Background:  I have a screened in back porch that I love.  We've propped the screen door open so that my dog can come and go as he pleases, but that means wasps can, too.  I'm allergic to their stings, so I always get scared when I see them despite the fact that I know better than to respond that way.  It's just a body-thing.  So this one wasp keeps coming into the porch, and then it gets stuck in there, not being able to figure out how to get past the screen.

I just can't bring myself to kill things just because they're inconvenient for me, so I have a trick wherein I cover it with a cup, slide paper underneath, take it out and fling it madly so as not to have it blow back on  me.

Now to the meat of the story:  I started watching him try to come back in a couple of days ago, and I was mentally saying ,"No.. no.... no...."  I saw him almost passing the threshold, then he'd pull back.  He did this several times and flew off.  About the third time this happened, I realized I must have been communicating with him on some level!  He was actually feeling the barrier and either respecting my wishes because I hadn't killed him, or he didn't want to get stuck in there any more than I wanted him to.

Pretty cool.

I love the idea of the "cat area" with catnip...to distract them from your sanctuary...also the bells to prevent them from killing your creatures. If the owners refuse to pu the bells on the cats, I would just call the city and see if they would intervene... Sometimes they can enforce rules for vaccines or cat bells...
Here where I live...we have a similar problem but with coyotes eating the cats and small dogs. So my babies are kept inside...no wildlife for them.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress...

Cassie

Totally off topic....but are you *the* "Cassie" from Texas?  The one who wrote for the Universal Seduction series??  I figured you most likely were, then clicked on your website link and see that you have the Universal Seduction series advertised on your page.  Is so, then Wow!!  Pretty cool!  If not, I'm a goober, and just ignore this! 

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress...

Cassie

I was joking about the piranhas and coyotes.

Lono--I find that it pays to talk with the neighborhood kids in a cooperative manner. We've never had problems with kids when we build a rapport with them. I know this doesn't work in all cases, but they'll respect you more if you respect them. They're kids, is all, and they like to please people who treat them well--this is my experience.

Talking with the neighbors is always a challenge, but a good idea if you can keep a respectful  attitude. I've worked in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the SF area and never had any tools stollen or vehicles damaged. Respect goes a long way--backed by a sincere smile and a safe bit of prudence.

Anyway-- back to the cats, I think you can take a multi-faceted approach.  Put those collars with bells on yourself, since they won't do it.  Plant rue and other plants around your "boundary" area.  Plant pleasing plants to lure them AWAY from your area, etc.  It'll be a lot of trouble, but I think it's the best you can do for now.  But also-- try talking to them mentally and asking them to go elsewhere, just as I'm going to have to talk to this little girl.  You obviously know how to communicate with cats, since you have two of your own.

I've decided I'm going to tell my little "problem girl" about the flower seeds, the new grass, etc., and explain to her why it's important to keep bikes and stuff off of it.

That's the kind of advise I'm looking for!  I don't have any experience with kids, so when I try to get them to respect my property, it comes off sounding mean if I come out and say it, or condescending when I try to be nice.  It's hard for me to relate because when I was a little kid, I was soooo respectful of boundaries.  I made friendships with some of the neighbors and would pet their dogs through the fence (once I had permission and knew they weren't mean), but steered clear of their private yards, driveways, etc. 

Oh-- just had another thought about the cats.  Could you get your neighbor to at least put collars with bells on them?  That scares away birds and small animals, and they can't sneak up on them.

Good idea.  I even suggested one time that they put a bird feeder in THEIR yard to keep the cats there. But they never did. Maybe I will just go out and get a birdfeeder and some collars with bells (they have 4 cats!)

Yeah, I was very respectful as a kid about other people's yards. I was real anal with my kids on that point.  I use to have kids all over my yard when my kids were little. I didnt care then. But now they are grown, and its kind of nice not having bikes laying all over and toys strewn about. Now its a place to relax.

Like anything to do with nature--remove or substitute the food source. You could decide to turn it into a cat sanctuary and keep adding fingerlings to the pond, or you could create a reverse-predation and place paranha in the pond and coyotes in the fenced yard.

Maybe de-clawed cats wouldn't come into the yard. Discuss with your neighbors the possibilities to keep harmony in the neighborhood.

Titmouse,
that defeats the whole purpose of the WILDLIFE habitat.  Domestic cats kill more songbirds than any other predator. They dont kill to eat, they do it for sport. Why should I give up my enjoyment of the wildlife, faeries and divas that that my yard was intended for, just because the neighbors dont care about their cats?  My cats are indoors for a reason. I know they would be killers in the garden.  Plus, I feel they are safer inside I make sure that they are happy and well entertained and provided for indoors. They themselves could fall prey to predators outside, bobcats, hawks, and cars.  Plus I also realize that they dont know human land boundaries, and I  respect the fact  that some neighbors would not appreciate my cats in their yard.  .

Oh-- just had another thought about the cats.  Could you get your neighbor to at least put collars with bells on them?  That scares away birds and small animals, and they can't sneak up on them.

Like anything to do with nature--remove or substitute the food source. You could decide to turn it into a cat sanctuary and keep adding fingerlings to the pond, or you could create a reverse-predation and place paranha in the pond and coyotes in the fenced yard.

Maybe de-clawed cats wouldn't come into the yard. Discuss with your neighbors the possibilities to keep harmony in the neighborhood.

Titmouse, I had thought about the concept of making a "cat area" with catnip, valerian (they love that stinky stuff), etc.  That might work-- make an area that begs to be a cat home!  Just make it far away from your other sanctuary, if possible.

Now I have a similar problem, but with kids.  We have neighborhood kids that are mostly good, but there's one 10-year-old girl who keeps riding her bike in my yard.  This bothers me on a number of levels, one because I don't want to be liable if she gets hurt.   But more importantly, I don't want my grass and flowers trampled, it just feels like a territory violation, and I don't like kids!  But now I'm reminded of my neighbor and her trees, the man who hated squirrels, etc.  I wanted to just go out there and tell her not to ride in my yard, but my  husband has asked me not to because he doesn't want me "making a bad impression" with our new neighbors.  If I see her riding on my grass one more time, I'm going to say something, but I'm not sure how to handle it.

Edited to add, I'm working on becoming the crazy cat lady that all the neighborhood kids fear, but that doesn't just happen overnight.  You have to work up to it, and right now I only have four cats, I'm not old enough, and I'm just not crazy enough yet.   Workin' on it, tho'!