Cats are adorable for their cuddles and purrs, but when they start wreaking havoc on your garden, the charm can quickly fade. If you're struggling with pesky mice, planting garlic or mint might keep them at bay from your blooms. When tackling slugs, maintaining a debris-free garden is crucial. However, feline intruders require more tact. Cats can turn pristine lawns into their personal playgrounds, using flowerbeds as litter boxes and driving away other creatures, making it vital to have strategies in place to deter these furry trespassers.
LoveTheGarden has explored numerous cat-repelling tactics. Suzanne Hall points out in her video that since cats are wanderers by nature, especially nocturnally, sending them packing isn't always straightforward. Good news though - some plants act as feline repellents. Lavender and rosemary may be fragrant to us, but cats find their scent repugnant, reports the Express. Plant them amongst your veggies or petals, and watch cats keep their distance.
And then there's the Scaredy Cat Plant, Coleus canina, whose name speaks volumes; its very existence is to ward off cats, said to be so effective they won't come within a mile of it. If botany isn't your style, you could whip up a homemade concoction instead. As per Hall's advice, mix ground black pepper with hot water in a spray bottle, give it a shake, and spritz it around your greenery - cats detest pepper, and it's plant-friendly to boot.
Commenters expressed relief at discovering these anti-cat solutions. One particularly exasperated individual commented: "Thank you so much for the information. I was literally about to hunt this cat with a bow." "Huge problem. They damage property with their pooing and constant spraying. Very sadly they also kill the birds," a local resident lamented.