Rent-Free livin' critters under the hood

Had some neighbor's cat coming over to rest under the car's shade recently. It just happen that one day while I was inspecting the engine bay that I happen to stumble uppon cat poop on top of the battery.
So its apparent that someone been under the hood rent-free. Had to constantly bang the hood if not open it every time I go some place, because the last thing anybody need is a big fur fest.
So far nothing of that had occour, however I do believe they are still sneaking up into the engine bay and napping there once every now and then. Neighbor likely won't do anything about it because they just leave their pets outside for work, frequently at home aswell. Same situation as feral cats anyway.

So what concern and paranoid me the most as of far is that these critter may somehow.... potentially and possibly trip on, detach, damage, chew on components under the hood. Should I be worried? Or am I just too paranoid.

 

The cats are probably doing you a big favor by keeping away the things that WILL chew on components under the hood and nest there = MICE. You owe your neighbor. The poop is gross, though.

 

They sell cat repellant. I'd give that a go.

 

As @3rdGenJen says, they're probably doing you a favor. The worst case scenario would be if they don't vacate the premises before you start the engine.
Having been a cat household for many years I can tell you that cats are gonna do what cats do. They are not easily trained to stay out of spaces they're comfortable in, particularly when the weather is cool and the engine is still warm.

 

If your neighbor’s cat is keeping mice from chewing your wires, I would overlook a little cat poop. Check out this thread on mice eating soy wires.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/effing-mice.461226/

 

I seem to have overlooked how they could absolutely be a mice deterrent, good thought.

 

Ouch, yeah when writing this I had never thought about how they could be a free mouse deterrence. Good thought.