Oh, my, what an interesting thread. Re cats: In most states they are considered "wild" animls, e.g., never really domesticated and therefore not subject to laws, neither are their owners with the possible exception of a few municipalities. I'd try orange peels and more pungent citrus, e.g., clementines, grapefruit and lemons. . The problem for me with squirrels is not eating but digging bulbs up. which tears up their root systems. Interplanting with pungent fritillaria has helped, also grape hyacinth which mats the soil around the treasured bulbs. For those of you who have a serious problem, I'd seriously consider risking a few dollars at a hunters/outdoors store, e.g., Cabela's-- (They're on line) and investing in a bottle of predator urine, say, fox or coyote. It ought to work with squirrels, chipmunks,moles, voles, rats and mice, cats and maybe even crows. Of course, you might not like the smell either, but after a month or two, they might have learned and you'd be spared it because it would have dissipated. But, it could work on deer also. I'd put it on now. The coyote is a natural predator of all of these except crows, in the U.S.