Cats are cute companions that fill the homes of many around the world with happiness. But they have a tendency to cause mayhem in your garden, trampling your flower beds. From digging and lounging to using the soil as their personal litter box, cats can wreak major havoc on your painstakingly developed garden. The good news? You shouldn’t have to resort to inhumane means to deter them.
| Method | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use predator urine, bitter apple, spicy peppers, or herbs like rosemary and citronella. Apply regularly.1 | Easy to apply; no physical structure needed. | Requires reapplication; may affect plant taste/smell. | |
| Mix citrus peels with water/vinegar or use cayenne pepper in water.1 | Affordable; easy to apply; no physical structure needed. | May not be as potent as commercial sprays; requires reapplication. | |
| Plant lavender, rosemary, lemon balm, etc., but avoid catnip and valerian which attract cats. Check toxicity before planting. Ensure plants are safe for pets and humans alike.3 Some plants like citronella have toxic leaves despite their repellent properties. | Natural remedy; perennial plants return annually. | Less effective than chemical repellents; requires plant care. | |
| Switch from animal-based fertilizers that might attract cats to plant-based ones for a safer garden environment. | Natural remedy; organic options available. | May not completely deter cats; potentially more expensive than animal-based fertilizers. | |
| : – Cat Scat Mats – Motion-Activated Sprinklers – Netting – Cat-Proof Fencing | Physical barriers that deter without harming cats. | Long-term solution without chemicals. Effective against other wildlife too. | Can be expensive; requires installation; may be visually unappealing. |
| DIY Structures: <ul><li>Cat-Deterring Sticks</li><li>Pinecones or Prickly Barriers</li><li>Cat-Proof Ground Cover (e.g., chicken wire)</li></ul> | Inexpensive; natural materials can compost over time; affects other nuisance wildlife too. | May need replacement over time; natural materials decompose quickly; aesthetically unpleasing.< | |
| Mothballs & Ammonia (Not Recommended) | Not recommended due to toxicity risks for humans and pets alike | ||
| Mothballs & Cocoa Hull Mulch (Not Recommended) | Toxicity risks make these options unsafe |
The Reason Cats Gravitate Toward Flower Beds
To ensure that your efforts against keeping cats out of the garden are effective, you need to understand why, exactly, felines are attracted to flower beds in the first place. You can develop a more targeted plan to keep them out by addressing the underlying causes of their behavior.
Cat Behavior Around Gardens
Scent Marking: Cats are territorial creatures. They sometimes mark with their scent to establish territory. They may be drawn to freshly tilled soil, mulch or even the scent of some plants.
Hunting Instincts: Gardens are busy ecosystems. Flower beds are hunting grounds for cats, common visitors include birds, insects and small rodents.
A Place Relaxed With Soil: Cats love resting on soft, loose soil, making it a great place to lie down or dig. And flower beds are ideal for sunbathing.
With this knowledge about these behaviors, you will understand which strategies you could use specifically to stop cats from coming into your garden.
Plants that Cats like the Most
Some plants are simply irresistible to cats for any number of reasons, including texture, smell, or other properties. The most familiar of these is catnip, but others including valerian, lemongrass and even some grasses may have similar effects.
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Guidelines for Repelling Cats:
- Don’t Plant Catnip or Others That Attract Felines To Flower Beds
- If you love these plants, consider potting them or placing them far from your major garden area.
- Natural Repellents to Keep Cats Away
Natural deterrents or repellents are typically the most humane and ecologically sound approach to preventing cats from roaming through your flower beds. These solutions work by making your garden less attractive or inaccessible to cats.
Physical Barriers
Use fences and mesh: Putting physical barriers can be the easiest way to keep the cats out. Place chicken wire, garden mesh, or small fences around your flower bed.
Tip: Make sure the barrier is 2 feet high at a minimum, cats are great jumpers. Have sturdy and difficult to climb surfaces.
Mulch and Ground Cover: Cats do not like walking on rough or uncomfortable textures.
Scatter rough mulch, pinecones, or even spiny branches over the earth. This makes it a less agreeable surface for cats to contact or dig on.
Repellent Plants
Some plants have a strong smell or a texture that naturally drives cats away. Incorporating these into your garden will serve as a natural line of defense.
Lavender and Rosemary — cats are not fans of the strong odor left by these plants. They also perfume your garden as an added bonus.
Coleus Canina (Scaredy Cat Plant): This specific type of plant is reputed to repel cats, as it emits a pungent scent that they dislike.
How to Use Repellent Plants:
- Plant these at the fringes of your garden or scattered in between your flower beds.
- Pit them against other deterrents for far-reaching impact.
Homemade Sprays
Basic sprays are an economical and easy way to discourage cats. These sprays work on natural ingredients that cats dislike but do not bother them or your plants.
Recipes for Homemade Sprays:
Citrus Spray:
You will need citrus peels (lemon or orange), water, and vinegar.
How-to: In a saucepan, boil the citrus peels in the water for about two minutes. Sprinkle a few drops of vinegar over the soil or on garden borders and spray.
Vinegar and Water Spray:
Ingredients: Equal parts vinegar and water.
What to do: Mix and lightly spray around your flower beds. Do not spray plants directly, as the vinegar may hurt them.
Pro Tip: Respray after rain or watering to keep them effective.
Commercial Products and Tools
If natural deterrents don’t do the trick, there are a number of commercially available solutions that are specifically designed to keep your garden cat-free.
Ultrasonic Repellent Devices
Ultrasonic devices use high-frequency sounds that are irritating to cats but inaudible to humans. They are also motion-activated, so they are efficient and low-maintenance.
Pros and Cons:
ProsCons Humane and safe for animals May not work for all cats (sensitivity varies)Low maintenance Requires batteries or power source Covers a large areaInitial cost is high
Motion-Activated Sprinklers
A motion-activated sprinkler is yet another humane, yet effective tool. As a cat draws near, the sprinkler turns on, shooting water and scaring the animal off.
Placement Tips:
Place sprinklers around the edge of your flower beds.
- Make sure to verify the sensitivity of the motion sensor so that the triggering happens at the right distance.
- Do It Yourself Solutions with Common Household Items
- You don’t need to spend a lot to discourage cats. Common household products can serve as effective deterrents.
Using Aluminum Foil and Reflective Materials
Kitties hate aluminium foil: its texture and sound. Lay down sheets of foil around your flower beds or wrap them around plants you’d like to protect.
Reflective surfaces from CDs or mirrors can also be hung in and around the garden to make visual deterrents.
Other Household Solutions
Also, you can use simply plastic bottles filled with water, simply place some clear plastic bottles filled with water around your garden. The sun’s reflection harasses and affrights cats.
Coffee Grounds — Used coffee grounds sprinkled over the soil. It has a strong odor that repels cats and additionally serves as a soil enrichener.
Conclusion
Keeping cats away from your flower beds doesn’t have to be an overwhelming job. By learning about cat behavior and ways to deter cats using a mix of natural, commercial, and DIY methods, you can have a cat-free but thriving garden.
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