In the ranking of the most popular pets, cats are at the top. More than 15 million live in German households. However, the outdoor cats among them are not always welcome. These 10 home remedies act as a gentle cat deterrent and keep the animals away.
In a nutshell
- Transmission of diseases possible through legacies of the cats
- also hunt beneficial insects
- Knowledge of cat behavior is helpful for successful measures
- only animal-friendly defense methods allowed
- strongly scented plants suitable as a gentle cat deterrent
cats in the garden
When a cat roams the garden with its elegant movements, it's cute to look at. But she also has another side and hunts garden dwellers such as songbirds or squirrels.
There is another reason why many garden owners want to keep their property free of cats. Above all, the house tiger prefers to use loose beds for their large or small business. However, parasites can also transmit dangerous diseases such as toxoplasmosis when they come into contact with the remains. Children, pregnant women or weak people are at risk.
Contamination by (unfamiliar) cats in the garden is not only annoying, it can also be a health hazard.
Home remedies to scare cats
We present suitable home remedies to drive away loose cats.
water
Cats don't like water, every child knows that. Because of this property, the term "cat wash" came about for quick, not very thorough washing. Water is perfect as a cat scare. Here's how to do it:
- Fill a squeeze bottle with cold water.
- Once the intruder is near you, spray it on him.
- If that doesn't make enough of an impression, use the garden hose to help. The house tiger remembers the experience and will give your property a wide berth for a long time.
plant
piss off plant
The name of the Piss you plant (Plectranthus ornatus) says it all. The leaves emit a very strong, unpleasant smell for the animals. People only notice the menthol-like scent when they smell the leaves directly.
The undemanding plant with the green or green-white leaves is not particularly attractive, but it is extremely useful.
This is how you use the cat deterrent in the best possible way:
- Watch the free roamers on their tour of your garden.
- Plant the frost-sensitive Verpissdich plant in preferred places after the ice saints.
- In summer and autumn, it unfolds its effect within a radius of one to two meters. You must therefore plant several plants for a successful defense.
Notice: Other strongly scented garden herbs are also unpopular with cats. Lemon balm, mint, garlic or rosemary can be successfully used as a gentle cat deterrent.
rose cut
Around thorny brush, cats make a big floor. You can take advantage of this property to drive away the free cats. Place shredded rose cuttings and thorny hedge clippings around the vegetable beds.
Tip: Did you know that healthy cats can catch up to 12 mice a day? So if you are struggling with a plague of mice, you should avoid a cat deterrent in the garden.
Tatar honeysuckle
In contrast to the annual Piss you plant, the Tatar honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) is perennial and robust. The shrub can reach a height of four meters. With pink flowers, the cat deterrent becomes a decorative eye-catcher in your garden in May and June.
- Watch the cats as they walk.
- Check whether there is a suitable sunny to partially shaded spot for the honeysuckle along the paths.
- Dig a planting hole and plant the shrub.
hawthorn
Hawthorn hedges (Crataegus) provide effective protection against unwanted cat visits. The velvet paws detest the thorny undergrowth and look for a more accessible garden.
From the kitchen
coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are much more than a waste product from making coffee. The popular household remedy is used as rose fertilizer or for loosening the soil. The brown powder quickly kills slugs and snails. Likewise, coffee grounds help to gently evict cats from the garden.
Coffee grounds in the glass
Proceed as follows:
- Collect coffee grounds in an airy container over several days, stir it several times so that no mold can form.
- Distribute the coffee grounds in the most popular places on your property for unwanted garden visitors.
- Repeat the process regularly.
Tip: You can also use coffee grounds as an organic fertilizer or for biological aphid control.
vinegar
Sharp vinegar smells are not for sensitive cats. You can gently scare cats away with this simple home remedy. This is important for a successful application:
- Mix equal parts vinegar, water and liquid soap.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray cat-friendly spots in your yard.
cinammon
People love the smell of cinnamon. Cats see it differently. They loathe our favorite Christmas scent. The knowledge can help drive away the house tiger.
Place a few cinnamon sticks around the most vulnerable spots in the garden. Neighbor's cat will wrinkle its nose and give it a wide berth.
rabbit wire
If you have just sown vegetables, rabbit wire is an effective deterrent from doing their business on the bed. Lay rabbit wire across the bed. The cat deterrent works and the seed can sprout undisturbed.
mulching
Cats love to roam the beds. However, they do not like wet paws. Mulch your beds wherever you can. The moisture has a gentle effect as a cat deterrent and the bed is no longer an option as a place for the litter box.
- Mulch vegetable beds and harvested areas with grass clippings.
- Combine this home remedy with other cat repellent methods, such as coffee grounds.
Lawn clippings act as mulch to keep cats away.
frequently asked Questions
How can you propagate the piss-you-plant yourself?Propagation is best done by cuttings. Cut off some stems and remove the lower leaves. Roots will soon form in a glass of water or in moist soil. Plant the seedlings in the cat's favorite spot.
Do you have to tolerate contamination by cats from the neighborhood on your own property?Again and again, courts have to deal with the question of who is liable for contamination by cats. Each case must be considered individually. As a guide, one free-roaming cat per neighbor and the associated soiling of the beds are tolerable. Free exercise is part of the animal's natural behavior. Damage caused by cats is usually covered by the owner's personal liability insurance.
How do the commercially available ultrasonic devices work?The commercial cat deterrent is mostly solar powered. As soon as an animal comes close, a motion detector reacts and emits an ultrasonic sound that is unpleasant for cats. Humans cannot perceive this frequency. The cats become frightened, run away and will avoid the area in the future.