Download Article
Download Article
Regardless of whether you're a cat person, feral felines and strays can wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. If you don't want to hurt them, you just want them to stay away, this article's for you! Read on to discover the best ways to secure the perimeter of your yard and garden so the neighborhood cats will leave you in peace.
Keeping Cats Away
To keep cats out of your yard or garden, plant herbs that cats avoid like coleus canina, lavender, rosemary, or pennyroyal. Sprinkling strong-smelling citrus, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, or essential oils like lemongrass, citronella, or eucalyptus, can also deter cats from entering your yard.
Steps
Community Q&A
-
QuestionHow do I keep cats from crawling under the hood of my pickup truck?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerCats crawl under the hood of your truck because it's warm and sheltered. If you can create a warm, secure shelter for them far away from your truck, they'll likely start using that and stay away from the truck. Even so, always check for cats before you start your truck, especially in the wintertime—they can get injured or killed if they get stuck up there while the engine is running.
-
QuestionHow do I keep a cat away from my hanging bird feeder?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerClean up spilled seed as soon as possible—cats will be interested in the seed itself, as well as the birds that sit on the ground to eat it. You can get a drip tray that attaches under your bird feeder to catch the seed so that it doesn't fall to the ground. Use scent deterrents, such as lavender or citrus, around the bird feeder. These scents won't bother the birds but cats tend to avoid them.
-
QuestionHow can I keep my cat from going behind the washer and dryer? I'm afraid she will get out or get stuck.This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerDo whatever you can to block the washer and dryer so that she can't get back there. For example, if there's a door to your laundry room, always keep it shut. If you can't close off the washer and dryer, try scent deterrents—such as lavender-scented dryer sheets.
Video
Tips
- Contact your local humane society and ask about their Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program. These programs help reduce a lot of bothersome cat behavior, including fighting and spraying. [13] X Trustworthy Source EDIS Electronic database of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences's peer-reviewed articles Go to sourceThanks
- If you have a cat door, make sure neighborhood cats can't use it too! Choose one that's microchip-enabled or only opens with a magnetic collar your cat wears.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://napahumane.org/our-work/community-cats/how-to-deter-cats/
- ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/how-to-deter-cats-from-your-garden/
- ↑ https://napahumane.org/our-work/community-cats/how-to-deter-cats/
- ↑ https://napahumane.org/our-work/community-cats/how-to-deter-cats/
- ↑ https://napahumane.org/our-work/community-cats/how-to-deter-cats/
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418301458
- ↑ https://www.orangecountync.gov/2144/Humane-Deterrents-for-Free-Roaming-Cats
- ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/2022/05/10/how-to-keep-cats-out-of-the-garden/
- ↑ https://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/2022/05/10/how-to-keep-cats-out-of-the-garden/
- ↑ https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/environment/animal-services/community-cats-tnvr/humane-cat-deterrents
- ↑ https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/how-to-deter-cats-from-your-garden/
- ↑ https://napahumane.org/our-work/community-cats/how-to-deter-cats/
- ↑ https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW468
About This Article
To repel cats outside, mulch your garden and other areas you want to protect with citrus fruit peels or coffee grounds, which deter cats. You can also plant lemongrass or lavender in and around your yard, since these plants look and smell nice but drive cats away. If you’re still having trouble with cats outside your home, put motion-activated water sprinklers around your yard, because cats really don’t like water. Alternatively, spray a small amount of a commercial cat repellent around the perimeter of your yard to keep cats away. For tips on how to repel indoor cats, including by using water or cat-repellent scents, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
- "I definitely don't want to hurt the cats but don't want feral cats using my yard as a litter box. The coffee grounds idea is great, and planting lavender will help beautify a certain area while giving these little critters the boot. Thanks." ..." more
