Cats can cause havoc to flower gardens. They use garden beds as giant outdoor litter boxes and dig holes as hiding places; to prevent this from happening in your own garden or nearby, simple solutions such as tape and chicken wire may help.
Coleus caninus is an eye-catching plant that’s said to reek of urine odor – making it the ideal way to keep cats away from your flower garden!
Tape
Many cat owners can be dismayed when their felines dig up flowerbeds or use them as litter boxes. If this has happened to your garden or that of a neighbor’s cat, there are some simple deterrent methods you can try in order to keep them at bay.
Use tape balls made of masking or duct tape to cover areas in which your feline friends like to nap or lounge. The clinging tape may irritate cats as they move around, as well as prevent them from previewing landing spots before jumping up. A similar method includes placing chicken wire over any areas you need to protect.
Fence
Cats have the ability to climb over standard fences and gain entry to your garden bed. One clever solution is using an oscillate fence which will shock cats every time they touch it, discouraging them from coming back.
Some plants emit strong odors that deter cats, such as thyme, rosemary and lavender – in particular Coleus caninus (which reportedly smells similar to cat urine).
If local cats are frequenting your garden, installing an outdoor litter box could deter them and help prevent diseases spread by their droppings. Another alternative would be using motion activated sprinklers which spray cats with water when activated – this may scare them away more effectively than installing litter boxes!
Rough Surfaces
Cats tend to avoid rough surfaces such as bark or coarse twigs in flower gardens, so adding these materials could discourage cats from defecating on your plants if they have an affinity for doing so. Cover the soil in your garden with these items or use chicken wire if stray cats have an interest in doing so.
Before planting flowers in your soil, erect lattice fencing that has holes designed to make digging through them difficult for cats. Scatter orange and lemon peels on it or rub your plants with cayenne pepper, coffee grounds or essential oils may also deter cats.
Water
Cats enjoy flower beds because their soil is soft, providing an ideal setting for outdoor toileting – but this can destroy plants, release an unpleasant odor, and draw other cats in for toileting sessions.
Water barriers are an easy and efficient way to keep cats out of your garden. Cats do not like getting wet, so spraying some water over their bodies might startle them enough to deter their visitation of that spot.
Another safe solution is a motion-activated sprinkler, which shoots out a burst of water when it detects movement in an area. This method provides an alternative to commercial sprays which contain harsh chemicals.
Cat-Attracting Plants
Flower plants that are safe for cats offer a range of textures, scents and colors to appeal to gardeners while discouraging unwanted feline behavior. Some even contain scents which repel cats.
Coral bells are easy-care shade-loving plants that add vibrancy to your garden and are safe for felines to nibble on occasionally.
Sunflowers make an eye-catching focal point in the landscape and draw cats like magnets – encouraging them to roll, flip and rub against them! Valerian also attracts cats without harming your plants.
Scents
Cats dislike certain scents and will avoid gardens planted with these scents; many fragrances also repel both cats and insects.
Scatter a little citrus peel around your plants or use citrus-scented spray to deter felines. Or create your own cat repelling spray using black pepper – but be aware that its ingestion could damage a pet’s eyes or make them sick!
Plant rosemary, thyme and lavender herbs around your flowers or incorporate them into a container garden – they not only repel cats but also attract pollinators for added benefit in your garden! Plus they make your neighbors jealous.