Cats can make great pets, but stray cats or cats that roam a lot can be a source of trouble. Pus can use your yard or garden as a place to defecate, step on or damage valuable plants, and spread fleas. Fortunately, there are many steps you can try to keep cats away from the yard. You can also mix and match the solutions as you wish, depending on how you want to handle this problem.
Step
Method 1 of 11: Eliminate cat food sources
Step 1. Remove trash cans or bird feeders from the yard to keep cats from coming
Cats usually enter your land or yard for some reason. If you are placing the trash can outdoors, make sure the lid is tightly closed so stray cats can't open it and look for food. Birds also tend to attract cats, so if you have multiple bird feeders in your yard, take them down or move them to keep cats out of your yard.
- If possible, place the trash in a safe place in the house so cats (and other pests such as squirrels or mice) don't look for food in the trash. If you have a covered garage, you can use it to store trash cans!
- Domesticated outdoor cats and stray cats often enter the yard and wander around looking for food, mates, and a place to go to the bathroom. If you're bothered by the presence of unwanted cats, see if you can find areas where cats frequent your yard. There may be something you are not aware of in your yard or garden!
Method 2 of 11: Install the fence
Step 1. One of the best ways to keep cats away from the yard is to put up physical barriers
If you want to install a permanent wooden or concrete fence, choose a fence with a pointed top so that the cat can't "relax" on it. For an easier and simpler option, you can put a few short wooden stakes around the yard and then attach them to a chicken wire fence.
If your existing fence has a flat or broad top so the cat can balance or “relax” on it, attach foil or plastic wrap to the top of the fence to keep cats from wandering over the fence
Method 3 of 11: Install a motion sensor garden sprinkler
Step 1. For a highly functional solution, install a garden sprinkler
Whenever a cat enters and roams in the garden, the sensor will detect its movement and the device will splash water to make the cat run away. While the cat won't be soaking wet, the sound of a blazing device and a jet of water can scare him off. You can buy a sprinkler with a motion sensor like this from the internet or some pet stores.
In winter, you can't use a sprinkler like this because the hose will freeze. Fortunately in Indonesia, this sprinkler can still be used throughout the year. If you set it up early (e.g. at the beginning of the year), stray cats will learn that your yard or garden is not a place to go to play or relax. Since your pussy is always watered, it will learn to stay away from your house and yard
Method 4 of 11: Use an ultrasonic device
Step 1. The infrared ultrasonic device will emit high-frequency sounds that can frighten the cat
This sound is inaudible to humans, but to cats, it sounds like the squeaking of nails rubbing against a chalkboard. Usually, this product uses battery power. You just need to turn it on and place it in your yard or garden. While on, the device will scan for any movement and issue an alarm or sound when the cat gets too close to the appliance.
- You can buy a device like this from the internet. If you prefer, visit a home supply store or hardware store for product availability.
- These tools tend to be more expensive than other devices. But luckily, these devices can keep animals or other pests away from your garden or yard!
Method 5 of 11: Purchase a commercial cat repellent product
Step 1. In supermarkets, there are usually products that contain a scent like the smell of dog or big cat urine
If a stray cat smells a new predator in the vicinity, it instinctively refuses to roam in that place for too long. Some products smell like dog urine, while others contain lion or panther urine. Commercial cat repellent products are usually available at major supermarkets or home supply stores.
- The drawbacks of this product are quite obvious because usually these products have a disturbing smell. You will also need to re-spray every week and after heavy rains.
- If you are reluctant to spray this product all over your yard or garden regularly, there is a granular version that resembles small pebbles. You just need to sprinkle it on the ground.
Method 6 of 11: Spread pinecones or chopsticks across the lawn
Step 1. You can keep cats away from your yard or garden by spreading coarse-textured objects
Cats love soft soil and grass, so by changing the texture of the surface, you can discourage your pussy from wandering around the yard. Cover the area around the yard with objects you like, or plant them (make sure you don't completely bury them) in the ground. You can crush the pinecones and sprinkle them on the ground or collect the chopsticks and set them on the ground in a grid pattern. Press a pinecone or set of chopsticks into the ground until they are half buried. Stray cats won't want to walk past your pinecone or set of chopsticks.
Plastic carpet with small fine thorns on the bottom can be an alternative solution. Place the carpet with the thorns facing up and cover it slightly with soil around your yard
Method 7 of 11: Place foil on the page
Step 1. Cats don't like to walk across rough, squeaky surfaces like aluminum foil
If there is an area that cats are not allowed to enter, prepare some sheets or strips of aluminum foil and place them in the area. Place a few pebbles or bricks in the corners of the foil to prevent the paper from being lifted or carried away by the wind. When the pussy stepped on it, she would feel and hear the squeaky aluminum foil then run away in the other direction.
- You can also use metal tape, sheet metal, and bubble wrap as alternative materials.
- This option can be a good choice, especially if you have a high fence installed, but stray cats can still sneak into the yard through gaps or holes because you can place several sheets of foil near the gap or hole area.
Method 8 of 11: Purchase a cat repellent plant
Step 1. Coleus canina proved to be the best plant to keep cats away. This plant is the most popular choice to repel or keep cats away because it is considered the most effective. By nature, this plant smells like dog urine to cats and is therefore more efficient than other plant species. If you don't want to grow this plant in your garden or place it in a pot outdoors, you can use other species such as curry, lavender, or rosemary.
- If you come across plants that are offered or labeled as “pee-off” or “scardey-cat”, they are actually the same as coleus canina.
- These plants are also sometimes labeled as plectranthus caninus.
Method 9 of 11: Spray or sprinkle chilies around the lawn
Step 1. Cats don't like chilies and will instinctively run away if they smell it
You can sprinkle chili powder around the yard periodically, or make a chili-based spray mix by mixing a few teaspoons of chili powder with water in a spray bottle. Spray or sprinkle chili peppers around entrances to lawns or plants you want to protect against cat threats. If chili powder doesn't work, you can try black pepper. You can also grow chili plants or garden or yard!
- The rest of the coffee grind that is still wet also gives the same effect. Plus, ground coffee scraps make good compost if you're growing your garden!
- If you are using chili powder or chili spray mix, you will need to sprinkle some chili powder or re-spray the mixture on the lawn after every rain.
Method 10 of 11: Make your page smell orange or citrus
Step 1. Cats also tend to avoid citrus scents like lemon and orange
You can buy citronella essential oil and drip it around the lawn. However, some people prefer to spread orange peels near plants and entrances to the yard. Whenever you process or consume lemons, limes, or oranges, do not remove the peel. Sprinkle the rind around the yard to keep stray cats from roaming around.
Lemon zest can be another option if you don't usually process or eat a lot of lemons, oranges, or limes
Method 11 of 11: Repel cats with essential oils
Step 1. Essential oils like lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and geranium oils can keep cats away
There are several methods for using this oil, but the easiest solution is to pour a few drops of undiluted oil into flower boxes or pots, areas along fence lines, or trees that cats usually visit. You can also mix different types of oil if there is a combination of scents that you like!
- Citronella is another essential oil that cats generally don't like. This oil can be a great choice if you also want to keep annoying insects out of your yard or home!
- You also need to reuse the oil after every rain. But luckily, you don't need to use a lot of oil to repel or keep cats away.
