Show Kitties digging in your garden can be a nuisance and a serious health risk (due to the spread of toxoplasmosis in a proportion of cats’ feces). Maybe it’s even your own cat! (Photo: Felicia D'Ascanio via Unsplash) Neighbourhood kitties digging in your garden can be a nuisance. Maybe it’s even your own cat!Why are they a problem?
Try these solutions to keep cats out of your much-loved vegetable beds and away from the food you grow: Prickly is bestCats prefer to walk on soft, loose soil and will avoid prickly surfaces. Make your garden beds less inviting, or less like a litter box. Try these low-cost, upcycled and simple prickly solutions:
Use scent to keep the cats away
Wash up to deter garden catsIf your visitor has a favourite location, wash the area well with a hose (or water from your rain barrel) to remove the scent or urine spray. Boost your cleaning with eco-friendly liquid castile soap on doors, patio furniture, etc. Cats tend to choose the same spot repeatedly, so remove their previous claim to your garden to prevent repeat offences. FencesCreate a barrier with wire-mesh fencing. Most recommend at least 1.8 metres high and 5.1 by 5.1 centimetre squares. An overhang makes it even better. WaterA gentle misting with water from a spray bottle can help cats break the positive association with your garden. Motion-activated sprinkler systems can keep cats away, too. Just make sure you remember when they are on and obey guidelines during summer water shortages. SoundTry wind chimes, motion-sensitive bells or even rocks or pebbles in a jar that rattle when kitty comes near. There are also motion-activated devices and, in the case of ultrasound devices, emit a frequency that cats can’t stand but is inaudible to humans. Create an outdoor litter boxCall it a peace offering? Cats love mint, honeysuckle and catnip. Place a small sandbox nearby. Sure you’ll need to clean up and properly dispose of cat waste, but it might help keep kitty — and her business — out of your veggies. Build a “catio”Assuming it’s your cat you need to deter, build an outdoor cat enclosure to save your garden, as well as birds and other wildlife. Note: Problem with a feral cat? Contact your local animal shelter for help. What is the most effective cat repellent?The Best Cat Repellents of 2022. Best Spray. Sentry Stop That! ... . Best Overall. PetSafe Ssscat Spray Pet Deterrent.. Best Bang for the Buck. Homarden Cat Repellent Scat Mat.. Best Indoor. PetSafe Indoor Radio Fence.. Best Outdoor. Orbit Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler.. Best for Furniture. ... . Best Spray. ... . Best Overall.. What scares cats away from your house?Scatter orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, chili pepper flakes, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, or mustard oil. 2. Scatter pinecones in the areas. Ponderosa or other prickly cones work best 3.
How do you get rid of cats around the house?To keep unwanted cats out of the house, try spraying lemon juice outside your door, because most cats don't like the smell of citrus. Alternatively, you can sprinkle cayenne pepper or coffee grounds outside your entrance, which can also serve as a deterrent.
What smells do cats dislike?Surprising smells cats hate. Citrus: orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit. Citrus smells are widely reported as being repugnant to cats. ... . Lavender, geranium, and eucalyptus. ... . Rosemary, thyme, and rue. ... . Banana and mustard. ... . Pepper, curry, and cinnamon. ... . Mint, wintergreen, and menthol. ... . Pine. ... . Dirty litter box.. |