How to Deter Skunks

[catluvrr]

I've been feeding some outside feral cats for a while. Now it looks like a skunk has found the location and the cats are scared to come out and the skunk eats all the food. I wonder what might be used to deter the skunk? A smell, maybe a spray bottle of water, a hose? Local officials just say stop feeding cats outside.
Any suggestions on what has worked for you?

 

[catapault]

Skunks neither jump nor climb. Make a feeding table and feed the cats up there.

 

[catluvrr]

They're not on my property. I can't build where they are.

 

[shadowsrescue]

I am always certain to pick the food up at dark. The skunks usually don't come out when it's light outside.

 

[fionasmom]

Supposedly skunks dislike cheap body spray and aftershave, ammonia, and moth balls. However, the second two could be harmful and hard to use when you can't control when and where the cats are eating and the body spray might deter the cats. There may be holistic home remedies online if you check. I only mention what a friend of mine who does not have cats did because if you have some way of controlling the access so that no one eats what they should not, it might help.

I did not know that they cannot climb or jump.