As some of you might know, we have real problems with Otto the cat pooing all over the lawn ( we picked up 20 poos today !). He doesn't seem to be anxious or scared AND we have built him a big cat toilet in the back.
Anyway, today I read that cats don't like areas that smell of citrus peel or coffee grind ? Does anyone have experience of using either. We have just treated half the garden with it to see what will happen....

I've found tin foil works too. For some reason they don't like the look of it (maybe it's the glare) but it does seem to deter them.

I tried that with my male when he went through this phase. He thought it was easier to poo/wee on . Although bless him, it did make it easier to clean.

How old is he? and any other things different about him?

I asked as one of my BIL's cats has started eating more and more and also pooing on his lawn .

I think its something medical .

Not yours BTW but my BI laws

I noticed this with my Gus recently, but I put it down to the wet weather we've been having, together with his poorly paw, both of which would have made it hard for him to dig a hole and cover it up cleanly.

He always seems to go in the same spot in the grass though.

Citrus peel does work. Our two hate it.

We've used it keep them away from some corner of the house now and then but it dries out and loses it's effect very quickly. Not sure how it would hold up on a large outdoor area ... not very effectively I'm guessing.

He is just over a year old, and we think it is probably a territorial thing, as he only really started doing it after next door's doberman broke through their rotting fence a few times and left poo of his own. The fact that our cat doesn't even try to cover it speaks for this as well.
The fences are now mended, but still no improvment.

Ahh Right . No my BIL's cat is a old cat .

Have you tried leaving those pretend rubber snakes and or pop bottles 3 quarters filled with water around?
It works on some cats

LQS ~ I think you are right that it's a territorial thing. Cats mostly dig a hole & cover up their poo but they also use poo as a form of olfactory & visual communication, a sort of "keep out" sign to other cats. In these cases the poo will be left uncovered in a visually prominant place & the middle of your lawn would fit the bill nicely.

Other than leaving deterrents in the form of citrus peel or other nasty smells and cleaning up, there is not much you can. Provided that your cat starts to perceive your garden as a safe place again its possible that the need to leave so much poo on the garden will fade, especially with better weather coming when you can spend more time in the garden.

Thanks for the advice guys - just a quick update. The citrus peel/ coffee grind combo seems to be working. He only sprints across the grass now and spends most of his time in the borders and in the semi-wooded bit out the back. In addition, he has started using his outdoor litter tray .
I have put the word out at work for everyone to save their citrus peel as we simply can't keep up ! I don't mind this solution, as it won't harm him, the guineas or the lawn. BTW in case anyone is thinking of trying this, I roughly process the peel in a food processor, it makes it go further and doesn't leave unsightly lumps on the lawn.