Problem Cats in the Garden
How to Get Cats Out of the Yard Now Using Easy Humane Methods
Apr 21, 2007 Barbara M. Martin
Cats can be a big problem in the yard and garden. Nuisance cats may dig, foul, and sometimes even fight in the middle of the night. This can be a smelly, noisy, or unpleasant situation, or worse. Cats can bring disease as well as ticks and fleas into your garden so it is not just a matter of being inconvenient. Nothing is cat proof, but here are some great ways to repel and discourage cats and get them out of your garden without harming them.
Use a Commercial Repellent
There are a number of repellent sprays or powders such as Liquid Fence, Repel, and Shake-Away for cats, just to name a few. (These are sprayed or spread on the garden, not on the cat.) Read and follow the label directions for recommended application and reapplication schedule.
Home Made Recipes
Some gardeners have success with home made repellent spray concoctions based on garlic or citrus. (Please do not use moth balls or pepper which could harm the cat, other animals, or children.) Recipes generally include steeping in water, straining the liquid, adding a few drops of liquid soap to act as a spreader sticker and then spraying on the plants or general area. Repeat after watering or rain.
Change the Mulch
Change mulch materials to see if the different texture is less appealing to the cats. Wet down freshly spread mulch, cats dislike wet ground. The mulch will also settle and pack down or compact somewhat from the watering, making it less attractive for digging.
Plant a Perimeter
Many cats seem to dislike certain herbs such as lavender or rue, so planting a few of these might make the garden less attractive to cats, although they may simply dodge around them.
The so called Scaredy Cat or Dog Gone plant (Coleus canina) were introduced recently from Germany. They might work for you but you will need a lot of plants to find out. (Recommended spacing is about 30 inches apart along the perimeter of your garden area.)
Ultrasonic Devices
Install an ultrasonic animal repeller, these are said to be undetectable by humans but apparently unpleasant to a cat’s ears.
Motion Activated Water Spray
Install a motion activated spray of water or motion activated noise maker to startle the cats and scare them off.
Or, stand by with a garden hose or a water pistol in hand.
Install Physical Barriers
Try installing a barrier of some kind, something to make walking in the garden less inviting and less comfortable for the cat:
- Thorny sticks or small wooden skewers stuck in the ground
- Wire mesh to cover any bare ground
- Tin foil to cover bare ground
- Strew bits of citrus peel around the garden
- Seeded areas and small transplants can be covered with floating row cover. Weight down the corners or use soil pins to keep cats from tunneling underneath it.
Cover the Sand Box
Cover the children's play sand box if you have one, in case that is attracting them to your area.
Provide a Sand Box or Litter Box Alternative
Some gardeners find that providing a sandy area or even an outdoor litter box for the cats can serve as a decoy.
Talk With Your Cat Owner Neighbor
Talk to your neighbor and ask if they can keep the cats indoors. Keeping cats indoors means the cats are safe and protected from car accidents and dog attacks so it is not an entirely unreasonable suggestion. Also check your local ordinances and covenants where applicable, there may be a rule against allowing cats to roam.
Call Animal Control or Animal Rescue
Call your local animal control or rescue organization for help, especially with feral cats.
It May Be Seasonal
Whether the cats are enjoying the spring air or are embattled in protecting or establishing their territories, there does seem to be a seasonal aspect to this problem of cats in the garden. For whatever reason, it seems as though once that thrill of early spring passes, many of the cats move on along all on their own. As plants grow and cover the ground, the area becomes less inviting to the cats as well. In the meantime, if cats are a problem in your yard, be sure to wear gardening gloves and try some of these methods for getting cats out of your garden.
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