10 Humane Hacks to Keep Stray Cats Away Naturally from Your Yard and Garden
Stray cats might be cute, but they are also capable of wreaking havoc in yards and gardens. If you want to keep them at bay without harming a hair on their head, humane solutions are the way forward. Here come ten natural, highly effective hacks to help keep stray cats from intruding into your space without causing them any distress.
10 Humane Hacks to Keep Stray Cats Away Naturally
Deploy Citrus Peels as Natural Deterrents
Cats are totally averse to the strong smell of citrus. Sprinkle some orange or lemon peels around the flower beds and pathways that are off-limits.
Make Essential Oil Spray
In a jar, mix equal amounts of lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus essential oil with water. Spray the solution around any entry points. Cats abhor such perfumery and will avoid the places.
Plant Cat-Repellent Herbs
Consider adding to your garden those herbs that include rosemary, lavender, and rue, which have distinct fragrances that repel cats naturally.
Apply Coffee Grounds or Vinegar Sprinkle coffee grounds or a solution of vinegar around your garden area.
Both these elements create an environment that cats find uncomfortable without harming them in any manner.
Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers
These sprinkle a harmless amount of water when a cat comes near and will quickly teach the cats to avoid the area.
Use Pebbles or Mulch to Create a Rough Surface
Cats like the soft soil to dig. Putting pebbles, pine cones, or rough mulch makes them uncomfortable on the surface.
Use Garlic and Onion Spray in Your Garden as a Natural Homemade Repellent
Boil garlic and onions in water, then let it cool down. Spray it around the garden. Cats can’t bear its smell and will not approach sensitive areas.
Install Ultrasonic Cat Repellers
Ultrasonic repellers can emit high-frequency sounds not audible to the human ear but, unpleasant enough and undesirable for cats, therefore, cats will stay away from that area.
Laying Chicken Wire Under the Soil
For garden beds, it is recommended to lay chicken wire right beneath the surface of the soil. This will deter cats from digging into the garden without hindering the growth of plants.
Give Them a Place with Catnip
Having a dedicated “cat area” with catnip often entices them to an area away from your main garden, thus offering you and the cats the best of both worlds.