Mulch is a great addition to any garden or yard. It helps retain moisture prevents weeds and gives your landscape an attractive, finished look. However, mulch also tends to attract cats who like to dig in it and use it as their own personal litter box. If neighborhood cats are treating your mulch like their own private bathroom, here are 10 tips to deter them humanely and keep your landscape cat-poop free.
Use Rough Textured Mulch
Cats prefer soft, fine-grained mulches that feel similar to kitty litter when they dig and poop. To make your mulch less inviting, use types with a rough, uneven texture instead. Good options include large nugget mulches, mulches mixed with pine cones or bark chips, or decorative stone mulches. The coarse texture is unappealing for cats’ sensitive paws.
Add Obstacles
Making your mulched areas difficult for cats to walk across can deter them Place stepping stones, river rocks, chicken wire, or wire fencing on top of the mulch. These make it uncomfortable for cats to tread and dig. You can also insert sticks, twigs or pinecones into the mulch. Just be sure any sharp wire edges are secured into the ground so cats don’t injure themselves
Use Repellent Plants
Certain plants have strong scents that naturally repel cats. Herbs like rue, lavender, pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme are good choices. Plant them around the perimeter of your mulched beds. As cats approach, the pungent aroma should make them turn around and leave.
Apply Commercial Cat Repellents
Look for cat repellent sprays made with natural ingredients like citrus oils, vinegar or piperine. Avoid products with essential oils, which can be toxic to cats. Spray repellents around the mulched areas to create a scent boundary cats won’t cross. Reapply after rain. Predator urine repellents also scare cats away by mimicking the smell of animals like coyotes.
Make DIY Repellents
Homemade cat repellents are an affordable alternative. Mix citrus peels or juice with water and spray over mulch. You can also sprinkle used coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, vinegar, chili powder or oil of mustard on top. These strong scents overwhelm cats’ sensitive noses. Reapply weekly.
Use Motion-Activated Devices
Devices that squirt water when triggered by motion can startle cats away. Or try ultrasonic, battery-powered repellents that emit high-frequency sounds only heard by cats. The noise annoys them and deters them from entering the area. Look for humane models designed specifically for deterring (not harming) cats.
Apply Textured Deterrents
Plastic carpet runners or rubber mats with spike strips will feel uncomfortable under cats’ paws when stepped on. Or cover mulch with chicken wire, lattice panels or netting. The uneven surface deters digging and cats walking across the area. Just be sure all sharp edges are secured into the ground first.
Use Dog Fur or Human Hair
The scent of dogs and humans create a sense of unease and caution in cats. Try sprinkling some dog fur or human hair clippings from a salon over your mulch. You can also fill small mesh bags with hair trimmings and hang them around your garden. The technique may seem odd but the goal is to make cats feel your yard belongs to others and not them.
Keep Mulch Moist
Cats dislike digging and pooping in damp soil. For areas with persistent cat problems, try watering the mulch daily to keep it moist and unattractive. Use soaker hoses or irrigation systems on timers to make the chore easier. Just be careful not to create standing water or oversaturate the area, which can lead to other issues.
Remove Hiding Spots
Cats feel safer pooping in concealed areas where they aren’t exposed. Trim back overgrown plants and shrubs around mulch beds so there are no hiding places. Also store any piles of extra mulch, lumber or yard debris in a shed or garage. Eliminating secluded spots removes another enticement for cats to linger and poop there.
By implementing several of these deterrents, you can stop cats from thinking your mulch beds are an ideal place to dig, lounge and go to the bathroom. Try different techniques until you find the right solution for your yard and neighborhood cat population. With some persistence, you can have a feline-free landscape.
How To Stop Cats From Pooping In The Garden??Super Easy & Safe Methods
FAQ
How to stop cats from pooping in your mulch?
What is the most effective cat repellent?
What smell do cats hate the most?
How do I keep cats out of my garden mulch?
This is reported to be one of the most successful methods of keeping cats out of your garden mulch. Most of us know that cats can be trained away from jumping on counters or furniture with a few, well-aimed squirts from a plant mister.
Can cats dig through mulch?
Cats have very sensitive paws, and they love soft dirt. It’s not too much trouble for them to dig through most mulch material to get down to the soil, but if you make the top layer a bit uncomfortable, they may give up and go elsewhere. Prickly branches or leaves may make a garden bed less appealing.
Do stray cats poop in mulch?
People spend a lot of time out in their garden areas. You might find it peaceful to just pull weeds and water the plants in your flower beds. It can be frustrating when you’re doing a bit of work in the garden area and step on poop, though. Many people wind up having problems with stray cats coming by and pooping in their mulch.
How do I keep cats out of my Garden?
If you make your flowerbeds or garden unattractive to them, they will likely steer clear of them. Rather than using traditional mulch or soft soil, one way to keep cats out of your yard is to use prickly, uncomfortable options instead. You can use pine needles as mulch or plant thorny or vining plants as a carpet around your existing plants.
How to prevent cats from hanging around your garden?
Piles of cat excrement and urine-soaked mulch are not what you expect when you plan to spend the day in the garden, but luckily, you can prevent cats from hanging around your garden without resorting to violence or unethical techniques. 1. Morning and Evening Watering Mulch keeps plants cooler in the summertime and traps heat in the winter.
Can cats eat mulch?
The material’s insulating properties make your garden an appealing place for cats, but the animals will not enjoy the mulch when it’s soaking wet. In the morning and evening, you can hose down your garden and landscaped sections to make the locations less hospitable to felines.