Keeping Cats Out of the Garden

Hardiness Zone: 3a

By Dorothy M. from Derwood, MD

Archives: Request: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 10/23/2009 By Ellen Brown Q: How can I keep the neighbor's cat out of my garden? Hardiness Zone: 8a Windella from Pasadena, CA A: Windella, This question really comes up a lot and seems to be a universal problem among gardeners. There are a variety of tactics to keep the neighbor's cats out of the garden. First of all, talk to your neighbors about your concerns. Tell them you don't want their cats ingesting any harmful plants, you want to be able to consume your vegetables without worrying about contamination and you're worried about the safety of backyard birds. If your neighbors seem completely unreasonable, check with your city government about leash laws and make sure your neighbor knows that you will be forced to call animal control if the problem persists. Other tactics to try: Planting a small plot of catnip or cat thyme in a corner of your yard to lure cats away from your garden. Plant it around a small sand box. Cats will always prefer using fine sand to using heavy garden soil. With luck, you can persuade your neighbor to provide an outdoor sandbox in HIS yard instead of yours. Spread prickly textures around the garden such as pine cones, holly leaves or rock mulch on newly turned over dirt. This will help to keep cats from using your garden soil as a litter box. Stick disposable plastic forks (tines up) in containers, window boxes or in other areas that cats seem to favor. Just make sure you don't stick these below places where cats can jump down on them from above. You might also try Cat-Scat Mats (available at garden centers). These are mats designed with flexible spikes to keep cats out of your garden without hurting them. You can cut them down to the size you need and most gardeners seem to think they work quite well. Install motion activated sprinklers, and never miss an opportunity to deter cats with a strong spray from the garden hose. Spread used tea leaves or citrus peels around plants. Lay chicken wire down (cats don't like digging in it) or cover plants with wire cages if necessary. Invest in commercial products like predator repellants or high-frequency sound emitters. Good Luck. Ellen Q: I'm sure you've been asked this question a hundred times already, but here goes anyhow. First off, I live in a duplex with a fenced-in back yard. I am fortunate in the fact that I have some space in which to garden for veggies and have a nice flower patch along with a few rose bushes. My problem is my neighbor's cats. Don't get me wrong, I do love cats, just not in my back yard. I have an old dog, but would not want to use anything that would either hurt my dog or the cats. I just want to be able to get them out of my yard and keep them out (except for Bogie, of course). Other than spraying them with the water hose when I see them, do you have any other suggestions that would be workable in keeping the cats out of my yard? Hardiness Zone: 7a Thank you and God bless... Mary from Redding, CA A: Mary, First of all, it's unfortunate that your neighbors feel it's okay to let their cats roam freely about the neighborhood. Not only does it put backyard wildlife in jeopardy, but also, it's dangerous for the cats. Fortunately for your neighbors, you're a cat lover. Good fences should make for good neighbors. Since your neighbors are not getting the message, start by asking them for help in keeping the cats out of your garden. Explain that you don't want to worry about their cats ingesting harmful plants and that you worry about being able to consume (and share with your neighbors) any edibles that have been grown in soil contaminated by cat feces (it is dangerous). Maybe you could offer your neighbors a pot of catnip to place in their yard to act as a distraction, or even designate a small spot in your yard (well away from the rest of your beds) for growing catnip, or cat thyme. If there are specific areas that cats seem to be favoring in your garden, try spreading chicken wire, pine cones, rock mulch or prickly holly to deter them from scratching and digging. You could also try Cat-Scat mats, available at garden centers, which are mats made with flexible spikes that won't hurt them, but will keep them out of your beds. Disposable plastic forks (tines up) will also work when stuck in pots or around ornamental plants. Just be sure not to place them in areas where cats will jump down and land on them (like below balconies, etc). Good Luck! Ellen About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com Feedback: RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden Mix 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of mustard, with 1 cup hot pepper sauce that contains habanero peppers, and 2 cups vinegar, with 3 cups water. Blend well. Pour a thin stream in several areas of the garden. Sounds silly, but it works. (07/18/2004) By Shirley Mac RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden My mother-in-law used moth balls and the cats hated them. She just spread some around her plants. (06/25/2007) By Faye RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Cats like to dig in freshly turned soil where vegetables and/or flowers are planted. I sprinkle red pepper all around. If it rains I re-sprinkle. It may take four to six different sprinklings of red pepper, but it works like a charm. Cats hate it and stay away from it. I think it works with dogs, too. (05/04/2008) By Nancy. RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden I used a mixture of black peppercorns, cayenne, red pepper flakes, curry powder, black pepper, chili powder, and dry mustard, I sprinkled it throughout my garden (veggie garden) and so far it is working great, and it's even working to deter the horsehair worms. (05/26/2008) By Janet RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Our neighbourhood is infested with stray cats that were constantly spraying our doors and basement windows. Our whole house reeked of cat urine. We started sprinkling paprika (about once a week) and now I don't even see them in our yard. It's not quite as harsh as cayenne if anyone is concerned with hurting cats. (07/14/2008) By wontonamera RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden You can also use empty clear bottles and fill them up with water and I don't know why it works, but the cats don't like their reflection or something and it scares them away. (02/23/2009) By Megan Report Spam or Abuse Request: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 05/17/2006 How can I keep the neighboor's cat out of my garden? Hardiness Zone: 8a Windella from Pasadena, CA Answers: RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 05/18/2006 My Uncle in England swears by mothballs. He has one placed about every square yard. Uncle Maurice is very meticulous and wouldn't do this if it didn't work. Good Luck, Vanessa, in South Korea at the moment. By Vanessa (Guest Post) RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 05/18/2006 Please don't use mothballs as they are toxic to humans and pets and don't work anyway By srarlite. (Guest Post) RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 05/19/2006 jillian357-that is just EVIL! Wooden skewers? Plastic forks? I don't think maiming an innocent, exploring animal is a very good thing for anyone to do. That's really terrible. Spray the cat with a hose whenever you notice it. It will make it mad and after a few times will go somewhere else. By (Guest Post) Report Spam or Abuse Request: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 04/21/2006 I'm sure you've been asked this question a hundred times already... but here goes anyhow. First off, I live in a duplex with a fenced-in back yard. I am fortunate in the fact that I have some space in which to garden for veggies and have a nice flower patch along with a few rose bushes. My problem is my neighbor's CATS. Don't get me wrong, I do love cats, just not in my back yard. I have an old dog but would not want to use anything that would either hurt my dog or the cats. I just want to be able to get them out of my yard and keep them out (except for Bogie, of course). Other than spraying them with the water hose when I see them, do you have any other suggestions that would be workable in keeping the cats out of my yard? Hardiness Zone: 7a Thank you and God bless... Mary from Redding, CA Answers: RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 04/21/2006 I have kept cats out of my garden by using lemon, grapefruit and orange peels and black or crushed red peppers. I put these around areas that I don't want animals to get into. By Kmcl59 RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 04/24/2006 We have tried putting plastic forks in the ground around the flowers. Handle side in. When they step on them....they don't like it! It won't keep them out of your whole yard, but it will keep them out of flowerbeds. You could also try wooden skewers. Good luck! By jillian357 Report Spam or Abuse Request: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 02/05/2006 I have several cats in the neighborhood that come and go in my garden. Is there a natural remedy of something i can put in my garden to keep them out. They are stepping all over my pansies and in the spring they step all over the new flowers. Someone suggested moth balls but i am not sure if that is true or not. I just want to keep them out of my garden. Hardiness Zone: 8a Tina Butler from Mesquite, TX Answers: RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 02/27/2006 Try lemon or orange peels. Cats dislike like citrus. However, this method may only last for a limited time as the citrus peel decomposed. By Paul Oakenfold (Guest Post) RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 03/07/2006 Go to The Vinegar Pages at about.com to find a remedy for this and other problems. One reader's tip, "I have poured vinegar around my children's sand box to keep cats from using it as their litter box. About every two months I reapply just to be sure. It has worked so far." http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/tips/a/vinegar.htm By gator10tx Report Spam or Abuse Tip: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 04/28/2005 One of the things I have done, is to put regular balloons out in the garden. The cats will pop them and then run away. After a few weeks of tying balloons to branches stuck in the ground, or to the plants themselves, substitute the balloons with balls, which do not pop but act as a visual reminder. Some cats will not have any problem with popping ballons, but most will decide to leave well enough alone. I love cats by the way and I know their behavior, they are adorable, but they love to dig! Race Against Thimerosol Responses: RE: Keeping Cats out of Garden 09/04/2004 Why not plant some catnip in an area where you would like the cats to hang out? Suggestion; a sunny spot. Cats, like other animals are telepathic. They see whatever you are picturing in your head. If you want the cat to stay out of your garden you have to "Stop" picturing the cat IN your garden. Picture the cat where you want him to be. Pay attention to your thoughts. Good Luck. I'm picturing success for you. By kathryn (Guest Post) Keeping Cats out of the Garden 04/28/2005 If neighborhood stray cats love your garden, sprinkle cayenne pepper or citrus peel pieces throughout the surface. This will not harm them but they'll remember that your garden is no longer their bathroom or playground! By Patricia RE: Keeping Cats out of the Garden 04/28/2005 My cat was invading my neighbor's garden. We both tried different methods to keep her away. I finally kept the cat in the house for two weeks. I figured she would forget after awhile and explore another area. Apparently, it did work since the neighbor no longer saw her there. It wasn't easy to keep her in for two weeks but I felt it was my responsibility to keep her from destroying my neighbors flowers. By mkymlp Report Spam or Abuse Request: Keeping Cats out of the Garden Archived on 07/23/2003 I recently made a new area of the garden "mine". The cats had been using this as a cat box in the past (or so I think). Any ideas to keep them away? Thank you! Answers: RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 07/24/2003 Here's a similar request with lots of ideas about keeping cats of of pots. Maybe something here will help. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000308.tip.html By Thrifty_Fun RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 06/04/2004 If they have been using this already for some time, you may need to replace the soil or add in a good amount of topsoil. If you are planting vegetables you wouldn't want any of the known cat feces diseases to get into your food. If you are planting flowers, the acids in the urine may affect some types of flowers. By Tawnda (Guest Post) RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 07/18/2004 Mix 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of mustard with 1 cup hot pepper sauce that contains habenero peppers, and 2 cups vinegar with 3 cups water. Blend well. Pour a thin stream in several areas of the garden. Sounds silly, but it works! The scent keeps cats away so it is harmless. By Shirley Mac (Guest Post) RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 07/19/2004 Just a note on Shirley's post... vinegar can and will kill grass, weeds and your good plants, so be careful when spreading around the garden that it doesn't leach into the soil around your favorite plants. And those habo peppers should keep anything out, LOL. I have this marked in my favorites. :) By Dee (Guest Post) RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 08/15/2004 In the spring, after you plant seeds or before you put seedlings in, lay fence down on top of the garden soil. You can use wire chicken-coop type fence if you want but the cheapest and easiest to use is the flexible plastic fence with 1 x 1 inch or 2 x 2 inch holes sold in roll. It is cheap and available at Walmart in the spring. The cats will no longer use the garden as a litter box because it isn't pleasing to scratch soil through the fence. The other thing I've used: After I cut back my rose bushes, I take the branches that have lots of thorns and criss cross and lay them throughout the garden. Cats and animals hate thorny branches in their way but the plants and seedlings don't mind, they grow over and around the rose branches. Don't bother with pepper spray or moth balls etc., once it rains it washes the smell away. Using the fencing and rose branches stopped my 4 cats from using my garden as a litter box. However, now I have crows eating my ripe tomatoes so I have to do something. I bought a fake owl and move the owl to different posts every third day or so, but the crows got wise to it. Should I make a scarecrow? By Melissa (Guest Post) RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 08/16/2004 Regarding the crows eating the tomatoes. Drive a few wooden stakes among your plants. Attach some of those unsolicited ISP CD's you get in your mailbox. Just tie a string on them and tack them to to top of the stakes so they can swing. The shiny reflection will scare the birds away. If you don't have any CD's, go to the Post Office and pick up a few... they have AOL ones all the time. Harlean from Arkansas By rockytopp61 RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 04/28/2005 Has anyone tried "used" coffee grounds as a deterrent for the cats? I have read that they do not like the smell and stay away. With dogs on one side of us, and a cat on the other, this whole issue is a challenge! By mamasix (Guest Post) RE: Trying to keep cats out of the garden 06/14/2005 Mothballs in the hole doesn't work, the cats kept using the garden as a spot to dig,urinate,and poop. I use javex around my garden edge and it works great, now I don't have a problem with cats. By icewoman152003 (Guest Post) Report Spam or Abuse