Learn how to keep cats out of your garden to protect your plants and yourself!
As cute as cats are, allowing them to run free in your garden isn't always a good idea. In fact, it can be quite dangerous!
While fences are great for keeping other animals out, they don't always work on cats, leaving many gardens vulnerable to becoming the neighborhood cat's bathroom.
Cat feces contains a variety of parasites, including toxoplasma gondii. To be fair, this parasite can also be found in contaminated meat and drinking water, though it's far less common.
Toxoplasma gondii can cause toxoplasmosis in those who come into contact with it. It's more likely to affect pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.
Beyond that, there's the risk of roundworm, tapeworm, and hookworm. Not to mention cats love to dig up garden beds and even munch on some of your plants.
Let's go over the ways you can effectively keep cats out of your garden.
How To Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Clean The Area
Cats, like many animals, like to continue going to the bathroom where they've previously gone. If they smell their old feces or urine, they will likely continue going in the same spots.
To dispose of cat feces in your garden, you'll need gloves, a small digging tool, and a disposable bag. Dig one to two inches below the surface and dispose of the droppings and soil into the disposable bag.
Then spray the surrounding soil with a garden hose to get rid of the scent as much as possible without overwatering your plants.
Cat Repellent Plants
Cats, like many animals, like to continue going to the bathroom where they've previously gone. If they smell their old feces or urine, they will likely continue going in the same spots.
To dispose of cat feces in your garden, you'll need gloves, a small digging tool, and a disposable bag. Dig one to two inches below the surface and dispose of the droppings and soil into the disposable bag.
Then spray the surrounding soil with a garden hose to get rid of the scent as much as possible without overwatering your plants.
Cat Repellent Plants
There are several plants that cats tend to avoid, as they find the fragrance offensive. Incorporating these plants into your garden can work wonders to keep them away.
Some common cat repellent plants include:
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Pennyroyal
- Curry
- Lavender
Cats like to walk on soft surfaces, so adding twigs, yard trimmings, or pine cones around the garden beds will deter them from walking around and using the area as their toilet.
Some people lay chicken wire and specially made mats that make the surface uncomfortable for cats.
Install PestAway Ultrasonic Animal Repeller
The PestAway Ultrasonic Animal Repeller keeps cats away emitting an ultrasonic frequency and flashing a strobe light as soon as an animal enters its 40 foot radius.
The noise is only audible to the pest animals, in this case, cats. Of course, this is 100% safe and does not harm the cats or any other animals in the area.
Simply place the device near the cat's favorite spot in the garden, or purchase several and place them all throughout your garden to keep them away completely.
Create A Separate Area For The Cats
Some people have taken to creating a separate, cat-friendly area in their garden. Maybe nothing is working and you're at your wits end, or perhaps you like having cats in your yard, as long as they're not using your garden beds as a bathroom.
Either way, people have been creating miniature gardens for their neighborhood cats, complete with plants that cats like (mint, catnip, and honeysuckle for example), and a little sandbox for them to use as a litter box. Of course, you'll have to clean the sandbox frequently.
Throw Citrus Peels In Your Garden
Cats strongly dislike the smell of citrus, so throwing in old citrus peels into your garden beds can be quite effective.
While it may look a little tacky, it's worth it! Cats will no longer dig up your plants, spray, or poo in your garden.
Essential Oils
Mixing a few drops of essential oils with water and spraying them around your garden is another option for repelling cats.
Some popular essential oils that cats dislike include:
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint
- Orange
- Citronella
There are, of course, options for fencing that keeps cats out of your yard, but it can get expensive, and it's not a quick fix.
Beyond the obvious health risks associated with cats using your garden as a toilet, you don't want them digging up or eating your plants. The options listed above should keep cats out of your garden without resorting to expensive fencing.
Do cats visit your garden? How do you keep them out? Let us know in the comments below!
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