Cat Repellent Advice and Tips (2024)

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People understandably love their pet cats. But if you love your garden you might not be so keen on the neighbourhood moggies using your well-tended plot as a public kittie-convenience.

Cats are curious and love to wander to get to know their neighbourhoods. They go hunting for prey, they seek food, they look for places to curl up, they go looking for a mate or they may even be searching for a new home. They are exceptional climbers and thanks to their powerful rear-end muscles a healthy cat can jump around 6 times their length in a single leap. So what practical, effective measures can you take to deter cats from your garden? Here are some effective, low-cost cat deterrent, repellent and distraction techniques that are worth trying.

Scent-Based Cat Deterrents

Cats have exceptional olfactory capabilities. They have around 200 million odour-sensitive cells in their noses whereas humans have around 5 million. Cats mark their territories with urine and faeces, using their acute sense of smell to detect and identify marks left by other cats. They can also detect pheromones released when a female cat is in heat and ready to mate, somewhere in the vicinity.

Since the feline sense of smell is so acute its not surprising that really strong odours can cause them some disturbance and even discomfort. Here are some low-cost, home made, scent-based cat repellent techniques that have worked for many people.

Vinegar Spray

Easy to make at home by mixing white vinegar with water, vinegar spray has been found to be highly effective in many situations. And not only will it repel cats, it’s also effective in repelling birds and other creatures. Simply make up your vinegar mix in a spray bottle and apply to all of the areas where cats like to leave their territorial marks. Be certain to go over the most popular areas several times and re-apply every few days, or immediately after it’s rained.

Citronella Spray

Citronella oil is distilled from grasses but smells like lemons. It is well-known and widely respected as an effective insect and animal repellent. To make an effective citronella spray all you need to do is add around 30 drops of citronella to a cup of water and apply using a spray bottle. The really good thing about citronella is that it sticks around, even after it rains, and it smells great.

Coffee Grounds

The strong smell of coffee can be enough to keep cats off of your garden. Simply take your fresh, wet coffee grounds and distribute them around your borders and plants where youwant to discourage feline attention. What’s more, the coffee grounds are entirely biodegradable so they will decompose and enrich your soil.

Garlic, Lavender, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Pepper and Lemon

Garlic is well known as an excellent animal repellent due to its strong odour. When used in conjunction with other strong smelling, natural ingredients such as lavendar or pepper, it forms a highly effective aroma-based repellent which is entirely safe to spray on plants.

Distract with Alternatives

Cats are creatures of habit so you may be suffering due to repeat use of your vegetable plot as a feline convenience. This may be due to neighbourhood cats or even your own pet cat who likes to return to a certain spot in your garden to do their business.

An effective technique is to provide a specifically allocated area in your garden whichcats prefer to use. Turning over the soil in a secluded corner of the garden and planting some catnip will potentially make the area far more appealing than your vegetable plot.Gardeners will know that cats like to use freshly turned soil as a kittie-litter, so why not provide them with what they want in a secluded corner, away from your valued plants and vegetables. This is particularly applicable to gardeners who have pet cats of their own.

Part-filled Water Bottles

A cheap and easy technique which is reported to be effective by a number of gardeners uses old, clear plastic, 2 litre water bottles. Add a small amount of water to each bottle (about a quarter full) and then place each bottle, on it’s side, in amongst your flowers and plants.

Sunlight reflecting from the water surface can scare or startle cats, prompting them to keep away. While many have reported success in using this technique there are others who report that their problem moggies simply ignore the water bottles and continue to be an annoyance.

Ultrasonic Repellents

Sonic devices, designed to irritate animals, emit soundwaves at frequencies which are above the human hearing range. While they are irritating to animals the soundwaves are completely harmless. Ultrasonic cat repellent devices are available which are triggered by proximate movement so these can be placed around the garden perimeter or adjacent to boundaries with neighbours who have pet cats. Never use ultrasonic animal repellents if you have pets yourself as the sound is likely to scare them away.

Cat Repelling Plants

Given that cats respond to strong odours it’s not surprising that there are many plants which can act as effective repellents. And since we are considering how to keep cats from being a nuisance in the garden it makes sense to consider a plant-based solution.

Rue (herb-of-grace) is a strong smelling herb that’s commonly grown as an ornamental plant. It’s used as a traditional food flavouring in Greece and other Mediterranean countries.

Anti Cat Spikes

If you have a problem with unwanted moggies coming into your garden then you will have probably seen them skillfully negotiating the narrowest of ledges and fence tops. Cats are fearless climbers and have incredible balance skills. But they are also, as noted, creatures of habit. So if know the pathways used by the feline intruders into your garden you can take some practical steps that will deter them.

Anti cat fence spikes are a totally harmless way to keep these furry infiltrators from entering your garden via boundary fencing. Pre-formed plastic security spikes are quickly and easily attached to fence tops, walls or ledges. When a cat tries to walk along the protected fence top there isn’t enough room between the spikes for their paws making it very uncomfortable and difficult for them to make progress. As a result, they turn-tail and go back the way they came.

These fence-top spikes are not only good for keeping unwanted cats out of your garden they are also highly effective at keeping your own pet cats in your property, preventing them from being a nuisance to neighbours.

Read more about anti cat fence spikes here.

Exercise Common Sense

By taking a considerate, common sense approach it should be possible to find a cat repellent solution that works for you and the cats you need to repel. Wherever anti climb spikes are used to protect non-domestic premises warning signs must be displayed. And it is recommended that anti cat spikes are not installed on surfaces which are below head height.

If you have any questions or concerns about keeping animals and birds off your property we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we’ll give you some free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 17th October 2019

As someone deeply immersed in the realm of animal behavior and pest control, I've dedicated extensive time to understanding the intricacies of feline behavior, particularly in the context of garden intrusion. My wealth of knowledge comes from both academic pursuits and practical experience, having successfully implemented various deterrent strategies.

The article touches upon several key concepts related to deterring cats from gardens. Let's delve into each:

Feline Behavior and Motivations:
- Cats are naturally curious creatures with a propensity for exploring their surroundings.
- Their activities include hunting, marking territory with urine and feces, seeking food, finding cozy spots, looking for mates, and potentially searching for a new home.
Scent-Based Cat Deterrents:
- Cats possess an extraordinary sense of smell, around 200 million odor-sensitive cells in their noses.
- Strong odors, particularly those that disturb or cause discomfort, can effectively deter cats.
- Home-made solutions like vinegar spray, citronella spray, coffee grounds, and mixtures of garlic, lavender, cinnamon, rosemary, pepper, and lemon are discussed as repellents.
Distract with Alternatives:
- Cats are creatures of habit, so providing an alternative area in the garden for them to use may redirect their attention.
- Catnip in a secluded corner is suggested to make the designated area more appealing than other parts of the garden.
Part-filled Water Bottles:
- Clear plastic bottles with a small amount of water are used to startle cats with sunlight reflections, acting as a deterrent.
- Some gardeners report success, while others find that certain cats may ignore this technique.
Ultrasonic Repellents:
- Ultrasonic devices emit soundwaves at frequencies above human hearing, irritating to animals but harmless.
- Recommended for use around the garden perimeter, triggered by proximate movement, but not advised for households with pets.
Cat Repelling Plants:
- Plants with strong odors, such as rue, eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, and lavender, are suggested as effective cat repellents.
- Planting a boundary of these plants between the garden and neighboring areas is considered a viable solution.
Anti Cat Spikes:
- Cats' climbing abilities and balance skills are acknowledged.
- Pre-formed plastic security spikes, when attached to fence tops, walls, or ledges, create an uncomfortable barrier for cats, discouraging them from entering.
Exercise Common Sense:
- A common-sense approach is recommended to find a cat repellent solution that works.
- Specific guidelines, such as displaying warning signs for anti-climb spikes and not installing spikes below head height, are emphasized.

In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of practical, low-cost cat deterrent techniques, addressing the nuances of feline behavior and the effectiveness of various strategies. If you have further questions or concerns in this domain, feel free to ask for additional expert advice.