Keep Cats Out of Your Garden is a complete guide to designing a garden to keep cats out. It includes tips on how to choose the right plants for your garden and instructions on how to protect your garden from cat damage.
I’ve been at this for years and I have to say that there is no one magic bullet. What you can do is make it more and more difficult for them so that they give up and find an easier route to roam.
What are the Problems with Cats in your Garden?
The number of cats living in a household has a direct correlation with the number of pests in the garden. The following research shows that cats are generally a boon to a garden, but can also be a bane.
Some people love to have cats as pets and want to keep them around the house as much as possible, but they need to take into account that there are some downsides to cat ownership. For example, the more cats you have in your home, the more pests you will have in your garden because there is evidence that cat predation helps control pest populations.
The researchers found that not only do outdoor-only cats kill prey and scavenge for food sources for themselves and their kittens, they also hunt rats and other rodents which helps keep numbers down considerably.
How to Use Catnip to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Cats are always up to something. They may be cute but they are also destructive. With cats, you never know what to expect, which is why it is frustrating when they keep your garden in their sights.
If you are tired of cats in your garden, here’s an idea: plant cat repellent plants! It will make your garden seem like less of a paradise for kitty cats and they will start avoiding the area altogether.
There are many ways to get rid of cats from your garden or at least discourage them from hanging around for too long. Cat deterrent plants can help with this!
How to Make a DIY Cat Repellent Spray for Your Garden
The use of this natural cat deterrent spray is an easy and cost-effective way to keep cats out of your garden.
This homemade cat repellant spray is a proven cat deterrent that can be used all around your garden. Cats will not want to enter the yard if they see that the repellant is present. This DIY project requires just a few ingredients, and it is going to help you keep your garden free of stray cats.
The effectiveness of this homemade spray will depend on how often you use it, as well as the potency of the ingredients you choose to use in the mix. In general, it can be difficult to stop stray cats from coming into your yard for long periods of time without being too aggressive or cruel towards them.
how to keep cats out of gardens
These are 04 steps for you to Keep Cats Out:
1. Secure and Cat-Proof your Garden
by this I mean block any easy ways in. I could rout this under broken fences that cats take to get in your garden. Lock an open gate. Put chicken wire over “open” fences. Put spikes on shed roofs or places they jump on. The trick here is to try to look at your garden through a cat’s eyes and then cat-proof it.
2. Cat Spray and Citrus
in the places where you are having particular trouble, and their entry routes, spray with cat repellent spray. Try and do this on a clear night. It can wash off easily in rain and you want them to get annoyed by the smell for as long as possible. If you don’t want to use artificial cat spray then try a mix of water and citrus juice (lemon or limes) they hate the stuff.
3. Get Planting to Keep Cats Out
plant lavender and thyme in areas where they definitely “do their business” or Coleus Canina if it is a relatively hot place. More on these plants later in the site – but the bottom line is, that they do not like the smell of it hence they tend to avoid it. Remember, cats have a more sensitive smell than you and I do, hence when they get a whiff of something they’d rather not – they tend to leave the scene.
4. Break out the sonic cat repellers!
These are awesome. Put them in the area where those critters roam. In my experience, cats will only wander around by the sonic cat repellers about a meter or two. So if your garden is small you can cover a lot of ground with two or three repellers. My garden is bigger than that so I tend to stick it into position, leave it a few days, and then switch it to somewhere else in the garden. That is also a problem…a few days after that, I’ll switch back. It confuses them.
The whole point is to make your garden as difficult as possible. Without being unfair to the neighbors–if your garden is difficult, inaccessible, and frightens them, they will go elsewhere. So remember cat proof it, spray it, plant it and break out the sonic cat repellers.
Creating a Cat-Unfriendly Environment
1. Utilize Natural Repellents
Employing scents that cats find unpleasant is an effective deterrent. Citrus peels, coffee grounds, and vinegar are natural substances that felines tend to avoid. Sprinkling these items strategically around your garden beds can discourage cats from frequenting the area.
2. Implement Physical Barriers
Installing barriers like fences or chicken wire can act as a formidable obstacle for cats seeking entry into your garden. Ensure these barriers are sturdy and tall enough to prevent agile felines from jumping over.
Gardening Techniques to Deter Cats
1. Utilize Mulch or Pine Cones
Cats dislike walking on certain textures. Consider spreading rough mulch or pine cones around your plants. The uncomfortable sensation under their paws may dissuade them from exploring your garden.
2. Opt for Raised Beds
Elevating your garden beds can serve as a practical solution. Not only does this protect your plants from unwanted paw traffic, but it also offers an appealing aesthetic to your garden layout.
Cat-Repelling Plants
1. Incorporate Plants that Cats Dislike
Certain plants emit scents that repel cats. Examples include lavender, rue, pennyroyal, and coleus canina (also known as the “scaredy-cat plant”). Strategically planting these varieties can act as a natural deterrent.
Additional Tips for Cat Deterrence
1. Regularly Maintain Your Garden
Keeping your garden tidy by raking leaves, removing debris, and regularly watering the plants discourages cats from viewing it as an ideal spot for lounging or exploring.
2. Provide an Alternative Space
Consider creating a designated area within your yard or nearby where cats are welcome. By offering an alternative space, you may redirect their attention away from your precious garden.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping cats out of gardens requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses both deterrent methods and understanding feline behavior. By combining natural repellents, strategic gardening techniques, and the use of cat-repelling plants, you can safeguard your garden sanctuary from unwanted feline visitors.
Remember, persistence and consistency are key when implementing these strategies. With time and patience, you can create a garden space that remains cat-free while flourishing with vibrant plants and beauty.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Smell of Cat Urine
