Show Kitties digging in your garden can be a nuisance and a serious health risk (due to the spread of toxoplasmosis in a proportion of cats’ feces). Maybe it’s even your own cat! (Photo: Felicia D'Ascanio via Unsplash) Neighbourhood kitties digging in your garden can be a nuisance. Maybe it’s even your own cat!Why are they a problem?
Try these solutions to keep cats out of your much-loved vegetable beds and away from the food you grow: Prickly is bestCats prefer to walk on soft, loose soil and will avoid prickly surfaces. Make your garden beds less inviting, or less like a litter box. Try these low-cost, upcycled and simple prickly solutions:
Use scent to keep the cats away
Wash up to deter garden catsIf your visitor has a favourite location, wash the area well with a hose (or water from your rain barrel) to remove the scent or urine spray. Boost your cleaning with eco-friendly liquid castile soap on doors, patio furniture, etc. Cats tend to choose the same spot repeatedly, so remove their previous claim to your garden to prevent repeat offences. FencesCreate a barrier with wire-mesh fencing. Most recommend at least 1.8 metres high and 5.1 by 5.1 centimetre squares. An overhang makes it even better. WaterA gentle misting with water from a spray bottle can help cats break the positive association with your garden. Motion-activated sprinkler systems can keep cats away, too. Just make sure you remember when they are on and obey guidelines during summer water shortages. SoundTry wind chimes, motion-sensitive bells or even rocks or pebbles in a jar that rattle when kitty comes near. There are also motion-activated devices and, in the case of ultrasound devices, emit a frequency that cats can’t stand but is inaudible to humans. Create an outdoor litter boxCall it a peace offering? Cats love mint, honeysuckle and catnip. Place a small sandbox nearby. Sure you’ll need to clean up and properly dispose of cat waste, but it might help keep kitty — and her business — out of your veggies. Build a “catio”Assuming it’s your cat you need to deter, build an outdoor cat enclosure to save your garden, as well as birds and other wildlife. Note: Problem with a feral cat? Contact your local animal shelter for help. How do I permanently get rid of cats in my yard?9 Humane ways to keep cats out of your yard and garden. Get rid of food sources. ... . Block access to hidey holes. ... . Use scent repellents. ... . Fill your garden with cat-repelling plants. ... . Make potential lounging or digging spots uncomfortable. ... . Buy an ultrasonic animal repeller. ... . Install motion-activated sprinklers. ... . Try cat-proof fencing.. How do I keep Neighbours cats out of my yard?Most recommended: Water: Cats hate it, so keep a water pistol (Super Soaker) handy and spray any time you see them in your yard. A spray with the hose also works well. Scarecrow Motion Activitated Sprinklers: The “Scarecrow” senses animals the same way security lights detect people; movement and heat.
Will vinegar keep cats away?The smell of vinegar can keep your cats away from some specific areas and items in and around the house. Vinegar can work as an effective cat repellent and training tool. Using Vinegar can make you prevent your cats from going to that your favorite furniture or any other area in the house.
How do I stop cats from peeing and pooping in my yard?Ways to prevent cats from pooping in your yard. Clean up the poop and remove the stinky smell first. ... . Build a fence in the garden or your yard. ... . Plant thorny flowers or trees around your yard. ... . Use syrup bottles or old CDs. ... . Place cat-repellent plants. ... . Use cat-repellent sprays. ... . Use lime or lemon peel. ... . Mothballs.. |