Whether your cat or your neighbor's cat enjoys digging in your garden, the results can be frustrating and potentially damaging to plants. There are tactics you can use to make your soft soil less appealing for bathroom visits, while not harming feline trespassers.
Do No Harm
Several cat-repellant remedies are effective, but can be harmful if ingested. Since cats groom themselves frequently, it is better to avoid any potentially toxic products. Before trying any product, natural or otherwise, consider asking a vet or animal expert to make sure the product will not make a cat ill, even if ingested in small quantities. Your goal is to find ways to make your garden less cat-friendly, not to cause harm, even unintentionally.
Make Your Soil Inhospitable
Many of the products used to promote soil drainage or to inhibit weed growth in your garden can act as a barrier between your soil and a cat. The major lure of your garden is soft dirt, since it is easy to dig in and cover up waste. Place gravel or large stones over your topsoil. The texture is uncomfortable for cats to walk on and even more uncomfortable to dig in.
Wire mesh or landscape fabric are alternatives if you need the combination of weed control, while minimizing a cat's access to the dirt. You can use a combination of different barrier methods to find the right balance between your gardening needs and cat-repellant. For example, you may want to place a thin layer of mulch over the wire mesh or landscape fabric, if you feel like the barrier alone reduces the aesthetic value of your garden.
Use Automatic Sprinklers
Most cats are not fond of water or loud noises, which makes an automatic sprinkler system an ideal repellant. A sprinkler system does not need to be extensive or expensive to keep cats out of your garden. Install a small sprinkler system that can be set to motion-activated.
When you are selecting the right system for the job, you will need to consider how close the motion has to be before the sprinkler is activated, and the distance it will spray. The motion field only needs to be a few inches away from the garden to be effective, and the stream of water only needs to cover your garden.
Try Undesirable Plants
Plants can be undesirable to cats based on their texture or smell, which can act as a deterrent. Cacti or other plants with prickly and non-poisonous leaves can be a unique addition to your garden, while adding a line of defense. This can work well for areas of your garden that do not require frequent care. Prickly plants that grow low to the ground can act as a natural fence around your garden. However, you will need to spread the plants throughout your garden too, so there are no areas large enough for the cat to walk or sit.
When planting undesirable plants based on smell, there can be a fine line between what is offensive to cats and everyone else. Although the results may be hit or miss, consider using the "Scaredy Cat Plant" in your garden. The smell of the plant is supposedly effective in keeping cats and other furry creatures away from your garden. A popular herb that can act as a cat repellant is lavender, which can serve multiple purposes if you enjoy the relaxing smell.
The freshly turned soil in your garden can quickly attract neighborhood cats. To prevent damage to your garden and the presence of droppings, use humane and effective tactics to make your garden less appealing.
Share