The best ways to keep cats out of your garden beds

Cute, fluffy cats, when they move into their owners' summer cottages, turn into terrorists. They tear up newly planted garden beds and defecate in them. Neighborhood cats also flock to their favorite spots. This isn't surprising—the animals are attracted to soft, moist soil, which makes it easy to bury their excrement. Setting traps or using chemicals is inhumane. Fencing them off is useless; these mammals can climb and jump. Folk remedies for controlling these cute pests will help preserve your cat's health and your crops.

The harm of cats in the country

These animals instinctively mark their territory. Unneutered cats secrete a secretion in their urine that burns leaves when it comes into contact with them. They also sharpen their claws on tree trunks, particularly young trees.

They're hunting not only mice and rats, but also birds. The number of insect pests that destroy plants and fruits is increasing. Owners are unlikely to object to their pet basking in the grass between rows, even if "friends" have come to visit. However, they should be kept away from greenhouses, flowerbeds, and vegetable plots.

Humane ways to deal with cats

You can talk to the owner of the animal that's taken to your property, but it's unlikely to improve the situation. They'll likely refuse to "lock it up for the day." Therefore, you'll have to think about protecting the future (or already ripening) harvest yourself.

You may be interested in:

How to get rid of moles in your garden using folk remedies
"Let's count, dear moles?" Remember those blind accountants in warm fur coats, one of whom wanted to marry...Read more…

The "getting a dog" approach isn't suitable. These loyal companions can also ruin your property and dig in your flowerbeds. Keeping an animal on a leash 24 hours a day is impossible, especially if it's a house pet. And if you get a guard dog for your dacha, the question of what to do with it in the winter will arise. Other methods are needed.

Cat's Corner

It's a good idea to provide your pet with a designated toilet area. The recommended size is 1 x 1 m. Use gravel or sand as filler, and plant catnip (comfrey) and valerian nearby. Incidentally, these plants bloom all summer and have a pleasant scent. Any marks left should be removed. Iodine and lemon juice are suitable.

Bird feeders

Birds hop around bushes and low trees, and cats try to catch them, trampling plants and breaking thin branches. Driving the birds away isn't an option; they peck at caterpillars and small flies. Bird feeders should be installed outside the property or raised higher in trees.

Unpleasant odors

To repel these furry creatures, you can use unpleasant scents—both artificial and natural. You can plant certain flower varieties between the rows, spray them with oils, or add strong-smelling foods:

1. Plants that repel animals include lavender, coleus canina, lemon thyme, and marigolds.
2. Essential oils—lavender, cinnamon, rosemary, mint, citrus, fir, or eucalyptus. This method is expensive—you'll have to spray the oils after every watering or rain.
3. Foods with unpleasant odors for cats include fresh citrus peels or lemon pulp, dry mustard, bay leaf powder, geranium leaves, black and red pepper, fresh onions, and garlic. Coffee grounds not only emit an unpleasant odor for cats but also serve as valuable fertilizer.

Mulching

To prevent cats from trampling on your plants, you can sprinkle the soil with pine cones and fill the paths with sharp stones, such as gravel or decorative rocks. However, in the latter case, you won't be able to walk barefoot.

You may be interested in:

How to get rid of ants in your garden
Often, with the arrival of warm days, the garden is visited by not the most pleasant guests - ants, and a normal question for everyone...Read more…

You can cover the seeds with spruce or pine branches, or dried gooseberry or raspberry branches until they germinate. When pruning the bushes, don't discard the shoots; instead, dry them out—they'll be useful later. There's no need to remove the branches or needles. Simply dig up the beds in the fall, water them with organic matter, and the natural mulch will turn into fertilizer for next year.

Modern means

Install sprinkler heads in your yard and attach motion sensors to them. As soon as an animal approaches a favorite spot, it will be sprayed with a thin stream of water (or enveloped in a cloud of mist). This will deter not only cats but also other animals that wander into your yard.

Ultrasonic rodent repellents are often used. This method is not suitable for people with sensitive nervous systems, as such devices can trigger headaches.

You may be interested in:

The most proven ways to get rid of mice in your home
A warm home with a constant supply of food attracts mice. Rodents will find their way into any home, regardless of its features…Read more…

If you're fighting neighbors' or feral cats, rather than your own pets, a chain-link fence is a good choice. The top edge doesn't need to be filed down or bent—the sharp ends will reliably protect the property from unwanted visitors. If there's a tree next to the fence, all efforts will be futile. The animals will first climb the trunk and then jump down into the garden bed.