How to Keep Cats Out of the Flower Bed

We live on a farm and have a black cat named Bread. My daughter bought Bread with her money from showing goats at the fair last summer. Bread is the sweetest little kitty but she’s also a fierce huntress. Not a day goes by that she doesn’t bring home some kind of vermin she killed to show off to us.

Living on a farm, we also have a decent amount of stray cats that make their way around. I think that people sometimes dump their kitties out to rural areas like ours and hope that people like us will take them on as barn cats (we have food out for strays in the barn for when this happens).

Whether or not cats are wanted as pets or just to keep the rodent population under control, having cats destroy the garden you’ve worked hard to maintain is no fun. Especially when it’s your neighbors cat who decides that your flower bed is their preferred spot to do their “business”

Supplies to keep cats out of your flower beds

• Floral wire
• Poultry netting
• Rose bush branches
• Citrus and lemon peels
• Ultra sonic device
• Motion detection sprinkler

You may also like: DIY Ant Trap

How do you stop cats pooping in your garden?

No one wants to deal with cat poo in the garden. There are some things you can put on or in the soil that may help deter kitties from using your garden as their personal litter box. Try spraying your soil with equal parts water and vinegar (this will kill plants so keep it away from your favorite flowers) or sprinkle some used coffee grounds on the soil.

Citrus can also be used to help keep cats at bay because they don’t like the smell, so save your orange and lemon rinds and bury them in the dirt.

You may also like: DIY Hummingbird Nectar

What smells to cats dislike?

In addition to citrus, vinegar and coffee cats also dislike cayenne pepper, cinnamon and chopped onions. Be careful with these as they may irritate the cat’s mouth’s and eyes.

Do moth balls keep cats out of flower beds?

Supposedly moth balls can help keep cats out of flower beds however, moth balls are actually really bad for animals and the environment because they contain a toxic chemical called naphthalene and I don’t recommend using them to deter stray cats and dogs.

Will mothballs kill cats?

Cats are more sensitive to their toxic effects, but dogs are more likely to ingest mothballs. Long-term exposure to mothball fumes can also harm pets and people. Ingestion of naphthalene mothballs can cause anemia, lethargy, vomiting, and sometimes kidney or liver damage. So, please don't use mothballs in the home or garden.

Rose branches to deter cats

If you have roses growing in your garden you can bury some of the trimmed branches just under the soil in areas that you don’t want cats to dig into. Rose branches don’t compost well so instead of placing them in the compost bin with the other garden waste bury them in the garden. Just don’t forget where you put them when it’s time to dig into the garden yourself!

Floral wire to keep cats out of the garden

Placing things like bamboo sticks in between your flowers will help keep cats from settling down in your favorite flowers for a nap but using green floral wire is just as effective and much less visible- making your garden look more esthetically pleasing. Place the floral wire vertically into the garden beds, window boxes and any where else you don’t want cats to hang out.

Tape to keep kitties away

Using tape to deter cats is cheap and easy. Make balls of tape and place them in the garden. After a few times of the cats getting the tape balls stuck on them they will learn not to go near them.

Bird netting or chicken wire to keep cats out of the flower bed

Although chicken wire or plastic bird netting can be placed in areas you don't want cats to roam. Chicken wire is usually more expensive and difficult to work with than bird netting. You can anchor sheets of plastic bird netting over newly planted beds to prevent cats from digging in freshly worked soil. You can also lay strips of netting between plants to stop digging activities.

Black bird netting will blend in with the soil and not be very noticeable to people passing by.

Use an Ultra Sonic Device or Motion Activated Sprinkler

If random dogs and cats still make their way into your garden after all the other methods haven't worked you may need to bring out the big guns. And by big guns I mean cruelty free ultra sonic devices or motion activated sprinkler.

The ultra sonic devices give off a high frequency noise that only small animals can hear.

Motion activated sprinklers are exactly what they sound like. This is like the giant high tech version of spraying cats with a water bottle to get them off your counters!

Create a Cat-Friendly Oasis Away from the Garden

Another way to keep cats out of your flower beds is to instead direct them to an area where you would like them to go. If space allows you can set up an area of the yard that is just for cats. Set out a sand box and plant cat nip and cat grass for them to nibble on. Clean out the sandbox from time to time to keep it clean and you may find that cats are happy to stick to that area.

How do you keep cats out of the flower bed? Let me know your best tips in the comments!