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Cat-Proof Your Garden With These Tips
Cat’s love to dig up soil, scratch at plants, and use the garden as their personal litter box, leaving unsightly messes and causing damage to your plants.
Not to mention you don’t want cat poop next to your lettuce or vegetables.
What can you do to keep cats out of the garden? Here are some effective solutions.
How To Keep Neighbors Cats Out of My Garden?
Cats are adorable pets that bring joy and companionship to their owners. However, when they start wandering into your garden, things can quickly turn messy.
I’ll never forget the time when I was working on my garden, it was hot, humid, and sticky. I grabbed a bag of mulch, slung it over my shoulder, then this smelly liquid ran down my back and front. You guessed it, Cat pee.
I didn’t own cats. In fact, I’m highly allergic to cats. But the neighbors? They all had cats, and lots of them.
I realized then, if I didn’t get creative with ways to keep my neighbors cats out of my garden, I would be defeated.
What Is The Most Effective Cat Repellent?
One of the most effective cat repellents are motion activated sprinklers.
Cats hate water and don’t like getting wet.
These devices use a sensor to detect the presence of cats and spray water to deter them from entering the area.
You can set up a motion-activated sprinkler or a shallow pool of water that will spray them when they get too close.
This will not only keep cats out of the garden, but will also help keep your plants hydrated.
What Is The Best Homemade Cat Repellent for Your Garden?
One of the most effective ways to keep cats out of the garden is by using natural deterrents.
Cats are sensitive to certain scents, so using strong-smelling herbs and spices can help keep them at bay. Some popular options include lavender, citrus, peppermint, and rosemary.
You can sprinkle these around your garden, or plant them near the perimeter to create a barrier the cats will avoid.
DIY Cat Repellents To Keep Cats Out Of Your Yard and Garden
There are several homemade cat repellents that can be effective in keeping cats out of your garden.
Here are a few options:
- Citrus Spray: Cats are repelled by the smell of citrus, so a spray made with citrus fruits can be an effective repellent.
To make this spray, mix together water and lemon, lime, or orange juice in a spray bottle and apply it to plants and around the perimeter of the garden. - Vinegar Spray: Vinegar has a strong odor that cats dislike.
To make a vinegar spray, mix together equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and apply it to plants, and areas where cats have been seen. - Coffee Grounds: Used coffee grounds have a strong smell that cats dislike.
Sprinkle the grounds around the garden to keep cats away. Bonus: coffee grounds are also a natural fertilizer, and can benefit your plants. - Lavender: Cats are also repelled by the smell of lavender.
Planting lavender around the perimeter of your garden will help keep cats away. - Rosemary: Similar to lavender, cats do not like the smell of rosemary.
Planting rosemary around your garden can help repel cats.
It’s important to note that homemade cat repellents may not work for every cat, and may need to be reapplied frequently.
In addition to planting herbs, you can make our all natural critter ridder spray.
Install Physical Barriers To Keep Cats Out of Your Garden
Installing physical barriers is another effective way to keep cats out of the garden. In addition to keeping cats out, they can help keep other unwanted pests out.
Some common options include:
- Chicken wire. Add a wire fence around your garden for protection. We found this worked best when we left the poky edge on top. Kind of like a barbed wire fence.
- Mesh netting. Mesh netting over your garden not only protects your plants from cats but also bugs and other critters.
- Pine cones. Pine cones are hard to walk on and prickly. Place them all around the perimeter of your garden and plants.
- Plastic forks. Place plastic forks with the handle in the dirt, all around your plants and garden.
- Sticks. Much like the forks, sticks placed vertically will deter cats from entering your garden.
Be sure to secure the barrier tightly to prevent cats from slipping through any gaps or holes.
How Do I Stop Cats Pooping In My Garden Naturally?
In addition to implementing the above techniques and tips, I suggest providing an outdoor litter box. Especially if your cats are the ones pooping in your garden.
Cats love to dig, so creating a dedicated digging area can help redirect their attention away from your garden.
This can be a sandbox or a specific section of your yard away from the garden that you fill with loose soil or sand.
Be sure to make it appealing by burying a few toys or treats to encourage your feline friends to use the designated area instead of your garden.
If they do poop in your garden, make sure to clean up regularly.
Cats are attracted to areas where other cats have already pooped, so it’s important to clean up any poop as soon as you see it,to discourage other cats from using the same spot.
How To Keep Cats Out of The Garden
Keeping cats out of the garden requires a combination of tactics.
Using natural deterrents, installing physical barriers, creating a dedicated digging area, providing a water source, using ultrasonic repellents, and using chemical deterrents are all effective solutions.
By implementing these strategies, you can enjoy a beautiful garden without worrying about unwanted visitors.
How To Keep Pests Out Of Your Garden
Do you deal with other pests entering your garden besides cats?
We have a solution for you.
Check out our tips on how to keep deer (and other critters) out of your garden. After all your hard work, you deserve to enjoy your garden, free from pests.
