Plants to deter cats from using garden as loo [angry emoticon]

[NomDePlume]

My other thread about shrubs reminded me of this question too, so...

I have a lovely new raised herb bed (about 8 x 6 feet) which contains, mint (planted in buried terracotta pots), basil, thyme and rosemary. My cat has a tendency to use the lovely new feature as his own personal convenience. Obv I shoo him away if I catch him in the act, but ideally I want to stop him doing it altogether.

I plan to plant french lavender in a low hedge next to the bed and I'm hoping that the strong smell with deter him, but is there anything else I can plant alongside that will 'turn him off' ?

Thanks again !

I've heard that really strong curry vindaloo is supposed to work well, though I'm not sure if this is the powder or paste or what??
I suppose powder would just blow away.
Anyway haven't tried it myself yet, I'll let you know if it works when I have.

Here are a few tips to deter cats from your garden without harming them.

Surround an area with a fence (e.g. chicken wire) that leans in the direction from which the cat will approach. Alternatively, a flimsy plastic roll-up fencing placed on top of a fence will prevent cats climbing over it - fix taut wire or string 10-15 cm above fence-tops which makes it difficult for cats to balance. Specially designed strips of plastic spikes on top of a fence, shed roof or nestbox roof can be purchased to prevent cats from walking on it.

Light reflection can also be affective. An old gamekeepers trick is to place _ full plastic bottles in borders. Unwanted CDs threaded on twine and placed across flower beds or hung from trees can also deter cats.

Other deterrents are:- spiked collars around tree trunks, downward opening cones or biscuit tins fixed below bird table poles, vaseline or other grease on a smooth pole, clippings from thorny or spiky plants under feeders and bushes to prevent cats from stalking birds.

Scent deterrents also work. Renardine, Citronella, orange or lemon peel will repel while lion manure (Silent Roar) will mark a territory. A plant with a pungent odour, Coleus canina (poss under names ?Pee-off? and ?Scaredy cat?) is said to repel cats and other mammals from the garden.

Cats also hate water, fill a bucket or water pistol and keep it handy or an automated deterrent called The Scarecrow can be bought which delivers a water jet when detecting motion. High frequency electronic devices to repel cats are also available.

Remember it is an offence to knowingly trap, kill or injure a cat

The CDs have worked for us. I just stuck them in the flower bed at an angle. DH has also taken to urinating (I'm serious!) at various points in the garden, under the cover of darkness to preserve the neighbours sensibilities. This was more to deter the wretched fox. This too has worked but needs to be done regularly.

I have tried CDs and ribbons of aluminium foil suspended on thread, mothballs, curry powder, chilli powder, proprietary deterrants, plastic bottles filled with water, orange peel, Jeyes Fluid in semi submerged pots, planting shrubs which are supposed to deter cats, teabags soaked in coldy-menthol stuff (name escapes me - you put drops on a pillow when your kids have a cold)....NOTHING WORKS.

At least it's your own cat and at least it's a flower bed. Mine is on my %$$"£#* lawn and it's cats I don't know...GRRRRRRR

Have you tried a thick gravel mulch (10mm gravel - sharp)? This is what I did in my raised mint bed which previously doubled as the cat loo, they can't bear the feel of gravel on their paws and leave off. Also it helps retain water, etc.

try putting rose cuttings on it for a while - once the cat realises it isn't a comfortable place to go you can stop using them.

Marthamoo - silly question probably, but are you sure it's cats? They don't normally poo on lawns, they usually dig holes in soft soil and bury it (although I'm sure that there's always an exception). Might it be something else - foxes or something?

Hi, does this mean i have to add rose thorns all over my garden? as i have 5 neighbours cats who poo everywhere including the lawn, and they most certainly DO NOT bury it! i have watched them from my kitchen window. i have tried the sonic machine, cat mint, moth balls garlic sprays, gels pellets, cat scare, shiny things mirrors, and water. I am at the end of my tethers, especially that my 4 year old seems always to find the poo and stand in it!

Cats c*^+ing on my lawn and borders drives me nuts. Eventually gave up on growing anything in the borders (stunk of poo anyway) and put slate chippings down - that worked but they then started going on the lawn instead!