How to Stop Cats Fouling in Your Garden

Cat mess in the garden is unpleasant and can be a health risk, especially in vegetable patches and children's play areas. Here are humane ways to discourage cats from using your garden as a toilet.

Why cats choose your garden

Cats prefer loose, dry soil for toileting. Freshly dug beds, mulched borders and bare patches are particularly attractive. They also like quiet, sheltered spots where they feel safe.

Physical barriers

• Chicken wire: Lay it flat on the soil surface in beds. Cats dislike walking on it and cannot dig through it. Cover with mulch if you find it unsightly.
• Prickly prunings: Scatter thorny stems from roses or holly around plants. Cats avoid walking on them.
• Stone mulch: Large pebbles or gravel make digging difficult.
• Dense planting: Fill gaps in borders so there is no bare soil for cats to use.
• Netting: Cover vegetable beds with netting or fleece until plants are established.

Scent deterrents

Cats have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain scents:

• Citrus peel: Scatter orange and lemon peel around beds. Replace regularly as it breaks down.
• Coffee grounds: Spread used coffee grounds on the soil. Also good for the plants.
• Lavender and rosemary: Plant these around the garden – cats tend to avoid them.
• Coleus canina (Scaredy Cat plant): Said to deter cats, though results vary.
• Commercial cat repellent sprays: Available from garden centres. Need reapplying after rain.

Ultrasonic deterrents

These battery or solar-powered devices emit a high-frequency sound when triggered by movement. Cats find the sound unpleasant and learn to avoid the area.

Results are mixed – some people swear by them, others find them ineffective. They work best as part of a combined approach rather than on their own.

Water deterrents

Motion-activated sprinklers startle cats with a burst of water when they enter the area. Effective but can be triggered by other animals, birds, or even you.

What does not work

• Mothballs: Toxic to cats and other animals. Do not use.
• Pepper and chilli: Can cause pain and eye damage. Not humane.
• Lion dung pellets: Often marketed as a deterrent but evidence of effectiveness is weak.

A combined approach

No single method works for all cats. The most effective strategy combines several approaches:

1. Make the soil less attractive with barriers or mulch.
2. Use scent deterrents in problem areas.
3. Consider an ultrasonic device for persistent problems.
4. Be consistent – cats will return if deterrents are removed.

Talking to cat owners

If you know whose cat is causing the problem, a polite conversation may help. Cat owners can fit a collar with a bell (which also helps protect birds) or keep their cat in during certain hours.