Cats are playful and fun to have as a pet. However, as they say, it is curious and often loves to explore the garden. While doing so, most cats ruin the flowerbeds, dig up the ground, nibble on plants and create a wreck. There are certain methods that can be applied to keep the felines away. Adopting these methods, is not harmful for the pet and keeps the flowerbeds intact too.
Build a fence
Cats tend to avoid rough surfaces.
- Wooden chopsticks may also be used to build a fence around the flowerbed.
- The flowerbed may also be lined with prickly plants such rose and cactus. These will deter the cat from entering the flowerbed. However, the fence should not be low enough for the cat to be able to jump over it.
- Fishing wires may also be used to build a fence.
- A proper wooden fence also may be built around the flowerbed if it suits the pocket. However, it is advised to not used electric fencing or wires that might harm the feline.
The flowerbed may also be laid with chicken mesh. Cats will avoid rough surfaces.
Use smells the cat dislikes
Cat’s dislike certain scents and will avoid it at any cost.
- Plants such as rue, lavender, pennyroyal, lemon thyme give off a scent that drives cats away. Planting a few of these plants will keep the cat away from the flowerbed.
- Cats dislike the smell of citrus. Hence throwing around peels of citrus fruits such as orange, lemons etc. will keep the cat away and also act as natural manure.
- Cats also dislike the smell of coffee and coffee powder may be sprinkled around to make the cat avoid the place.
- Egg shells are something cats hate, hence placing a few eggs shells around the area, might help.
- There are also cat repellant sprays available on the internet. These sprays usually smell like the urine of the predator and claim to be non-toxic for both the cat and plants.
However, the labels must be read carefully and facts must be verified before using it.
Use sounds that cats dislike
Sounds, in general, scares off animals.
- Wind chimes is a good option.
- Some motion-censored products can also be used. These products will make sounds on arrival of the feline and the sound usually scares it off.
- There are certain frequencies of ultrasonic sound, which drive away cats. The human ear can’t perceive it. Devices that emit such sound, can be bought on the internet.
These products are easily available and do not cost an arm and a leg. It must also be kept in mind that these devices will not only keep cats away but also other animals, which can perceive ultrasonic sounds.
Lay the ground with thorns and pricks
Cats prefer soft soil to walk on and play.
- Lay the area around the flowerbed with thorns and pine cones.
- Some dried twigs may also be placed.
- Stones and small gravels may also be used to make a boundary around the flowerbed.
- Small thorns and pricks can be strewn around.
Cats will avoid rough surfaces at any cost. Felines usually tend to dig up the soil and uproot the plants. In this case, even if the cat doesn’t avoid visiting the area, it won’t dig up the soil.
Make a flowerbed for your cat
If a cat finds a better plant to nibble on, it will not enter the flowerbed. A small flowerbed maybe made for the cat filled with plants that will attract the feline such as cat mints.
Once, the cat finds this flowerbed more attractive, it won’t go near the bed of other plants. However, chances are there, it may ruin its own flowerbed.
Clean the place regularly
- Cats tend to go back to places they have previously visited. They recognize the place through the smell of their urine or feces.
- Cleaning the flowerbed with regular water and spray won’t make the smell reach human nostrils. However, the smell stays and can be detected by the cats to return there.
- There are sprays available at the local stores and on internet, which completely wipes off the smell.
Use sprays
- Felines are usually allergic to the smell of pepper and hence spraying the area around the flowerbed with pepper spray is a good option to keep cats away from it.
- Sprinkling home ground pepper is also effective. However, the sprays bought from the stores or on the internet, are more effective since the wax content of these sprays also add to the smell to keep the cats away.
- Scented oils also keep cats away. Spraying the plants with a mixture of water and essential oils will keep the cats away and also add fragrance to the garden, but this is a costly method since scented oils cost a lot.
Avoid plants that attract cats
As much as cats are allergic to certain smells, certain smells attract them too. If possible, such plants should be avoided in the flowerbed. Cats are usually attracted by the smell of honeysuckle, valerian, silvervine, spider plant etc.
Make sure the cats are not harmed
On one hand, while it is important to take measures to keep the felines away and let the flowerbed bloom, on the other hand, it must be kept in mind, the feline should not get hurt.
Many people these days are adopting methods such as electric fence and barbed wires to cover the flowerbed. The cat may get electrocuted or get injured badly by the barbed wires. This is unethical, demonstrating cruelty towards the cat and must be avoided.
Some people use water sprinklers to keep cats away. Spraying the felines with water is wrong and must be avoided. One must try to use methods that would deter the cat without causing any harm to it.
Humans are naturally irked by when felines ruin their beautiful flowerbeds. It is equally important to ensure the felines are not harmed. The methods used should be humane and only deter the cats from going into the flowerbed, not harming it physically.