Our neighborhood has a healthy population of cats, and while I’m typically a fan of the felines, I had a fit the other day when I saw one using my lettuce bed as a littler box. It’s time to employ strategies to discourage cats from visiting the garden. 

The Ultimate Litterbox

It’s not a huge surprise that they use the garden beds. Cats appreciate a nice place to dig to the bathroom. The garden is perfect, especially in the spring when there is newly turned, soft soil. The bad thing is, if there are multiple cats in the area, when one uses the area others follow to mark territory.

Winter Woes with Mice, Cats and a Lazy Dog

Why It’s Prudent to Discourage Cats

Beside the automatic “ick factor” cat feces can pose serious health risks. Many of us have heard about toxoplasmosis and its risk to pregnant women, but cat feces can also cause histoplasmosis, leptospirosis, mumps, plague, ringworm, salmonellosis, distemper, and even rabies. Our “culvert kitten” that we found in a neighbor’s culvert last fall, and ended up keeping, has had several bouts with Giardia. That would also be passed through the feces if a cat was infected. 

And don’t forget about the parasites. According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, up to 45 percent of cats have some sort of internal parasite. This includes several of the ones listed above, along with roundworms, tapeworms or hookworms. I don’t know about you, but none of this sounds like something I want near my lettuce. 

University of Maryland Extension 

Repellents to Discourage Cats from the Garden

Some people sprinkle cinnamon or cayenne pepper around the garden space to discourage cats. This can work, particularly if your garden is being used as the neighborhood bulletin board for the local cats. Other options include spraying vinegar, or using essential oils such as eucalyptus, citronella or lemongrass. These will probably last longer if you add the oil to a cotton ball and set them among the garden. 

The strong scent of lemon and orange peels are also known to discourage cats from loitering in the area. Coffee grounds are reputedly also effective, and is something I’m going to try since I usually put my grounds in the garden compost anyway. We’ll just save a step and see if this helps.

Prickly Solutions to Discourage Cats

Although I have not used it, one method to keep cats out of the garden is to place plastic forks in the soil. This would make a good discouragement. Along the same lines, other people have used pinecones, particularly in perennial beds, where you don’t have to work around them that often.

If you’re looking for something super easy to put down, there is a product called the “Cat Scat Mat” that is basically the feline version of what we call a “welcome mat” that is set out to keep grizzlies away from windows and door at backcountry cabins. Granted, the grizzly version uses 16 penny nails in a board, while this has flexible, yet firm, plastic spikes. It works, though!

Barriers to Keep Cats Away

Of course, one of the surest ways to discourage cats is to prevent them from reaching the soil in the first place. This can be done with bird netting or a floating row cover draped over the area, or use hoops to create a low tunnel. Fencing is tricky since cats are expert climbers if they really want to get into something, but it’s an option, as well. 

Spray Them Away

One of my all time favorite means of discouraging cats, and any animal for that matter, is to use the motion-activated Scarecrow. It uses 9 volt batteries, but other than that, you just hook up the hose and leave it turned on. When something walks into its path, it gives a burst of water. I do have to warn you, though, it works the same with those of us who forget it’s out there and walk into the area!

Cats are cute and fluffy, but very annoying when they use your garden, whether it’s for your vegetables or flowers, as a litter box. Try a few of these tips to send them elsewhere for their potty breaks.