Cats–especially kittens–can be adorable, funny, and beneficial–eliminating mice, rats, and squirrels. They are also incredibly annoying when they poop, urinate, and dig up seeds and plants in your garden and flowerbeds. Try one or more of these ideas to keep your gardens feline-free.
Reasons To Keep Cats Out
Cats may remove the odd rodent from your garden but the irritation they cause is usually not worth the small benefit.
- Health Risks. Cat feces can contain parasites like roundworms and bacteria like salmonella and E. coli which may remain in the soil for quite some time. Cats–especially feral cats–can carry many diseases including TB, rabies, and parasites.
- Plant Damage. Can dig out seeds and young plants while pooping.
- Yuck Factor. Shoving your bare hand into fresh cat feces while working on your plants.
- Cat Spraying. Male cats spray urine on buildings and plants to mark their territory. It stinks.
- Loss Of Birds. Cats kill many more birds in gardens than they kill mice.
How To Keep Cats Out
Using one or more of these environmentally friendly non-lethal suggestions will keep your gardens and flowerbeds cat, feces, and urine free.
Using Plants As a Cat Deterrent
The smell of some plants acts as a natural cat repellant. Grow them around the borders of your gardens and flower beds to keep cats on the outside. For larger areas grow the plants throughout the garden. Mix and match them to achieve the color scheme you prefer.
- Scaredy Cat Plant (Coleus Canina). Specifically bred by a German botanist to repel cats. This perennial plant gives off a strong odor–somewhat like Eucalyptus–when brushed against that keeps cats away.
- Common Rue.
- Marigold.
- Lavender.
- Geranium.
- Thorny Roses.
Essential Oil Deterrent
Certain essential oils repel cats. Mix up one part of your favorite essential oil with three parts water. Use a spray bottle to spray any area that cats are using as a toilet and any other likely spots. Essential oils that cats dislike include:
- Orange.
- Lime.
- Grapefruit.
- Citronella.
- Lemongrass.
- Peppermint.
- Lavender.
- Pennyroyal.
Essential oil spray should be renewed after a heavy rain.
Coffee and Cayenne Deterrent
Cats dislike the smell of coffee grounds and don’t like walking on them because of the texture. They hate the smell of cayenne pepper or black pepper. Mix coffee grounds and cayenne pepper and sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden and between plants for extra protection.
Cats also dislike the smell of tea leaves. Break open a few tea bags and sprinkle the contents around your garden or flowerbed.
Ground Cover Deterrent
Cats are particular about the texture of what they are walking on. Spread some of these items around and in your garden to keep cats out.
- Pine Cones and Needles.
- Mulch. Wood chips. Crushed rock. Pea gravel.
- Mesh and Netting. Old mesh onion or potato bags or garden mesh.
- Plastic Forks. Stuck in the ground tines up. (Clear ones don’t stand out as much.)
- Chicken Wire. Or plastic fencing. Laid on the ground or stretched over the garden or flowerbed.
- Cat Deterrent Mats. Available online, from garden centers, and home improvement outlets. Plastic or metal spike mats.
Sound and Light Deterrent
Cats are easily startled by sudden loud noises and movements and flashing lights. Some things you might want to try include:
- Ultrasonic Cat Repeller. Available online or from home improvement outlets. Solar powered. Emits ultrasonic sound and flashing lights to drive cats away.
- Wind Chimes. Hung over flower beds.
- Foil Pans. Filled with pebbles; they make noise on breezy days.
- Light Reflectors. Like pinwheels, disks, old CDs, or anything that flashes light and moves.
Water Deterrent
Cats hate getting wet. Install a motion-activated water sprinkler system that will spray when a cat enters the garden or flowerbed.
Hair Deterrent
Human and dog hair keeps cats away. For small areas, you may be able to collect enough hair from the brushes in your house. If you need a lot of hair, try to get your barber, hairdresser, or dog groomer to collect hair from their cuts.
Spread the hair about three or four inches wide around the perimeter of your gardens or flowerbeds. Stake mesh over the hair to keep it from blowing away. You get the double deterrent of the smell of hair and the texture of the mesh.
Commercial Spray Deterrent
Buy commercial cat repellent spray, oil, or powder. They usually contain organic mixtures including cloves, garlic, and citronella. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent cats from messing with your gardens.
Paintball Deterrent
If you spend a lot of time in your garden, consider carrying a paintball gun to run them off. Paintballs are not lethal, and they can be fun to use–especially when the cat is not shooting back—as long as you don’t start spraying your house, fence, or car.
Dog Deterrent
Most dogs dislike cats. If you have a dog with an attitude and a way to keep it on your property, you have an excellent cat deterrent as long as the dog has no interest in digging up your gardens.
