It totally is punch, thats why I started this thread hoping someone may have a cost effective solution and something that works but wont harm the animal. I'm not in a position to spend heaps of money on a repellant.  And honestly I dont really mind the cats wandering around my front yard, I just hate the fact that they have used my pathway as a pooping station.

Oh really?  Thats terrible, the kids must've been devestated.  What happened to the dog? Did they report it?