Keeping cats out of your garden

There’s no denying that unwanted cats can be a pain for you and your garden; digging up flower beds, disturbing your own pets, and leaving messes behind. So, what should you do?

If you’ve got an unwanted cat coming into your home garden, it’s first worth remembering they mean no harm—they're just following their instincts, searching for warm spots to snooze or interesting places to explore. 

The right to roam

What’s more, in the UK, cats have the right to roam. It’s legal for them to enter gardens, and owners are not responsible for where they go. This means you can’t force a neighbour to keep their cat out. 

However, if you want a peaceful garden, there are ways to keep them out humanely, or at least deter them from visiting quite so frequently.

What keeps cats out of your garden?

Cats dislike strong smells, rough textures, and sudden movements. To keep unwanted cats out your garden you can use this knowledge to your advantage, with scent deterrents like citrus peels, coffee grounds, vinegar, and essential oils. 

Physical barriers such as netting, chicken wire, and thorny plants can block entry, while motion-activated devices like sprinklers, ultrasonic alarms, and flashing lights can startle them away. 

Rough surfaces, such as mulch, pebbles, pinecones, or holly leaves, make walking and digging uncomfortable. You can also use reflective objects like CDs, foil, and wind chimes to create movement and light reflections that deter cats.

How to keep cats out of your garden beds

Garden beds are a favourite spot for cats to dig, lounge and, yes, sometimes poop! To keep them out, try laying down mulch, bark chips, or stones to make digging uncomfortable. You can also use netting or chicken wire over the soil and add spiky plant clippings like holly or thorny branches. Planting strong-smelling herbs along borders can help too, as can a motion-activated sprinkler to startle intruders.

How to keep cats out of your vegetable garden

Vegetable gardens often attract cats due to their soft soil and warmth. To keep cats away, surround the area with netting or a low fence, and use companion planting with cat-repelling herbs. Scattering citrus peels or coffee grounds around the garden can also help. Covering soil with mesh or sticks will block digging, and ultrasonic devices can emit high-frequency sounds that deter cats. Importantly, avoid using toxic substances that may harm wildlife. 

Plants that keep cats out of your garden

Some plants naturally repel cats with their scent or texture. Lavender has a strong scent that many cats dislike. Rue is also a natural repellent with a bitter smell (thankfully, it’s not so bad for humans). And pennyroyal, a member of the mint family, is also usually avoided by cats. 

Meanwhile, holly and thorny bushes make lounging areas uncomfortable, and coleus canina, also called the "Scaredy Cat Plant," emits an odour that cats dislike (unfortunately, many humans don’t like it either!). Planting these along borders can help keep cats out of your garden naturally.

Remember, try to avoid plants that will actually harm a cat – you just want to deter it, not make it ill. For more information, here’s a list of common plants that are poisonous to cats.

Home remedies to keep cats out of your garden

Homemade solutions can be a cheap and effective way to deter pesky feline visitors. Try sprinkling used coffee grounds, citrus peels, or vinegar around problem areas, or make a spray with water and essential oils like lavender. Placing foil, double-sided tape, or plastic forks in garden beds can create an unpleasant texture. Wind chimes or reflective objects are also quite easy to make yourself, which can deter cats with movement and light, while crushed eggshells act as a natural, rough deterrent.

Natural ways to keep cats out of your garden

You should avoid chemicals or traps to keep cats at bay. Instead, use humane deterrents such as scent-based repellents like citrus and herbs, physical barriers like netting or spiky twigs, and water deterrents such as motion-activated sprinklers. 

If, in general, you don’t mind cat visitors to your garden but want to keep them away from specific areas, you could try creating a dedicated ‘cat-friendly’ area instead. A small raised bed with some soft soil or large chippings placed in a warm spot is a good place to start.

How to stop cats pooping in your garden?

Cats prefer soft, dry soil when looking for a place to poop. To stop them, cover exposed soil with mulch, stones, or twigs, and use a scent deterrent such as citrus or vinegar. Installing a motion-activated sprinkler can startle them away, and blocking entry points with barriers or netting will reduce access. Providing a sandpit in an unused area can also encourage them to toilet elsewhere.

The best way to keep cats out of your garden

Here’s a summary of some useful and humane techniques to keep unwanted cats at bay:

• Use cat-repellent plants such as lavender and coleus canina.
• Install physical barriers like netting, chicken wire, or fencing to block entry points.
• Lay rough textures like mulch, pebbles, or thorny clippings to make digging uncomfortable.
• Apply scent-based deterrents such as citrus peels, coffee grounds, or essential oils.
• Set up motion-activated sprinklers or ultrasonic devices to startle and deter cats.
• Monitor your garden and adjust deterrents if cats return.

Remember, always use humane methods to deter unwanted visitors – that problem cat is someone else’s little furry friend!

FAQs about keeping cats out your garden