Hi scoobysue
That sounds typical hog turning up the one night the cameras aren’t out!
I know other people do use piping, but I personally have never been keen on the idea. The reason is that I have heard of pest control people putting rat bait in piping, so have never liked the idea of hogs thinking they were ok places to be.
I have wooden boxes for feeding and use bricks inside the internal corridors to reduce the height of the corridor, (i.e. on the floor of the corridor so that the hogs climb over them) to deter cats – especially in the areas that they have to double back on themselves. That, I have found, is the easiest and most reliable way to keep cats out. A fairly heavy earth filled flower pot either side of the doorway can also be an extra deterrant – it prevents the cat from entering at an angle which they would have to do if they needed to turn immediately left or right upon entering.
To be honest, it’s all a bit of trial and error, depending on what the hogs in your area will take to and how persistent the cats are.
Good luck, hope you get something worked out that the hogs approve of!
