How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden Without Hurting Them

Cats may be beloved members of the family, but they can be a menace if left to their own devices in your backyard garden. They may be chasing off (or hunting down) songbirds, digging up the dirt or mulch, or even turning your garden beds into their own outdoor litter box. And that may leave you figuring out exactly how to keep cats out of your garden without hurting them.

Fortunately, with a few smart strategies, you can help evict cats from your garden without harming them in any way, according to Theresa Rooney, Hennepin County master gardener and the author of The Guide to Humane Critter Control: Natural, Nontoxic Pest Solutions to Protect Your Yard and Garden. Try these no-harm, natural methods to keep the neighborhood kitties at bay—and your flowerbeds undisturbed.

How Cats Can Damage Your Garden

Unless you plant a field of catnip or cat grass, cats aren’t going to be too interested in your garden plants themselves—though they may still end up crushing your favorite plants if they decide they’re planted in the perfect spot for sunbathing.

The biggest damages are related to your actual garden beds and the local wildlife. Cats may dig into the loose dirt or mulch, damaging plant stems and roots, or they can find a good spot that they’ll use to urinate and defecate—and their waste can burn greenery and introduce toxins into the soil.

Some of cats’ wildlife hunting adventures may be a net positive for you—such as controlling the local mouse population—but other cat prey isn’t a positive for the ecosystem. “Cats have decimated the local songbird populations,” Rooney says.

How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden

Before you start on your cat-deterrent action plan, spend some time examining your yard to see where they’re creating the most damage, and start your treatment plan there. Keep in mind that fencing or other attempts to exclude them from your yard probably won’t work, as cats are pretty famous for their ability to climb and leap.

Plant some plastic forks.

This may sound a little strange, but putting several plastic forks into the soil tine-side up where the cat loves to hang out could do the trick. “That makes it so it’s not as easy for cat to lay down,” Rooney says. “It doesn’t hurt anything, but cats quickly realize they shouldn’t be there.” 

Use a motion-triggered deterrent.

Rooney is a fan of a motion-activated, water-squirting deterrent, which will surprise cats (or raccoons or other intruders) with a spray of water. “You hook it up to the outside spigot, and when something walks by a little sprinkler goes off,” Rooney says. “It surprises them, but it doesn’t hurt the cat.”

Swap your mulch for pinecones or stones.

Traditional mulch can be all too fun for a cat that loves to dig (and comfy for a cat that wants to relax in your garden). But swapping it out for something a bit bumpier like stones or pinecones could do the trick. “It’s not as much fun to lay down on or dig up,” Rooney says.

Use scent to keep them away.

Cats have very sensitive noses, so putting down fragrances that they don’t like could be the perfect solution for your cat problem. Fortunately, you don’t have to opt for deterrent scents like coyote urine or rotten egg to do the trick. Rooney suggests sprinkling orange peels around the areas where the cats frequent, or infusing orange oil into the water for the soil.

Plant cat deterrent plants.

Strongly scented herbs and onion, chive, and garlic plants may help keep cats away. Rue is another potential cat deterrent, but Rooney says it’s a bit controversial. “Some cats take it as a challenge and spray on the plant.”

Try animal-safe deterrent products.

Granular repellents are effective, but seek out products that are labeled pet- and child-safe to avoid poisoning cats, dogs, or other wildlife.

Spend time in your yard.

Outdoor cats don’t like to draw attention, so spending a lot of time in your garden can help encourage the neighborhood cats to seek quieter spots.

Clean up any cat-friendly food in your garden.

Sure, cats probably aren’t going to be interested in your zucchini or tomatoes, but grease from your barbecue or leftover dog food or treats could bring cats or raccoons into your yard. Keep your grill clean and don’t leave dog food out there unattended.

How to Minimize Cat Damage in Your Garden

If you want to welcome cats into your yard—but not your garden, there are techniques you can use to minimize the damage they can do to your garden beds and the local wildlife.

Protect birds and other wildlife.

If you’ve found one too many baby rabbits or songbirds fall victim to your cat visitors, look for ways to keep cats away from them. For instance, Rooney suggests using a bit of chicken wire and strategically placed shrubs to protect birds who are coming to your bird feeder from becoming dinner themselves. “As the cat approaches, they’ll have to eventually jump over the netting, which gives the birds time to escape the area,” Rooney says. Have tall shrubs nearby where they can retreat and hide from the cats until they move on.

Give cats a separate, cats-only hangout.

If you don’t want them wandering (or watering!) around your tomato plants, create a little kitty oasis away from the plants you love, Rooney says. Plant catnip seeds and plants, create a sandy spot for a kitty potty, and offer a dish of water where they can refresh themselves. If they’ve been enjoying a shady spot in your yard, offer a little shade as well.

Clear out dirt and mulch that has been used as a litter box.

The only way to keep them from continuing to use that spot is to clear any trace of their scent whatsoever. Dig up the dirt and mulch in that spot, replacing it with fresh—and consider adding orange oil or orange peels to the area to make it less attractive for them to return.