How do I keep cats out of the garden?

Tamara Smith
by Tamara Smith

Trying to keep this one cat out of are garden an yard, it likes to poop in it. Any ideas to keep it away. I tried to talk to the owner. But she said that's what cats do. I need help

  9 answers
  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Feb 22, 2019

    Most cities have laws about unleashed pets outside. Perhaps you could suggest the cats owner clean it up just like she has to clean up the cats litter box. Other than being unsightly and unsanitary, the poo probably won't hurt the garden, but if it pees in the garden, that may hurt it. If it has favorite spots it goes to, perhaps putting a whole bunch of plastic forks buried up to the tines would keep it from the spots, or just do it over the whole garden and it will probably start avoiding the area. You could take them up and see if they can be left out once the cat knows the garden litter box is to be avoided. You can always put them back in.

  • Pjo26908388 Pjo26908388 on Feb 22, 2019

    Put in a very tall fence with slats close together all around your house, making sure it is a material that a cat can't climb. Get a dog that is good at monitering your property. Fence and cover the beds where you grow veggies and food. Or move where there are not animals that poop.


    Making noise when you see the cat or spraying with a little water can encourage the cat to go elsewhere. I would let a neighbor know of this plan so they aren't surprised by a wet kitty. Some cats will move along with encouragement. Cats like nice loose loomy soil/ it says littler box to them and it sounds like the case with your yard.


    As a person with my own cats, cats of neighbors and a few strays along with a big garden I just throw away the poo when I find it and don't worry about it. Since everybody poops it is part of life. Animals do their thing outside.


    I live in a city with dogs, cats, coyotes, raccoons, possum, birds, homeless people. Poo comes along with each- coexisting is part of life.

  • Oliva Oliva on Feb 22, 2019

    Why should someone's disrespectful behavior cost you time and money? Call animal control. Your locality most likely has codes re: animals being outside, beyond the owner's property.

  • Melanie Melanie on Feb 23, 2019

    You can buy a repellent at your local Home Depot or Hardware stores. It comes in a container it is good for a variety of animals cats included. You sprinkle it around the perimeter of your garden and it only needs to be re applied once a month. I have used it for years and it works. It can be found in the garden section or with other repellents.

  • Huntress Huntress on Feb 23, 2019

    They sell what is called a garden cat scat mat, can't say it 3 x's fast lol. You can find on Amazon. Similar to the fork idea. Prickly ,so cats won't step on it, just cut to fit. The garden dirt is what attracts them, they dig to use the bathroom n cover it up, so garden soil is easier.Fertilizer will attract them too. There is a sprinkler type product that is available also. It is motion activated and sprays water when activated, this is more expensive and depending on the size of your garden, may need more than one and location has to be perfect. Cat is just being a cat. The cat mat should do good for you. Good luck.

  • Katy Madsen Katy Madsen on Feb 23, 2019

    One of the gardening sites has a plastic piece with spike on it - I don't remember the size or cost. But, it works for my garden.

  • Beth Beth on Feb 23, 2019

    We have outside cats that we inherited from the previous owners that do the same thing. We covered the gardens around the house with garden fabric then put river rocks over it. The rocks are too big for them to scratch over their droppings. It's worked for 2 years now except where we didn't put rocks down. These are all feral cats and we can't seem get rid of them.

  • Black Hills Rosie Black Hills Rosie on Feb 23, 2019

    I have lots of pine cones. They are prickly and cats don't like them. They can double as a sort of mulch, too.

  • Jan Jan on Feb 23, 2019

    You might consider a motion-activated sprinkler. The water won’t hurt your garden and it will deter a number of creatures, including the cat.