Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/cats-garden/

Ah! The feeling of lounging in your garden after a hard day at work. Nothing feels quite as relaxing as being in the presence of your lush green buddies.

Having a garden may come with a lot of pros, but taking care of it? Some may think it’s a lot of work and having pests and other animals that may snoop in the garden is a whole different story.

I have personally experienced some troubles in our own garden before. From having to deal with snails and bugs that eat our plant’s leaves, wild dogs that pee on the lawn, and cats that have caused trouble on our fish pond and destroyed one of our garden chairs before.

Don’t get me wrong. Cats are adorable creatures, but they can be a bit wild if left unattended. In fact, cat troubles in the garden have become an issue that experts from David Suzuki Foundation have released an extensive guide on how to keep cats out of the garden.

In their guide, they listed some reasons on why cats are a problem in the garden:

1. Cats are carnivores that if they poop in your garden, parasites or pathogens can be present in their feces and that is definitely something you don’t want near your garden, especially if you have a vegetable garden
2. Cats, both domestic and wild, are known to kill birds and other small animals. And according to the guide, “if you’re doing it right, your yard and garden are designed to attract pollinators, like hummingbirds, as well as other wild birds.”
3. Roaming cats can strain neighborhood relations.

Now! The guide presents some solutions that may deter cats from lounging in your garden. Most of their suggestions require little to no effort so if you own a garden, this list is definitely made for you.

PRICKLY GRASS SOLUTION

Experts suggest that by covering your garden beds with twigs or other prickly yard trimmings can make your garden a little less like a litter box. Putting in bundles of twigs can also be beneficial for wild bees as they can be used by the little pollinators as a nesting habitat. They also suggest using chicken wire over your soil as they don’t get in the way of your growing plants.

SCENT SOLUTION

Most animals are sensitive so scent and cats are no different. The experts say that cats don’t like strong citrus scents, so throw your peels directly onto your garden soil. If you’re a coffee lover, sprinkle brewed coffee grounds over your soil, this trick works with other animals as well. And for more specific scents, they say that cats “dislike the smell of rue, lavender and pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme.” If these plants are suitable for your soil, planting these throughout your garden will not only deter cats from coming into your garden, but they will attract other insects and pollinators as well. So it’s basically a win-win situation.

WATER SOLUTION

Know where those cats frequent in your garden? Spray them down with water. Just like how dogs have a certain spot they want to pee in? Cats apparently do the same. So experts say, “cats tend to choose the same spot repeatedly, so remove their previous claim to your garden to prevent repeat offenses.” For something a little more automatic, installing motion-activated sprinkler systems can be effective in keeping cats away from your garden.

SOUND SOLUTION

Are the cats annoying you? Annoy them back. Experts are suggesting that garden owners install wind chimes in the area. For something a little more on-hand, rocks put in a jar that rattle when a cat comes near can be sufficient enough to scare them away. And for a more techy solution, there are available motion-activated devices or ultrasound devices that emit a frequency that deter cats from coming nearby can be used.

PEACEFUL SOLUTION

Hey, maybe the cats aren’t that bad in your area? Try creating an outdoor litter box for the feline fellas. Experts say that cats love mint, honeysuckle, and catnip (duh). In placing a sandbox near the mentioned plants, you’ll be able to entice cats to do their business in the litter box instead of in your garden. This solution feels like you’re getting a new pet as it requires you “to clean up and properly dispose of cat waste, but it might help keep kitty — and her business — out of your veggies.”

So I’ll leave you with these suggestions and hope for the best!

Changed your mind about cats? How about encouraging them to stay in the garden? Read this article on how to create a cat garden. Or maybe read this article on how a Californian shelter developed a garden dedicated to save feral cats.

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog