How to cat proof your garden

Do you love working in your flower garden but hate what the neighborhood cats leave for you? Here's a few ideas to keep the cats at bay.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• see details

1. Get some chicken wire for when you initially plant your flower garden. Once you have planted the seeds lay the chicken wire out flat and spread a light layer of dirt over it to hold it in place. The growing plants will hold it for the rest. Cats won't be able to dig through the wire and it will be very uncomfortable.

2. If you couldn't use the step above or even if you could you could try one of these items spread in and around your garden: Moth balls, orange peels, granny's bitter apple spray, cayenne pepper, or black pepper.

3. A nice wide sprinkling of pepper will assault the nose of any cat or animal that comes sniffing around. You will have to reapply due to outdoor conditions and it wearing off. Cat's don't seem to care much for citrus either, so orange peel works as a repellent and fertilizer at the same time. Granny's bitter apple is a repellent but it doesn't last long and must be reapplied. Moth balls are hated by almost all animals that could visit your garden. Another approach is to line the floor of your garden with palm sized stones. It makes it hard for the cat to dig, just like the chicken wire. Lava rock also works.

Tips & Warnings

• Use any combination if you want to make sure or expirament to see what works best in your area.
• None of these will hurt any animals.
• Please don't do anything that would hurt an animal. Cruelty to animals is illegal and a felony in many states.

[enallage]

on 4/22/2009 Mothballs are toxic to cats. Don't use them.

[thewildeman2]

on 9/23/2008 Thank you both! :D

[iamageniuster]

on 9/23/2008 Good tips.

[RuthieRoc]

on 9/23/2008 as a cat lover and an owner of cats, this is a very good post. they really do hate citrus too! Very well put and accessible - thank you!