, but the device claims to last up to nine months on a single battery. I am currently changing the battery at a rate of once every 7-14 days...
  My first clue was seeing a cat standing right in front of it and not flinching. Turned out the battery was dead after one week. There was no other 'traffic' coming into the yard and it's out of sight of trees etc.
  
  
• Don't use indoors
  By A1PBX5EWHWT7VP on 2004-11-09
  I tried a similar product (not from amazon.com) to keep my cats off of tabletops, and after a day my male cat was traumatized to the point that he wasn't eating or bathing (this is my glutton cat!). My female was not traumatized, but both cats were caught knocking the unit off the tabletop! I haven't tried it outdoors, but I would definitely not reccommend it for indoor use.
  
  
• Worst Product EVER!!
  By A3TUKPTK3629UW on 2004-11-29
  I am bummed I threw away the packaging so now I can't return this. Stray cats are leaving "presents" right in front of this darn thing--just worthless. If you can find the Weitech brand of ultra sonic deterent--that works better.
  
  
• Very Good Product
  By A2EHK07A5K4BYD on 2006-02-20
  As soon as we put the product in the yard we noticed a difference in the amount of cats droppings.
  
  It work's!
  
  
• This Product did NOT work for me!
  By AT82C5VHQINRV on 2004-08-13
  Based on word of mouth and online shopping descriptions of this product, a co-worker of mine bought one (not through Amazon) to stop cats from doing their business in his lawn and garden, which is also my problem for the last 2 years with neighborhood stray cats.
  
  The unit did NOT work in preventing cats doing their business in my co-worker's lawn and garden. The product description states a 20-feet range, which really won't cover much of your standard lawn unless you buy 4+ of these.
  
  He let me try the unit, and it also did NOT work for me. I was planning to buy 3 through Amazon, but I am glad I did not.
  
  We strongly do NOT recommend this product.
  
  
• Scat Cat
  By A3QGL4W4KC6I45 on 2006-12-12
  We had mangy old cats all over our nice patio furniture....haven't seen one since...
  
  
• CatDoesntStop
  By A1X39MBLRAQ1GL on 2006-07-04
  I bought this since I had trouble w/ my neighbor's cats and stray cats deficating in my back yard. I set it up per instructions and put it in my yard and I watched a cat jump into my yard and walk right up to it. It didn't scare the cat away even though it claims that it would.
  
  
• It works!
  By ASZLKFRMKCQ1T on 2005-11-10
  I too was skeptical. I bought this to keep my cat out of my neighbor's yard. He thought the cat would ruin his vegetable garden. Now my cat stays in my yard and uses my veggie garden as a litter box. I'm wondering now why we've had 10 foot tomato plants lately? :) At any rate, this product does the trick!
  
  
• It works
  By A2PVUIM1IN4MD8 on 2006-08-03
  This device emits a very high pitched sound when it senses something nearby. I can hear it if I hold it at ear level (in case you can't hear it, a red light turns on whenever it's triggered so you'll know when it's time to change the battery), but since it is such a high frequency it is very directional. When you stake it into the ground it's just about the height of the cats' ears. We first put it in front of the garage and the cats stayed away. Then we moved it to keep them away from the front door. So far so good. The cats are hanging around the garage again though so we need to buy another one.
  
  
• Works pretty well ... except
  By A3XCALL0OJ7GO on 2006-11-30
  I have three cats and bought this to keep one of them away from my door. It works very well on two of them but the one I wanted to deter is a Siamese. If you read the fine print it does state it might not work on some exotics. It also won't work if your cat has hearing problems. For all others it is great!
  
  
• Cat Deterrent
  By A2QO1ZJ0X49HHZ on 2007-03-21
  This Ultrasonic cat deterrent really does work. The batteries last a couple of weeks. A must if your nieghbor has cats.
  
  
• It really works!
  By A38STJS73GCEC9 on 2007-05-21
  We were having a problem with neighborhood cats spraying our back door. We tried everything to get it to stop, but we had no luck. We love cats, but the smell was horrible. Since we put this device out a few months ago it has stopped entirely. We are amazed. I was worried it would bother other animals and birds, but it does not seem to. It has also been exposed to all kinds of weather and still works great. I would highly recommend if you are at your wits end like we were.
  
  
• This little gizmo is fantastic!
  By A2829KBV0ZCH8R on 2007-11-13
  I've read a lot of negative reviews, how it fills up w/ water in the rain, stops working, etc. I sealed the edges w/ some clear silicone, put some duct tape over the battery compartment and it works all the time! I watched my nemisis, The Cat, nearly jump out of his fur just as he was gettng ready to poop in my garden. It was hilarious! I since purchased another one for my front yard.
  
  
• No More Cats In My Square Foot Garden :)
  By AD0EY4HBMEZQJ on 2005-05-24
  I just have to write this review, it saved my Square Foot Garden. I read Mel Bartholomew's book called "Square Foot Gardening (higly recomended reading if you like gardening) and decided that I would build a raised garden. To make a long story short my raised garden was 4 x 4 feet and 2 feet high, filled with lots of manure and wonderful soil. At least that's what the cats in the neighbourhoods thought. They all came and did their businss in my garden.... I was really ticked off! Then I heard about Cat Stop. During the first 24 hrs after I had installed it, I only had foot prints in my garden and after that not one visit from a cat. This product is incredible. Thank you Contac for keeping my garden free from cats.
  
  
• Works for awhile
  By AQZBY6V945PKD on 2005-09-01
  The CatStop worked for about two weeks in my plant bedding area. I watched as the cat would enter the area, hear the noise, and would dart out. I thought "yeah, it works!", but in the last two weeks I've found numerous kitty droppings. Apparently the cat figured out that while the noise was startling, it wasn't going to hurt him, and now he's back to his old behavior.
  
  
• So far, so good
  By A28C8I0XI2JUKS on 2006-08-13
  We've had the CatStop in for a few weeks now, and so far, no cat poop! If there was any, our dog would dig it up and eat it, and she hasn't been doing that. Whatever noise that bothers the cats doesn't seem to bother dogs.
  
  
• Unsure but optimistic
  By A38Q3N02BGKBVM on 2006-08-22
  I bought one these to keep neighborhood strays (which get feed from next door) off my lawn.
  
  When I first put it out, it seemed to work. However the cats figured one of two things: #1- They figured out its just a noise and not going to hurt them. #2- They found the range limits of the unit and get onto my lawn from a different angle.
  
  Some times when I walk in front of it, it does not go off. I don't think there is a motion sensitivity knob with the unit either. I have not confirmed this either way yet.
  
  My next test is to either buy another unit OR move this one from its current location to where these cats now gather.
  
  So while I am unsure if this is working 100% of the time, I am optimistic that it is working as stated. To its credit, no cats have come onto my lawn where the unit is located
  
  
  
• This Does Not Work
  By AJ17N5TCCZIMO on 2006-11-30
  I have a Scarecrow and like it, but it won't work in the winter time. I saw the CatStop units and was hopeful. I bought two units to stop my 3 neighbor cats from sitting under my bird feeder and scaring the birds away. The cats can't actually reach the feeders but their presence disturbs both birds and squirrels and they occasionally manage to catch an unwary bird.
  
  I put the units up, a fair distance apart and facing each other, on either side of the feeders. I have since watched all three cats, individually, come to the feeders and sit between the two units without a care. I can see the units activating but the cats completely ignore them.
  
  This product does not work, so don't waste you money.
  
  
• My dog hears the noise
  By A66X5VOTFVKMC on 2006-12-03
  My dog hears the nosie, very disappointing in this item.
  
  
• Don't get too excited:(
  By A246HNOELW0NMQ on 2007-01-11
  The pet deterrent worked for about 1 week, but then our pets got used to it. They are back to there old ways. I am a little disappointed.
  
  
• Don't waste your money
  By A29VDQ1OSG8EKT on 2007-02-28
  The cats now congregate directly in front of the CAT002 to have meetings. It doesn't work at all.
  
  
• Does it work on cars? So far, so good
  By A2MWFZJY2K96ZC on 2007-03-08
  I was sick of finding scratches on my black paint job whenever the cat would sleep on the hood of my car. I tried a spray deterrent around the perimeter of my car, which didn't work.
  
  I was skeptical, but I bought the CatStop anyway, and whaddya know, whenever I place the cat stop on the hood of my car, there are NO paw prints on my car. I did forget to put the catstop on my hood once, and I did find paw prints. After a good month of usage now, it seems that whether I put the catstop on my hood or not, the cat simply does not climb up on the car anymore. I guess the cat is now properly trained.
  
  I hesitated to give it a 5-star rating because it's too early to tell if this will have been a successful deterrent in the long run. But so far, so good.
  
  
• Not worth it
  By A2ZKE8UCFDF3A4 on 2007-07-30
  We did everything we were supposed to do and purchased two for our front lawn to triangulate the coverage. We tried it out on our cats first (the goal was to keep neighbor cats from hanging out under the bird feeder looking for an easy meal) - our cats had no interest or care or concern but our dog was TERRIFIED and hated it.
  
  Great.
  
  We gave it a go anyway - and one of them got a nasty whitish something or other all in the battery compartment and stopped working rather quickly. They run through batteries in no time and plugging it in is ridiculous for us unless we want to run a wire across our lawn.
  
  Complete waste of money for us. Don't make the same mistake.
  
  
• Cats Love It !!!
  By A2X11J1R1B4Q39 on 2006-07-27
  The stray cats that like to sleep under our vehicles both day and night. Love the Cat Stop CAT001 Ultrasonic Cat Deterrent they can hardly wait until they can "Rub Against" the soft plastic housing. I think that the Cats think the "Red Light" that comes on is a entertainment device as they almost fight to see which one of them will sit in the first row. So far the best thing that I've found about the Cat Stop CAT001,has been the free shipping and prompt delivery of this item. The bottom Line for me is "Put the $44.99 in your pocket or take your spouce out to dinner because the ineffecency of the Cat Stop CAT001 will surly give you heart burn.
  
  

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