Do it Yourself Cat Repellent

Keep cats out of your garden.

Individuals who pride themselves on their garden can deter their neighbors cats from coming into the garden by using a number of simple methods and homemade cat repellents. This will create an environment that cats will find unpleasant, meaning that they are less likely to use the garden as a place to pass waste or to stalk birds.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bottles
• Citrus fruit peels
• Plants
• Sprinklers

Instructions

1. Fill transparent plastic bottles with water half way. Place these around the garden to deter cats. According to The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, this generally works as an effective cat repellent as cats do not like the light reflection that the bottles produce and are therefore unlikely to go near them.

2. Scatter the peel of citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit around soiled areas of the garden, such as flowerbeds. RSPB.org.uk recommends this as cats are known to dislike the scent of citrus fruits. The peel of these fruits can also be added to a fertilizer to improve the soil in your garden.

3. Plant a variety of plants that are known to repel cats due to the scent they give off. Whereas cats are sensitive to these smells, people will find the scents floral and the plants can therefore be a pleasant addition to the garden. Some plants that can work as effective cat repellents include the Coleus Canina, which is often labeled as "scaredy cat" or "pee off," lavender, geraniums and rue.

4. Install motion-activated sprinklers in the lawn areas of your garden to repel cats who enter the garden looking for a place to pass waste. These work by spraying water when the cat steps onto the grass and triggers the motion detector. As well as acting as a deterrent, sprinklers can be used to keep a lawn in good condition during hot summer months.

References

• The RSPB: Cat Deterrents
• About My Planet: Natural Remedies for Repelling Cats from Your Lawn