How do I keep cats out of my flowers?

Question

It's a real pain - i love animals but they're ruining my garden. Humane responses only please! :o)

Answer 1

I've had the same problem with my neighbor's cats. Here's what has worked for me. To keep them off the plants I've used a spray I bought at my local Nursery called "Liquid Fence" and it's worked really well. It really smells bad though. You can spray it on and around your plants. I started out using it every other day, now I use it once a week or so. It can be expensive though, so I've found a solution I can make at home. I mix 1 gallon of water with 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 2 chopped garlic cloves and 2 chopped jalapeno peppers. Let it sit for 24 hours, then strain the mixture into a sprayer. This mixture can be sprayed around plants, I haven't tried spraying directly on the plants, I'm not sure if it would harm the plants in any way. I spray it every couple of days and it seems to be working.

Answer 2

I have found laying pieces of chicken wire here and there through out the beds is very effective as the cats can not scratch / dig a hole for their purpose.
Buying smelly stuff is a waste of money and moth balls are dangerous in that a child may pick one up. Broken glass is a dumb idea - but I've known people to try it..... not fun when weeding or clean up time comes along.
Other than that a large dog sometimes deters cats.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

Citronella - it's a natural smell they really don't like
Cat nip is a really bad idea as this is like smoking pot for a cat and they just end up ripping it apart

You can also get cat scarers that emit a noise when the enter a boundary - it's almost beyond our hearing but they will run
Only need it for a little while as they remember

Alternatively set up a cat loo for them - dig a pit and line with lime, cover with soft sand and bark chippings or something easy to dig through (they don't actually like hard dirt) and they will go there in preferance to your flowers... fussy with their ablutions really

Answer 4

The best device I have seen is a motion activated water sprinkler.
This thing works well on almost any kind of animal..deer to small furry kitties.
Cost around $50.00

Answer 5

cats dont like citrus apparently, you could spray some lemon oil around.

Or you can buy cat reppelant, though im not sure if its safe on plants, you will have to check that.

Chilli powder works, I gave some to my neighbour to sprinkle about cos my cat took a liking to doing a poo by her front door in the dirt. She sprinkled it round and my cat now craps every where else instead.

Answer 6

Some garden shops (especially those in rural farming areas) carry coyote urine or equivalent. Works with wild varmints. It should work with cats.

Answer 7

Randomly plant cloves of garlic - it really works! Also, you can fill a 2lt pop bottle with water and put it in your flower bed, they don't like that for some reason.

Answer 8

I read out of somewhere, that you can buy some things that cats do not like, and will not go anywhere near them. they do not harm the cat, just the smell puts them off. i am sorry, but thats all i can remmember

Answer 9

outdoors, I've heard that mothballs are effective but could be harmful to children (they're not as smart as animals and will try to eat them thinking they're mints or something).... try sprinking them with cayenne pepper ... the plants and the soil, that is.....not the cats

Answer 10

put small spikes randomly all over the beds it discourages them or upturned pop bottles(cut in half) planted in the soil filled with water,cats hate water and will not come near.
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