This is a question I have been asked a lot recently, so I have decided to dedicate an article to it. It is a problem I faced myself in my garden, so I have a lot of personal experience with it.
As with all things of this nature, some people will succeed with one method while others will swear it doesn't work. All I can do is tell you what did and didn't work for me.
So with that in mind, let's get into it!
Electric Cat Scarer
These scarers have a motion sensor and emit a high-pitched noise whenever anything triggers it.
This noise is meant to be off-putting to cats; therefore, they will not hang around them - that's the idea anyway.
There are many different models around - some a lot cheaper than others, but the one below is the one I got. And it is the only thing I found that worked.
- CATWatch uses ultrasonic bursts to repel cats WITHOUT harming them – these ultrasonic bursts are inaudible to us, but are very effective at repelling cats.
- CATWatch is made in the UK and comes with a 2 year manufacturers warranty. CATWatch will repel cats up to 12m away and will protect a total area of 125 sqms (twice the area of other makes) and is very simple and easy to install anywhere in the garden.
This one is expensive compared to other models, but I think it is worth buying a good product that works and comes with a warranty rather than a cheaper one that might only last a couple of weeks.
Water Bottle
A half-filled water bottle is meant to make a good cat scarer. You fill the water bottle half full with water and then place it out in your beds.
The light reflecting off the water is meant to scare the cats and keep them away.
I tried this one and didn't have any success, but hey - it's free! So well worth trying at the very least.
CDs strung up can also have the same effect, and also work as bird scarers!
Cat Silhouettes
These are simple enough; they are just cat cutouts, usually made of metal, which you place in your garden.
They work for some people, but for me they only partially worked. While they would keep some of the cats out, many others didn't seem to mind the cats at all.
Rubber Snakes
Not one I have tried myself but I know lots of people swear this method is really effective.
You essentially leave some rubber snakes lying around in your garden. This is meant to instinctively scare cats, even if they have never seen a snake before.
It apparently scares them enough that they often stay away for good. While I haven't tried it myself, it is a cheap method so if you have a cat problem it could be well worth a try!
Scardy Cat Plant
This is a plant that has been specially bred to keep cats away. They apparently don't like the smell of it and so will stay well away.
Again it is one I have no experience with as I don't think it was available when I was having my cat issues about 6-7 years ago.
Cat Spray
This is a spray that is meant to keep cats away. Some people will tell you it works and others will tell you it does nothing.
I have tried this myself, and I had very little success, but some people swear by it. Often I think it depends more on the cat than the product itself!
Reader Suggestion
I have added this in based on feedback from a reader that said this stuff works well - so it could be well worth a go!
Michelle says
For new beds put chicken wire down just underneath the soil And cut out holes for your plants. This kept cats out of their beds as they couldn’t dig in the soil like they like to.
Daniel says
good idea!
Steve A says
Citrus lemon and orange skins are supposed to repel
Barbara Thomas says
The cats were I live don’t bother to dig and cover their mess.
Morag says
Hello
I have a problem not with cats but with marestail. Can you suggest anything to control it
Chelley says
Morag, the only thing that really works is to dig it out, getting as much root as you can, and plant something else in its place.
Sue Roff says
Hi Daniel, you didn’t put the name of the plant in you article. What is it called please.
Daniel says
Hi Sue, It is just called Scardy Cat 🙂
Chris says
I've tried it with cucumbers, and it worked for weeks. Then they went mouldy and manky. I wonder if cats think they are snakes. If you grow your own cucumbers, it's a cheap method and a good use for them.