How can I safely deter cats from messing in my front garden?

Question

I've recently redone my tiny front garden, mostly with pretty pebbles, flagstones and big pots of flowers. For some reason neighbourhood cats seem to love the pebbles and each time I look they've left me a new 'package'! Someone told me orange peel helps deter their behaviour. Does anyone have a tried and true remedy to help prevent the problem? Thanks

Answer 1

There are some products you can buy that will do the job - I can't vouch for them though!

http://www.deteracat.co.uk/index.htm

however . . .

http://www.angliangardener.co.uk/green_up_your_fingers/unwanted_visitors_how_to_deter_cats.htm

has all the information you need - and it comes from a gardeners pint of view!

Good Luck

Meowwwww

Answer 2

There are some very good remedies sold in the local Pet Stores."Get Off My Garden" crystals are good. There are electronic, and Sonic cat scarers, which also are good, but cost a little more.You could plant Verbena, which cats apparently dislike.
I think that some of the replies that you have received are disgusting.

Answer 3

A good non killing way is red pepper. Sprinkle it all over the area you want the cats out of and they will stay away. If you continue this for a few weeks it will make it an area they will stay away from.

Answer 4

its so nice to see half of these people answering are f*cking morons.the keep off is very good,i used to use it on my garden.cats dont like citrus,so a lemon or orange scent should work well.there is also a sort of "cut out" of a cat with big reflective eyes which seems to work very well,and they also dont like to poo near thier food so mayb try putting down some cats biscuits! then maybe they wil eat n go poo in someone elses garden lol.good luck

Answer 5

I've heard that sprinkling moth balls works for this problem. The smell keeps the cats away. Since you have pebbles for ground cover, the moth balls would sort of blend in with them.

Answer 6

Try sprinkling some cayanne pepper all over your garden. Once the neighborhood cats get a whiff of it, they will be staying very far away. I use ie with my dogs and the trash can.

Answer 7

cats don't like citris so orange peel works. looks untidy though.
If you can catch them at it, use a low powered water pistol or sprayer - like those u can get from a gardening shop. most cats hate water and the sound of the spray.
Our neighbours had this problem and this worked.
please dont throw stones or bb gun. our cat nearly died from septicemia after being shot and landed us with a huge vets bill.

Answer 8

There are products called Scat and Stay Away. They come in sprays, powers and pellets. Find them at pet stores and hardware stores.
There are sprinklers that have motion sensors. They are mostly for protecting crops from varmits, but you can modify it for your use. You will be watering your little garden too. They are at feed stores.

Answer 9

You could get a dog! No, seriously tho, you can but stuff at pet shop thats supposed to deter them, there are also some plants that put them off but unfortunately I cant remember what they are.

Answer 10

Put some antifreeze in a small bowl for them to drink. They will walk off and die somewhere other than your property.
Honestly, there are some spray produtcs that you can get at your local Homes Depot or Loews.

Answer 11

.22 works well but if you are not a good shot then you may need a shotgun,my.410 works well it has a nice tight pattern and can almost totally obliterate a cat.then you just turn on the hose and spray the mess away.