We put sheet rock screws pointing out of the down spout edges..if a neighborhood dog hurts itself on them..well that is the point. Deterrents to work need to be memorable.

The spikes should work. My father's cat kept peeing in his potted plants. Dad put garden spikes in the dirt, and that ended it.

Maybe try wrapping it in aluminum foil for a couple of weeks? Or those double sided sticky paws strips? (Mine has never tripped in an earthquake, but the kids playing in the driveway have tripped it multiple times, I think by accidentally hitting it with balls.). Oh, is there a scent deterrent for cats? Something you could spray it with for a couple of weeks?

Thanks, guys. I might try the sticky tape first, and then, once the cat has had a chance to climb the learning curve, bird spikes.

I have several bird feeders in my yard that the neighbor's cats were haunting. I can't tell you how many times I found feathers in the yard. I looked online for deterrents, and tried an inexpensive one that I had on hand. Garlic powder sprinkled in the area did it! I don't know if it would work if you put some on the ground near your meter, but it's worth a try.

Thinking a cover of some sort may be the best option...

How about a potted plant cozied up to it, like a pyracantha (thorns) and/or something bushy enough that it doesn't give the cat a clear shot at it?

I think a cover is beyond my engineering skills. My meter is flanked by a hose bib and garden hose on one side and my upstairs neighbor's meter on the other (the pic above isn't my meter). It's a whole mess of pipes and hoses. Plus, if the cat jumps on the meter, you know he would jump on a cover, so it would have to be anchored in a way that it didn't transmit vibrations to the meter.

Though I like the idea of the cat trying to wrangle with a thorny plant, the walkway is pretty narrow and I think it would interfere with people as well. Sadly.

Anything tippy that the cat feels unstable on can be placed over the meter. A slanted roof style cover held up with some upright stakes on either side will also work. I don't think the garden spikes will help, the cat can just jump over them. Sticky tape is the best. Cats hate hate hate the feeling of sticky tape on their paws and will avoid anything that has/ had it.

Here's the bird spike solution. I hope it works. In case you are wondering, I can reach the shut-off valves, though with the earthquake valves, I'd probably just give them a whack if I needed to shut off the gas in a hurry.

Here's the furry culprit. He's not even mine. Stupid.