One of the benefits of urban living, my neighborhood is loaded with feral cats. I think I have 3 to 5 different cats that visit my backyard daily. I only had squirrel, rabbit or vole damage of over wintering stock once. I do get the odd cat sitting on a tree, or leaning against one and ''re-arranging'' the branches. Squirrel damage to the trees for me comes mainly in autumn, when the squirrels are frantically burying food for the winter. Then they climb on my benches and plant things in my bonsai.