Keeping Cats Out of the Garden

We love our next-door neighbor, but I think she’s trying to tell us something: She put moth balls all along the line between your yards, I guess to keep our kitties out of her garden. But moth balls are toxic!

Here are several easy, safe, and effective ways to deter cats from using your neighbor’s garden as a litter box, but, unlike moth balls, they don’t pose a health hazard to cats or humans. Or, heck, you could do what my boss suggested and try releasing a whole herd of gophers or mice. Then your kitties will be the guests of honor! (Just kidding!)

1. There are many herbs that cats don’t like to be around, including lavender, rue, geranium, absinthe, and lemon-thyme. Also, a German professional gardener, Dieter Stegmaier of Essingen, has created a hybrid so repulsive to cats, they stay a yard away from it. It smells like schnapps to us, and is actually a pretty and hardy plant with blue flowers that bloom throughout most of the summer. Its Latin name is Coleus canin. You can order it through various mail order services in Germany, for example here:
here.

2. This mixture is easy to make and can be used anywhere you want to repel cats (or groundhogs, for that matter):

2 parts cayenne pepper
3 parts dry mustard
5 parts flour

Simply mix together and sprinkle.

3. Use large flat river stones in your garden beds to make the soil less diggable, and so less attractive to cats. Besides, river stones are pretty. You can also use them in houseplant pots to keep the furry little darlings out of those.

4. Cats don’t like tea leaves, so empty your used ones onto the garden soil.

5. You could also try using a sprinkler that is activated by a motion-sensor. All it takes is a time or two of getting dowsed with water to deter any cat. It can work for intruders, too.

Read more: Nature, Cats, Lawns & Gardens

By Cait Johnson, Assistant Producer, Healthy Living Channels

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Laurita W.

9:19PM PST on Jan 29, 2012

Kath R: Thank you so much for your observation! Hot stuff will do damage.

send a green star

9:18PM PST on Jan 29, 2012

Julie W: Catnip and lavender are both in the mint family. My kitty loves lavender, and goes crazy for horse mint!

Eliza B.

4:31AM PST on Jan 24, 2012

Too bad the link for Coleus canin does not work... but I'll try elsewhere. I think it might also be a great deer deterrent. I use sticks and twigs and pine cones in new flower beds, and that works well. I AGREE with all who advise against using cayenne. Besides injuring the animals, it's rather ineffective, expensive, and washes away in the rain.

Mel M.

7:10AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

My cats are too affraid by being outside. They can't go out.

Danuta W.

12:51AM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Julie W.

8:25PM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Cats don't like lavender? Mine Go nuts over it. I mentioned it to someone who works in a plant nursery and she said its because lavender is related to catnip. I never double-checked. I've heard of using orange peels because cats don't like citrus. Maybe add some of those the the recipe mentioned in the article.

Michelle N.

10:04AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Anybody ever read the label on a box of moth balls? Federal law states it is illegal to use moth balls in a manner inconsistent with the instructions. They are incredibly TOXIC to humans, other animals and the environment! - not just moths and other bugs. They are not to be used outdoors, ever. Motion activated sprinklers work really well for keeping kitties out of an area. Also, CatAlert collars from England keep them from catching birds - they have a tiny box attached to the collar that emits a tiny beep periodically, alerting birds to the cat's presence so they can fly away before being captured. We've used them for years and they are awesome! (you turn off the switch when they come inside so no beeping 24-7.

Kath R.

7:17AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

DO NOT !!! I repeat DO NOT use any type of hot mixtures to repel animals from your garden. They aren't actually repelling anything...the animal gets the mixture on their paws, puts their paws to their face....gets their eyes and nasal passages burned...claws constantly to remove the burn with the same offending mixture on their paws. They will do themselves great harm and will probably die.

Anne H.

6:48AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Some cats don't want to go out or roam, it depends on the cat. We have one who likes the leash & sits each morning waiting to go for a walk. We live near the jungle.

I built an outdoor cat box so that the cats don't foul the neighbors yards. There are ideas on the internet and it has worked nicely.

Cats also like calm areas to nap so random noise will inspire them to move to another area.

Good ideas, thanks for sharing.

Joe R.

4:07AM PST on Jan 16, 2012

Bell those outdoor cats.