Sat Nov 08 15:24:04 UTC 2025: Summary:
Residents of three apartment complexes in Saligramam, Chennai, have placed bottles filled with blue-tinted water outside their buildings in an attempt to deter stray dogs and cats from defecating on their property. While one watchman claims the method is effective, others dispute its success. The practice is based on a widely debunked myth that colored water repels animals. Despite lacking scientific backing, residents continue the practice, believing in its potential to keep their premises clean.
News Article:
Chennai Residents Employ Unproven Method to Deter Stray Animals
Chennai, November 8, 2025 – Residents in a Saligramam neighborhood of Chennai have adopted a curious approach to manage stray animal populations around their apartment complexes. Transparent plastic bottles filled with blue-tinted water now adorn the gates of three buildings on MGR Street at Kaveri Rangan Nagar, with the aim of preventing dogs and cats from defecating on the property.
The practice, which has been ongoing for about a month, involves using a laundry bluing agent to color the water. While one watchman claims the method has proven effective, with stray animals reportedly avoiding the area, other residents suggest that the “barrier” is often breached.
The idea that colored water repels dogs and cats is widely considered a myth and lacks scientific evidence. Experts have debunked the notion, suggesting that the bottles might even pique the curiosity of animals, leading to the opposite of the intended effect.
Despite the lack of scientific support, residents continue to implement the practice, believing in its potential to keep their premises clean. As the practice does not interfere with the freedom of others, residents are free to carry out the exercise.
First Piper 