If an unwelcome cat is making your garden its toilet, nonviolent methods could help deter its visitation. Such measures could include creating an area designated specifically for feline use or using plants such as pyracantha and holly to form barrier plants that will deter him.
Ammonia
Once your garden begins to bloom, you may discover it becomes an inviting haven for pet, stray or feral cats of all sorts to lounge, nap and even use as a toilet. Unfortunately, cat urine and poop is harmful to plants as well as spreading diseases that will affect humans directly.
One easy way to deter cats from your flower garden is to fill empty jars with ammonia and bury them underground – their scent should deter most cats! The jars won’t even be visible and should stay out of view once planted in the soil.
Other scent repellents for cats include citrus (such as scattering orange and grapefruit peels) and coffee grounds, both used to cover garden beds in your garden. Pipe tobacco can also act as an effective deterrent; simply scatter it around flowerbeds as an effective barrier. Or you could purchase commercial deterrent sprays like Bitter Apple that will both repel cats while providing your plants with much-needed iron!
Citrus
Feline cats can be extremely destructive to gardens. Some gardeners have discovered that noise deterrents and offensive scents can help to keep felines at bay; orange, lemon and lime peels strewn around plants may even work since cats dislike the aroma they emit. According to LoveToKnow, some noise deterrents have proven particularly successful as cats dislike these odors and prefer other scents instead.
Other options for cat repellents include citrus-scented sprays, rubbing raw onions on plants, spreading coffee grounds or scattering pipe tobacco around an area you want your cats to stay away from. Black pepper may also work as an effective cat deterrent as its strong scent overpowers their delicate senses – although this method requires frequent reapplying and may not work with all kinds of flowers or may be harmful if eaten by your feline friend!
Pinecones
Planting a garden full of cat-repelling plants is one effective natural deterrent against cats. Mint, spider plant, catnip and valerian have strong scents that turn off felines from entering flowerbeds; make sure these are planted as far from them as possible so as to not lure cats in!
Another way to prevent cats from walking into your flower garden and digging is to cover its soil with rough or prickly materials that will discourage cats from walking through or digging up its soil. Chicken wire, plastic bird netting or plastic carpet runners with flexible spikes that are safe for animals are suitable options here.
This method also works on feral cats who dislike walking on sticky or jagged surfaces. Many gardening forums and animal control agencies suggest adding pine cone mulch as an additional deterrent.
Nut Shells
Cats have an unfortunate habit of ruining flower gardens by digging through the soil, leaving behind waste deposits or eating soft plants such as flowers or soft foliage. Safe odor and physical deterrents exist to discourage cats from treating your garden like their own private playground.
Water is the “kryptonite” of cats. Hosing cats with a garden hose or water gun in flower beds is one way to teach them that you don’t want them there, while setting up motion-activated sprinklers that fire a blast of water when they detect cats can also work effectively; most cats dislike getting wet so will avoid areas they know they will get punished with an unexpected wet surprise! Sprinkler systems also save time from watering while helping maintain healthy plant beds and flowers.
Cat Repellent
Local cats may seem cute, but they can actually cause significant damage to your flowers and plants by digging up soil, pooping on them and chewing. Their urine and feces also contain ammonia that harms or kills plants by introducing ammonia and parasites into them. Luckily there are humane cat repellents available that will deter unwanted felines from entering flower gardens.
There are granules and pellets on the market which release citronella-scented scents or contain ingredients which smell similar to lion dung, to deter cats. There are also products which emit noise (usually hissing noises) or produce an ultrasonic sound when activated to scare away cats.
Another solution would be to cover your beds with chicken wire fence or rabbit and deer netting to deter cats from climbing on them. Just be sure to select products designed specifically for use in gardens as some poultry fencing might have sharp edges that could injure pets or children.