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Keep cats out of your flower beds and vegetable gardens for good with our expert tips
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You love your garden, but unfortunately, cats love it too. If your beautiful flower bed or your delicious vegetables are being used as a litter box, it’s time to make a change. Fortunately, there are techniques you can use and products you can buy to keep cats out (without causing them harm). Keep reading for a list of 11 ways you can protect your yard from cat poop.

Things You Should Know

  • Cover your outdoor trash to keep cats from sneaking in for food.
  • Place criss-cross branches or rocks around your garden to deter cats.
  • Use a motion-activated sprinkler or an ultrasonic alarm to scare cats away.
  • Try scents like citrus, garlic, and rue to deter cats from your property.
1

Cover your outdoor trash.

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  1. When cats come into your garden, they’re typically looking for either shelter or food. If you keep trash cans outside, be sure to cover them with lids at night to prevent cats from sneaking in for a snack.[1]
    • Covering your outdoor garbage will also help deter other nighttime wildlife, like racoons.
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7

Use scent repellents.

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  1. Place citrus peels (oranges and lemons work the best), garlic, vinegar, coffee grinds, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus around your garden. These smells won’t harm the cats, but they will probably make them head elsewhere.[7]
    • You can also plant lavender, rosemary, lemongrass, and rue in your garden. All of these plants put off a smell that cats don’t like.
    • Smells diminish over time, so be sure to replenish your scent deterrents every few weeks or so.
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9

Install chicken wire.

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  1. Chicken wire is a simple barrier that can protect your plants. If you don’t mind having a fenced-in garden, simply install some chicken wire around the perimeter to keep cats out of your garden. Most cats can jump pretty high, but the chicken wire will be enough of a deterrent that they’ll probably head elsewhere.[9]
    • Chicken wire is a great solution if you have critters munching on your plants, too. It helps keep out bunnies and deer, which are both pretty destructive to gardens.
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11

Ask your neighbors to stop feeding the cats.

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  1. Cats who live outdoors are mostly looking for food, especially during the day. If you have neighbors that are feeding the cats, ask them if they’d mind stopping. That way, the cats are less likely to come to your neighborhood in the first place.[11]
    • If you have roaming cats outside without owners, consider calling your local animal shelter and asking about a spay/neuter program. Many shelters will use catch-and-release methods to fix stray cats and prevent new stray kittens.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I stop my dog eating poop that neighborhood cats leave in the garden?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    It's bizarre how some dogs are addicted to cat poop! There's no easy answer, especially when cats that don't belong to you do the pooping. The first step is to do a poop patrol each morning and scoop up any overnight offerings. Another good idea is to teach the dog a solid "Leave it" command. Do this using two different types of treat (one low value and one high value) and reward the dog with the high value treat when he leaves the low value one.
  • Question
    My neighbor feeds feral cats, about 20 of them, who then poop in my garden. The neighbor won't stop feeding the cats. What can I do?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Your neighbor is obviously concerned for the welfare of the cats. However, 20 is a lot of cats in one area, and it might be the cats are not neutered and still breeding. The first thing to do is stop the population increasing further, so contact a cat welfare charity about a TNR program for that colony. The charity may be able to suggest appropriate places in the country to rehome some of the cats, so they can fend successfully for themselves and decrease the pressure on resources in your area.
  • Question
    My neighbor feeds the feral cats who then poop in my yard. I can't let my dog out until I've cleaned up every morning. What can I do?
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
    Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
    Veterinarian
    Expert Answer
    Try letting the dog out into the yard at different times of day, so the unpredictable presence of the dog acts as a deterrent to the cats entering the yard. Also, substances that smell of alpha predators (lion poop!) are said to strongly deter cats. Lion dung can be purchased online. Place some where the cats toilet, and also along the boundary of your property to act as a scent deterrent.
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Warnings

  • Never try to hurt or kill any cats on your property. Not only is this harmful to animals, but it may also be illegal.
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About This Article

Natalie Punt, DVM
Reviewed by:
Veterinarian
This article was reviewed by Natalie Punt, DVM and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Natalie Punt is a Veterinarian and the Founder and CEO of mPet- a smart phone app for pet owners to store, manage and transfer their pets medical records and health information. She specializes in small animal emergency and general medicine and veterinary practice economics. Dr. Punt holds a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The University of California, Davis, an MS in Biochemistry from The University at Buffalo, and a DVM from Western University of Health Sciences. This article has been viewed 1,777,222 times.
28 votes - 64%
Co-authors: 22
Updated: January 7, 2023
Views: 1,777,222
Article SummaryX

To prevent cats from pooping in your garden, try putting down a layer of mulch wherever you can since cats don't like the feeling of it. You can also lay sticks or branches in a criss-cross pattern across your plant beds, which will keep cats from stepping in those areas. Also, try spraying your garden with equal parts water and vinegar or sprinkling coffee grounds everywhere since the smell of vinegar or coffee will deter cats. Even just spreading some citrus peels around your garden can help keep cats away because of the smell. To learn how to divert cats away from your garden by making other places more attractive to them, scroll down!

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