Neighbors Cat Climbing on My Car! (Doing This Stopped Them)

Cats are known for being curious creatures and often like to explore their surroundings. This can include climbing on cars, which can be a nuisance for the car’s owner. If your neighbor’s cat likes to climb on your car, what can you do to make it stop?

You can stop cats from climbing on your car by politely speaking to your neighbors about the situation. If that doesn’t work, you can use cat repellents or alarms to keep the cats away from your car. You can also use a car cover to protect your car from cat prints or scratches.

Before forming a battle plan against your neighbor’s cats, there are important things to consider. In this blog post, we’ll cover how to keep your car protected from your neighbor’s cat, why cats love climbing on top of your car, and what things you should avoid doing when dealing with another person’s cat.

This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and other stores. This means Yard Blogger may earn a commission if you make a purchase using any of our links. Please refer to our full affiliate disclosure policy for full details.

Cats vs Cars

We want to keep our cars as clean and damage-free as possible, but it’s pretty tedious to do it with a curious cat that just loves to play around it.

So, let’s discuss how to keep cats away from your car and why they enjoy being around it so much!

How Do I Keep My Neighbors Cat off My Car?

You can keep your neighbor’s cat off of your car by using non-harmful cat repellents, such as cayenne pepper or mothballs. Nevertheless, you can also use a pet alarm that uses motion sensors to repel cats away.

These pet alarms come with motion sensors that detect cat-sized animals, and their sound is mostly inaudible to human ears. Thus, this option won’t irritate your other neighbors.

However, you can also use natural cat repellents, such as cayenne pepper. If you sprinkle cayenne pepper around your car, it’s unlikely that cats will appear again since they hate the smell.

Mothballs, similarly, repel cats because of the smell. It doesn’t smell nice for us humans, either. So it might be an option to consider, although you risk having a stinky situation.

Another thing you may consider, if possible, is relocating your car to a new parking spot. If you have a driveway, park and enclose it inside.

The cat won’t have access to it, and thus, you won’t have to deal with surprising paw marks in the future.

How Do I Keep the Neighbor’s Cats Away From My Car?

If you struggle to keep the neighbor’s cat away from your car, consider resolving the matter through dialogue. Try to agree with them about how to resolve the issue best, and if that doesn’t change, take extra measures.

For example, if they fail to fulfill their part of the agreement, you can try speaking to them again. Leaving a pet outside for too long can count as a form of animal neglect, so you can try to warn them about that.

Not only do they risk their cat being harmed by unfriendly neighbors, but they also risk having a lawsuit against them because of neglect.

So, you should inform them about this while you aim to resolve the issue regarding your car. Also, never try to harm the cat in any way or form. 

Other things you can consider doing to keep cats away from your car are:

• Sprinkling cayenne pepper around your car.
  
• Installing cat alarms to repel them.
  
• Get automatic motion-sensor sprinklers that can keep cats out of your lawn.
  
• Use a car cover to avoid visible damage.

You might also enjoy our post on If You Can Legally Shoot Cats on Your Property

Why Do Cats Jump on Cars?

Cats can jump on your car because they either want to play, look for food, or just want to go to a high place. Since cats have a prime descendant known to behave this way due to survival instincts, it’s not unusual to see them apply similar behavior.

Cats descend from a prime ancestor, denominated by anthropologists and historians as Proailurus, deemed to be the first true cat.

It’s estimated that this feline lived approximately 25 million years ago, and it developed tremendous survival skills. 

It’s believed that one of these survival skills was to jump and climb on high places, especially trees. Since cats are believed to descend from the first true cat, it’s not strange that they develop similar behavior by trying to jump on your car and see everything below them. 

So, no, cats have nothing personal against you. It’s just that their instincts tell them to jump on your car because they honestly think they have to dominate the world to protect themselves. Adorable, isn’t it?

Do Car Covers Protect From Cats?

Car covers can protect your car from cats that enjoy roaming around it, climbing on it, and even spraying it. Not only does it help avoid it having significant damage, but it can also protect from daily unforeseen events, such as falling bird waste.

However, many recommend securing the cover by using aluminum foil. Apparently, cats despise the texture of aluminum, so it might work to repel them and prevent them from climbing on your car again.

Moreover, getting rid of bird waste that falls on your car is tedious and often unpleasing. So, a car cover can help you avoid these types of mishaps. 

Will Cats Scratch Metal?

It’s not feasible for cats to scratch metal because their claws are not strong enough, although they can leave superficial marks on them. However, they can scratch your car’s painting because it is not direct metal.

It’s highly unlikely that cats can touch the metal of your car because most of it is protected by car wax and paint. And even then, their claws aren’t strong enough to mark it significantly. 

The latter is why most “cat parents” recommend getting furniture with metal fittings, precisely because it’s unlikely that they can ruin them. However, car painting is breakable.

Car painting is so vulnerable that it could even come off if it directly interacts with gasoline. It can even peel off if the painting job isn’t done correctly.

So, it’s not weird that cats can scratch it off and create significant marks that you’ll need to repair soon.

How Do I Keep Cats off My Car’s Roof?

You can keep cats off your car’s roof by sprinkling cayenne pepper and mothballs or spraying cat repellent. Furthermore, you can try putting these things on other cat-recurring areas to repel them entirely.

Sprinkling cayenne pepper or spraying cat repellent is not tricky, but there is a different process when it comes to putting mothballs around your car. 

Here’s what you need to do if you consider using mothballs:

• Put mothballs inside a bag
• Once in the bag, try distributing them evenly. Put some around your roof, your car’s trunk, and even around the bonnet. 
• Once that is done, try to keep a watch on the car. If you see that it works, then you don’t need to test other methods.
  

Other methods include creating a homemade repellant with a mix of water and essential oils. A typical homemade repellent involves two parts of water and drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil. 

However, spraying it on the affected areas is recommended and never directly on the animals. These oils can harm them if they come in direct contact with cats, so you must avoid them at all costs.

Best Cat Deterrents

Keeping cats away from your car is possible, and now that you know a couple of ways, you’ll need to learn some of the best cat-deterring methods you can use to avoid having them nearby again.

So, let’s talk about them!

What Are the Best Cat Deterrents?

The best cat deterrents will prevent cats from entering your property without harming them. You can try using an ultrasonic pet alarm to repel them, or you can resort to buying spray cat deterrents that are eco-friendly and pet safe.

You can use Nature’s Miracle Pet Block or Pet Safe SSSCAT spray deterrent to keep cats away from your lawn or any area that you believe is dangerous for them.

However, you should consider using eco-friendly and pet-safe options to avoid harming them.

One of these options is this ultrasonic animal deterrent, which won’t only help keep cats at bay but will also keep other types of animals away.

What Kind of Spray Keeps Cats Away From Cars?

The spray that will keep cats away from cars is a cat repellent spray that is usually found online to discourage cats from entering your property. Gardeners and bird owners use them to protect their spaces from them.

There are many cat repellents out there, but it has become more common to install ultrasonic animal repellents in backyards.

An example of this is the KeepRepel Animal Repeller which won’t only keep cats away but also will keep dogs and rodents away. So, it’s more beneficial.

Moreover, people prefer to create homemade remedies at home.

Some use this cayenne powder to prevent animals from ruining their gardens or touching their cars, which has proven effective for most people.

However, people go a step further and create their cat repelling spray.

Using essential oils like banana oil, eucalyptus oil, and peppermint oil, they create a spray that uses a lot of water and very little of these oils. This simple method has worked to keep cats away. 

Do Coffee Grounds Keep Cats Away?

Coffee grounds can keep cats away because the smell is not pleasant for them; therefore, people create repellents based on coffee grounds or place them in their gardens to succeed in keeping them away.

Generally, cats don’t like strong odors because they have sensitive noses. Any type of strong smell is likely to keep them away from you, especially if this smell is hugely concentrated in one spot.

For example, expect them to hate your sweaty socks or your peaceful oil diffuser. 

Interestingly enough, this aversion to strong odors has saved their lives. Smells like tea tree oil, citrus smells (including lemon), and peppermint are likely to harm cats if they inhale or accidentally consume them.

So, the fact that they hate these smells is not bad at all.

You might also enjoy our post on What to Do if Your Neighbor Has Too Many Cats

How Do You Keep Cats off Your Car at Night?

During the night, you’ll be able to keep cats off your car by installing ultrasonic pet alarms, using activated motion sprinklers and a car cover. It’s not feasible to have much control over this during the night because most people are sleeping.

Thus, since it’s unlikely to keep constant vigil, you should choose permanent methods to avoid having cats around your car. One of them includes parking your car inside your driveway.

Using coffee grounds can also be helpful but is harmful to them if ingested.

Yet, ultrasonic alarms and motion-set sprinklers can be a better overnight solution.

Since they use motion sensors, they can detect any weird movement and scare whatever thing that chooses to creep around your car at night. Plus, it won’t harm them physically.

Home Remedies to Keep Cats off Your Car?

Home remedies to keep cats off your car include home sprays made with infusions of citrus oils, tea tree oil, banana oil, tobacco, and similar products. Vinegar can also work to keep cats away from your car, although it should be distributed with caution.

Yet, if you are willing to try essential oils as a form of repellent, keep in mind that you have to mix them with large quantities of water.

You don’t want to harm the cat. Instead, you want to keep the cat away. Thus, you have to avoid spraying essential oils at them directly. 

You should spray the infusion on the areas where you don’t want cats to be. Since it’s mixed with water, the chances of harm are less likely. So, keep these safety measures in mind.

Cats and Car Engines

You know a couple of things about why cats love climbing your car. But did you know that they could also climb into your engine? This is a dire situation. So, let’s learn how to keep cats from going to your engine below.

How Do I Stop Cats From Climbing on My Car Engine?

To stop cats from climbing on your car engine, you must locate all the openings around your car and block them with aluminum foil. Additionally, you’ll have to sprinkle cayenne pepper around your car to avoid them from getting close to the engine.

If you want to avoid any dangerous incidents, always inspect your car engine before starting. If you have one, you can use your dog to detect anything suspicious.

Usually, dogs are very territorial, so they won’t feel comfortable if they find something strange. 

This advice should be practiced in winter since it’s likely for cats to jump on the engine in that year’s season. Before starting the car, try to make any notorious sound to scare them off.

Never assume that the cat is gone; make sure you get to see it out of the engine area. If you’re sure that the cat is visibly out of the way, you’re good to go.

It’s important to be diligent when doing this because you’ll avoid many accidents that can arise from it.

If you want to avoid future incidents, create a cozy space for cats and kittens outside of the driveway area. For example, you can get a big kennel or a small cat house and fill it with blankets.

That way, they won’t be attracted to your car engine anymore.

Can Cats Damage Car Engines?

Cats won’t damage car engines unless you start the car without inspecting it, which is fatal and troubling. If there are many recurrent cats around your neighborhood, you must always check your engine to avoid tragic accidents.

Not only the car will be damaged, but the cat will be severely harmed. Nobody wishes to go through a situation in which they find out they fatally injured a cat, so it’s best to follow proper safety advice.

Do Cats Know Not to Climb on Car Engines?

Cats don’t have the conscience of the danger climbing on an engine could pose to their life, which is why we are responsible for watching out for them. They climb on car engines to seek warmth and shelter, not because it’s a place they prefer.

So, no, they don’t know any better. They don’t have the conscience to choose between right and wrong.

If they get harmed because you weren’t careful when turning on your engine and running the car, don’t be quick to assume it’s their fault.

All of us must take care of the animals around us precisely because they need guidance. If it were not for our care, they would be out in the open, exposed to dangers and things they are unaware of.

And, if the cat belonged to someone, they could be in serious trouble. 

Most state laws require their owners to be diligent with pet care, and that includes supervising their kittens at all times.

Leaving a pet outside the house without proper supervision can count as negligence, and this is a crime. So, most likely, they’ll be liable for the situation.

Do Cats Climb Into Car Engines?

Cats climb into car engines during cold seasons, especially during winter, due to their need for a warm shelter. Therefore, it’s recommended to always check your engine before starting your car and going about your day.

Because they feel the need for warmth and shelter, they will recur to climbing into your car engine. It’s usually cozy for them in there, so they’ll use that space to their benefit.

Once everything ceases, they’ll get out of there and do other things.

You might also enjoy our post on If You Should Feed Your Neighbor’s Cat

Cats Scratches on a Car

Cats love to climb on your car, and sometimes they end up in your engine. We know what to do to keep them away, but what about the scratches they leave on the car?

Repairing can be expensive, but at least there are solutions! Let’s talk about them below.

Can a Cat Scratch a Car?

A cat can scratch a car’s painting if its claws are sharp enough, which is why using a car cover is practical. Since cats enjoy leaving traces of their presence behind, it’s not unusual for them to engage in such a practice.

Cats don’t usually scratch your car on purpose unless they’re marking territory. Most often than not, they scratch your car’s paint while playing with other cats or climbing to your car’s roof. 

They have to use their paws to keep their grip, so for them to not scratch your car is inevitable. However, a good way to resolve this is by getting a car cover.

You just have to put it on every time you get home and put it away every time you drive.

Can a Cat Damage a Car by Climbing on It?

Cats can damage a car by climbing on it, but the way it happens will depend on the circumstances. They can scratch the car’s painting and even break the rear window if they jump onto it from a tall height. 

If they play around with your car, they are likely to scratch it, leave paw marks around it, and even “spray” it.

And while spraying it isn’t much of an issue because you can get rid of it with pet stain removers, paw marks and scratches can be hard to erase.

Can Cat Scratches on a Car Be Removed?

Cat scratches can be removed from a car, but the process will depend on the damage type. Some scratches can be resolved with rubbing compound, but others will need to be solved with car paint.

If it’s a superficial scratch, using a normal scratch remover can do the trick to fix it. Sometimes, you can even use a scratch-removing pen, and it will work just fine. 

Other times, you’ll need to hire someone to repaint your car because the scratch is too deep to eliminate it superficially.

One process is easier than the other, but it’s recommended if you are interested in fixing your car’s appearance.

How Much Does It Cost to Remove Cat Scratches From a Car?

The cost for removing cat scratches can range from $150 to $2,500 depending on the depth of the scratch and where you decide to treat it. However, if you decide to retouch the painting of the car, the cost can go up to $3,000.

The truth is that painting a car does not only constitute the use of the paint itself. Some scratches need to be retouched and protected with a clear gloss for more durability.

Thus, fixing some types of scratches will be more expensive than fixing others.

Why Do Cats Scratch Car Tires?

Cats scratch car tires because they think that this is an optimal surface where they can clear their claws out of the inner dead layer. They do this with the intent to expose a new and developed layer of claws, which they can later use for cat activities.

They don’t scratch car tires because it’s fun for them but because they believe they need them. Cats need their claws for basic activities, such as hunting, so they need to have their claws up to date.

You might also enjoy our post on What to Do With a Dead Cat in Your Yard

Can Cats Damage Car Tires?

Although cats love to scratch tires, it’s not possible that they can damage them because the materials they’re made with are hard. In fact, cats will simply scratch on the superficial part of the tire but won’t be able to incrust their claws into it.

For the cat to damage a tire, it has to have a strong force. It won’t happen with a simple scratch. Besides, their scratch isn’t constant because they don’t do it out of fun, they do it out of necessity.

So, for cats to ruin a tire completely is highly unlikely.

Related Questions

Do Cats Know Not to Run in Front of Cars?

Some cats know that cars are dangerous, while others don’t, which is influenced by each cat’s experiences. Stray cats often get used to moving cars, so they stop associating them with danger, leading to terrible results. 

Moreover, domestic cats are more likely to be scared of outside sounds and moving cars. Other cats know when to cross the street without harming themselves because they have witnessed accidents with other fellow cats. 

While they don’t have a conscience to decipher right from wrong, they do follow survival instincts, and this is different for every cat based on what they’ve experienced thus far.

What Materials Do Cats Hate?

Cats hate slippery materials that make it impossible for them to scratch their claws, such as leather, polyester, and plastic. They also hate surfaces that are sticky because of the same reason.

In those types of fabrics, they can barely climb or have their cat fun. They hate other similar fabrics, including denim, velvet chenille, and silk. So, it’s likely that they won’t approach them.

And, if they do, they’ll back off right away. 

Why Are Cats Attracted to My Car?

Cats can be attracted to your car because of your scent or because it is a place where other cats roam. They are likely trying to mark their territory around your car and therefore enjoy going over there.

They’ll likely try to spray or scratch around your car and other adjacent items. It’s normal behavior for them because they are territorial animals and don’t like other cats to invade their spot.

Final Thoughts

Although cats can be incredibly cute, the truth is that they can become a nuisance if they are not cared for properly. So, if you are a pet owner, make sure to supervise your furry friend at all times to avoid future accidents.

If a cat continues to climb onto your car, you can use homemade deterrents to keep them away or a car cover that protects your vehicle from scratches. 

Moreover, if your car suffered a serious scratch, repairing it can be costly if the damage is deep enough. So, if it’s possible, try to park your car inside your driveway to avoid further issues.