I recently got a question about cats in potted plants/garden. The question addressed an issue I used to face quite a bit when I was living in wide-open un-fenced spaces, so I thought it was relevant enough to answer in the form of a post. It went like this:
I planted the zucchini that I started as seed last month, they did so well in the Cali sun and soft rain, but this morning the soil in the 18″ planter was disturbed, thankfully not the plants, so far. My thoughts were, first a feral cat or perhaps a wild turkey. Since I am an organic gardener, I do not want to use any chemicals, but please, what can I use as a humane deterrent?
The best way to deter pests, in this case case, in my opinion is by planting and placing things that have a smell that repulses them. Most local nurseries carry a form of coleus that cats do not like {the nursery can guide you toward the right variety}. Rue, lavender, and lemon thyme are also repugnant to cats. You can plant those in along with your zucchini, and the smell will act as a repellent. Cats also are not huge fans of anything citrus-smelling, so placing your lemon peels and orange peels in you pots may work as a deterrent.
If you haven’t cleaned your brush in awhile, most animals {deer, cats, etc.} do not really appreciate the smell of human hair. You can add clumps to the top of your dirt. The only issue is that it tends to blow away easily, and your plan gets foiled.
In addition to repelling the cats, you could make the pots less hospitable for digging, by placing small rocks on top of the dirt, creating a chicken wire barrier, or laying down small bits of secured landscape fabric. The idea is to take the ease out of their natural instinct to find a good place to dig.
Finally, you could try the art of distraction. Cats are looking for a place to dig–and well, a litter box. You could try providing them such a place close by. Fill an old rubbermaid up with sand or peat moss. This might give them a place of their own, leaving your plants to grow without the addition of digging and cat poo. You could plant catnip very, very close {or in} the litter box to entice them to use it.
That’s about all I have on the de-catifying. If any of you reading have suggestions, make sure to leave them in the comments below.
~Mavis
Heather says
A cayenne pepper dilution (1 part cayenne to 10 parts water) sprayed around the base of the plants worked well for me when trying to repel neighborhood dogs. You do have to reapply after each rain, though.
E in Upstate NY says
In the past have been successful in keeping house cats out of my potted plants by placing pine cones on the top of the planters.
Outdoors my issue is squirrels! Have neighbors who feed them, so have “more” squirrels than normal in the neighborhood; and they’re not afraid of humans. ARG
Carrie says
I have squirrel issues too. I cover just sewn seeds and seedlings with chicken wire. I plan on sprinkling some cayenne pepper around my potted plants.
Alison says
Thanks for the ideas… We have an 8 ft deer fence around our garden keeping most critters away, but not the squirrels!!! They just get in and dig away… It’s annoying!
Tejas Prairie Hen says
I used to try sprinkling garlic and chili powder around newly planted seeds, but found that didn’t work. Our kitties have smelled all cooking smells since birth and nothing deters them from digging in fresh dirt. My carrots and radishes were coming up great until they dug up three-fourths of them. Physical barriers are the only thing that works here. I border the newly-planted areas with a roll of cheap wire border and insert 3 foot tall bamboo sticks every 3 inches. So far, it’s kept the kitties and dog out for 3 wks. I found the bamboo sticks in packages if 12 at the 99 Cent Only store. At Lowe’s they are a buck each! If you have bamboo in your yard, they could be free. Problem is, I bought all the store had and need about 10 more packages! Once the plants are established, cats don’t seem interested in digging. But they sure are attracted to freshly turned dirt.
Teresa says
Cheap plastic forks. Break off the handles and stick in the pot, tines up. They won’t be able to dig.
Ursula says
In a similar vein, I’ve put down pea netting (pulled taut with stakes) or wood trellises over my freshly planted seeds to keep cats from digging. Coldframes and plastic mulch would probably work too. Anything that keeps them from accessing.
Vy says
I save sticks and also small decorative edging pieces when I see them at garage sales, and place those all around the beds. My cats are lazy, if they have to think to poop, they go somewhere easier 🙂
Maureen says
I second the pinecone idea! A neighbor cat insisted on sleeping in my cozy freshly planted flower pots (freshly planted for the second or third time, thanks to that cat). I tucked pinecones in, pretty much covering the dirt – no more kitty bed! As the plants grew, the pinecones were hidden, and I had flowers instead of a cat bed.
Maureen says
A related question: digging dogs. You seem to think it’s cute when Lucy digs – we have two big dogs who think they have to dig half way to China. Our area is having a gopher overpopulation explosion – which the dogs love for entertainment, but makes it look like our backyard has a bad case of acne. (My garden is fenced off, for obvious reasons) Other than putting dog poop in the holes (yucky!) I would love to hear of other solutions. Thanks
Mari says
It’s a falacy about lavender and lemon thyme detering cats….mine loves both.
I keep cats off my gardens using sheep poo pellets. Cats hate the smell of them. Sprinkle on the surface out the soil. They soften over time and break down into the soil adding nitrogen so the use is doublefold. Ok they do have a slight sheep poo odour first time they get wet but it doesn’t last. I have used this method for years now.
But remember if you have a cat of your own, to leave a good sized clear earth area for it to do its ablution in. My cat won’t us any other area than this now.
Mandy Daellenbach says
Cats…..the tops of jalepeno peppers all left right where they poop helps deter them, plus pine cones.
Ok here’s one for the group, raccoons! I’m dealing with some crazy huge raccoons that have dug up my asparagus, countless irises, eatten my rhubarb plants and munched my artichokes…oh and they dug up my germinating corn. Thoughts? I’ve concocted a scary potion of stink that I hang in balls of old tights. They hate that and avoid it, but it only works in about a 3ft radius. Other thoughts? Please help!!!!!
JessB says
I’d get some live traps for the raccoons and relocate them. They are nasty little SOBs when it comes to wreaking havoc on gardens.
I think chicken wire is the best way to keep cats and squirrels out of areas. Build cone covers over things you want to protect. It’s barely noticeable from a distance and will keep your blood pressure much lower.
Julie says
Raccoons are really attracted to fish emulsion fertilizer and blood meal. They’ll pull plants out of pots if they get a whiff of it.
Mindy says
Our neighbors have 3 barn cats that prefer our raised beds and in ground garden rather than spaces near their own home to poo in. We tried a peppermint based spray that worked somewhat well but it has to be reapplied after rain and everywhere it isn’t they come. My husband has to scoop their poo daily so I am anxious to read these tips to try since we have seeds in now. The raised beds we will try the netting until the plants are established but the in ground vegetable garden is the biggest problem.