If cats are causing a nuisance in your garden, there are a few natural ways to deter them
Cats are free to wander wherever they fancy, which can be rather maddening when you’ve put so much effort into your garden space. From treating it as their personal loo to wreaking havoc on your prized plants, our feline friends adore having a good explore.
But if you’re finding their antics are becoming a real pain, it might be time to consider some deterrent measures. While it’s near impossible to completely ban cats from your patch, some natural methods might do the trick, according to online discussions.
An exasperated homeowner took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group seeking urgent help with their predicament. Their plea read: “I’m at my wits’ end.
“The neighbourhood cats have taken to using my garden as a toilet. What can I use to stop this habit, and what can I use after I’ve removed the mess to stop them coming back? I really hate cleaning up, and I’m doing this at least a couple of times a day.”
Fellow sufferers flooded the comments section with nearly 150 responses, all championing kitchen scraps as the solution, reported the Express.
How to banish cats from your garden
1. Chilli flakes
Becky Atkinson shared her wisdom: “I sprinkle chilli flakes every two weeks. They don’t eat it because they hate the smell. It deters them from coming back.”
Thomas Harding chimed in: “I use chilli flakes too, they’re super cheap and I only use them to deter pests.”
2. Citrus peel
Michelle Ellen suggested: “Put orange peel down around your garden. Cats dislike citrus, and it won’t hurt your garden either.
“Simply chuck lemon or orange peel around once you’ve finished with the fruit and watch them never come to your garden.”
Lisa Monks chimed in: “My mum is a keen gardener and we swear by orange peel. She has it on her lawn, seems to work.”
Additionally, citrus peel can also be a deterrent for mosquitoes and other pests during the warmer months.
3. Coffee grounds
Ronny Armitage advocates for the use of coffee grounds as cats “absolutely hate” the smell and texture.
The green-fingered enthusiast remarked: “We sprinkle them in the border and it really works. Harmless to cats too.”
He also mentioned a handy tip for non-coffee drinkers: “I have been told some coffee shops will give you their used grains if you don’t have your own.”
Jill Thomas confirmed the effectiveness of this method, saying: “I’ve tried many things and the coffee seems to be very effective. Great fertiliser too.”