Cats can do considerable damage to flowerbeds by digging, leaving unapproved deposits behind and using plants as soft napping spots. Physical deterrents like twigs, chicken wire or fencing may help keep cats away from gardens.
Citrus-scented sprays that cats don’t enjoy can help deter them from flower beds. Old jars filled with ammonia can also serve as effective deterrents.
Electric Fence
An electric fence can help to keep cats out of your flower garden. While it requires frequent checking and adjustments to ensure proper function, this solution may still prove effective. Display warning signs near the fence lines to remind visitors it needs checking regularly; use a voltmeter for inspection of fence lines at least twice weekly.
Many products on the market emit an unpleasant, high-frequency sound which irritates and scares cats, while some may also harm birds and should only be used in environments where you do not wish to disturb wildlife.
Cats tend to avoid walking on rough surfaces, so covering the soil in your flower beds and borders with rough materials such as chicken wire or thorny plants like roses, holly or perennial geraniums will deter cats. You could also cover it with pebbles or stones so as to thwart any attempts by cats at digging up your flowers.
Sprinklers
An effective deterrent against cats approaching your garden or flower beds is to install a sprinkler that sprays them with water when they approach. It’s safe, nontoxic and easy – some models emit high-frequency sound waves to irritate cats so that they leave quickly!
Planting prickly ground cover plants such as roses, blackberry bushes and perennial geraniums are an effective way to keep cats out of your garden; their thorny surfaces make walking or nesting in them uncomfortable for cats. You could also cover soil with something sharp like pinecones, brush clippings or chicken wire so as to deter cats from walking on it.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that scattering or dripping the following items into gardens and flowerbeds will protect them from cats: orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus scents), rue herbs that can also be planted live, cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco as well as various oils such as lavender, lemon grass citronella mint or eucalyptus can help.
Mulching
Cats can cause irreparable damage to flowerbeds by digging (and leaving unauthorised deposits), chewing, and using them as soft napping spots. You can help your garden remain intact by placing fine-grained sand in its bed, planting catnip or valerian plants, or creating an outdoor litter box. As an additional measure you could try installing hidden barriers like chicken wire fencing or using extra large “hair pins” made from wire coat hangers as a barrier.
Scent repellents such as ammonia (fill small jars with diluted ammonia and bury them up to their rim in your flower beds), citrus peels, rue, cayenne pepper coffee grounds pipe tobacco or various oils such as lavender lemon grass eucalyptus mint may help dissuade cats from entering your garden, according to Lewis.
Another way to discourage cat digging is with a motion activated sprinkler emitting ultrasonic sounds inaudible to humans but uncomfortable for felines, according to RSPB. However, such devices may only last temporarily before becoming costly and ineffective.
Scarecrow
Cats can be curious creatures and often find themselves in unexpected places, including flower beds. Cats find this territory particularly inviting as it provides them an opportunity to dig and rummage through plants, providing hours of entertainment! While keeping cats out may seem impossible, protecting your blooms with various strategies and techniques – repellent herbs and flowers, fencing, mesh cloth coverings, sprays objects with strong scents such as coffee grounds are just some of the ways that may work against cats invading.
Roses, sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana), mahonia, heuchera and holly can help deter cats from digging in your garden, as can Coleus canina which reportedly repels cats with its scent.
Motion-activated sprinklers may help deter cats from your garden. When they approach, the device activates and sprays water at them – hopefully scaring it off before any harm comes their way. Mothballs contain harmful odors that may irritate skin or even kill cats; motion activated sprinklers provide an alternative that could work to deter felines.