How to Avoid Cats & Squirrels in Your Backyard

Cats and squirrels are a common problem for those with yards and lawns.

Cats and squirrels are problems for some homeowners. These small animals enjoy backyards or gardens because food is often available. Squirrels dig up gardens, destroy upholstered lawn furniture to make nests, and eat the seeds of plants and trees. Cats lounge around the lawn, chase and kill other small animals, or meow incessantly. Keeping squirrels out the yard is an ongoing struggle because the animals get use to deterrent methods. It is a little easier to keep cats out of the yard, but no method is foolproof and works with every cat or squirrel.

Things You'll Need

• Sprinkler motion sensor
• Spray bottle
• Vinegar
• Ginger powder
• Peels of citrus fruits
• Fox urine (fresh or powder)
• Squirrel repellent spray

Instructions

Keeping Cats Out

1. Install a sprinkler motion sensor. The sensor gives off a spray of water when a small animal triggers it. Place the sensor near areas where the animals congregate. This is a method that is effective for both squirrels and cats. Because humans also trigger the sensor, keep them away from walkways.

2. Fill a bottle with one part vinegar and one part tap water. Spray the area around the backyard to keep cats out. Cats have acute noses and hate the smell of vinegar.

3. Sprinkle ginger powder around the perimeter of the backyard. Cats don't like the smell of ginger.

4. Peel off the skin of citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes and lemons. Scatter the peels along any area that the cats frequent. Cats don't like citrus smells. Remove the old peels and replace with fresh peels about once a week.

Keeping Squirrels Out

1. Use fox urine. The smell of fox urine is very effective in keeping squirrels off your lawn. Stores sell commercial fox urine repellents in both spray and powder form. Follow the directions on the label.

2. Place netting over any food source in your backyard. Netting is a barrier to squirrels. While squirrels easily chew through plastic or rope netting, thin wire netting is more of a challenge. Use the netting in conjunction with other squirrel repellent methods.

3. Buy commercial squirrel repellent spray. The products deter squirrels with both odors and tastes that squirrels don't like. Spray the repellent in the areas the squirrels mostly frequent. Reapply the spray as directed on the label. Over time, the scent and taste of the repellent evaporates.

References

• Gardening Know How: Cat Repellent: How to Keep Cats out of the Yard
• Vinegar Tips: Pets
• The Squirrel Control Center: Yard and Lawn
• University of California (Davis): Tree Squirrels