How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Do you love your feline friend, but hate it whenever he digs, poops in your garden destroying the plants? Keeping a cat out of a garden has always been a troublesome dilemma for many people. The good news is, there are ways how you can deal with it.
What You’ll Need:
Pine cones
Small sticks
Chicken wire
Plastic carpet runner
Squirt gun
Cat repelling plants
Cat repellents
Ultrasonic sound device
Dog
Kitty litter box
Cover Your Mulch
garden catsCats love soft dirt, and they often see mulch as a “giant litter box”. To solve this, cover your mulch with something he wouldn’t want to walk on. Scatter some pine cones, or stick some small sticks in the ground. Cats hate walking in spiky places. Another good tactic is to use shale mulch instead of regular one.
Using chicken wire is also a good idea. Cut a small piece and fit it snugly between the plants. Camouflage and weigh it down with a small amount of mulch. Lining the area with an upside down plastic carpet runner also makes the place less appealing.
Spray Him With Water
Water is a cat’s worst enemy. Whenever you see your darling cat treading over the garden, spray him with water using a squirt gun. This will teach him not to go to these spots. Make sure the water won’t hrut him though. Investing in a motion sensing sprinkler system is also a good idea, but not if your area experiences water shortages.
Use Citrus Rinds
We love the smell of oranges and lemons, but cats absolutely hate these citrus scents and find it offensive. While your plants develop, litter the area and soil with peels from fresh oranges and lemons . Not only will it be beneficial for your soil, it’ll make your feline friend stop digging and pooping on your beloved plants. As an alternative, there are also repellent pellets available in garden centers that give off citrus fruits scents.
Plant Plants He’ll Hate
Aside from putting out citrus rinds and peels, it’s also a good idea to plant plants that will naturally repel kitties. Some plants have repulsive odors that make cats stay away. Lemon thyme, coleus canina and lavender are some popular examples. Rue also has these properties, but is not recommended because of its toxic effects and unpleasant skin reaction in humans. Planting thorny plants, such as roses, around the area might help, too.
Get Some Cat Repellent
If the above solutions still don’t work, another option is to use cat repellents. These can be bought commercially, and are non-toxic. You don’t have to worry about poisoning your cats or your plants. Most cat repellents are scent free and environmentally friendly. Just spray them around whenever you feel that the problem arising.
Try An Ultrasonic Sound Device
Another commercial product you can buy to solve your cat problem is an ultrasonic sound device. These are motion-activated, and run on batteries and work by driving cats and dogs away from your yard. They emit sounds that cats hate, but aren’t heard by humans. Find a model that’s powerful enough to cover the area you want protected. Many are available for insects, so make sure you choose one for bigger animals.
Get A Dog
A dog’s bark can easily chase away a cat. If you love canines, maybe you can also get a dog to “guard” over your kitty. Place him near your yard, so he’ll bark and scare the cat away whenever he goes near your flowers and plants. Make sure your dog won’t harm your garden, though!
Give Him A Litter Box
Maybe the reason why your cat loves your garden so much is because he doesn’t have a place to defecate. Perhaps you’ve been neglecting his kitty box. Get your feline friend a kitty box he can fit in and use. Make sure you keep it clean at all times. If his litter box is clean and useful, he won’t do any unpleasant business in your garden.
Cats are gentle and sweet, but they can be a nuisance when they ruin the garden. Try these easy tips, and keep your darling kitty away from your precious blooms and plants.