Owning a cat can be a very gratifying experience. Cats make great company for people who live alone. They make great pets as they are usually affectionate and enjoy the company of humans. Cats are rarely a threat to humans or other pets.

Cats Can Be Animal Repellents Themselves!

If the cats are allowed outside, they may scare or kill birds… but cats are actually quite helpful in many areas as they keep mice, rats, squirrels and shrews away. In this sense they are themselves natural animal repellents and many people have cats for that one particular purpose. But… regular visits from neighbors’ cats may send you running for a cat repellent.

Why You Might Need A Cat Repellent

Often cats can be a nuisance in the garden at times as they tend to use flower beds and other areas, where plants or vegetables may be growing, as a litter box. Leaving their urine and feces in a flower bed not only leaves a fowl odor but can also disrupt the growth of flowers and plants. In this case you may well wish to consider using some form of cat repellent.

What Homemade Cat Repellent Techniques Can I Use?

To help deter cats or train them to stay out of the flower bed, there are several steps you can take.

1. The first line of defense should probably be to bar off any entrances to your garden such as holes in the fence or holes that have been burrowed under the fence.
2. It’s true that cats are good climbers and are also capable of jumping over high barriers. Placing a tight string or wire about six inches above your fence will likely deter a cat’s attempt to jump over it.
3. Some people use dogs to repel cats and scare them out of the garden if they are able to find their way in.
4. If you have fish in a pond, you may want to use netting to cover it.
5. You may also want to install plastic shields around your tree trunks as a cat repellent to deter cats from using them as a scratching post. 
6. Water is a great cat repellent. Cats do not like to be doused or sprayed with water. Keeping a spray bottle or bucket full of water handy for when the neighboring cat visits is a good idea.
7. Other effective cat repellents are mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind. Placing one of these cat repellents on the border of your flower box may send them running with their tail between their legs. Since cats are not fond of the orange scent, you could use an orange scented spray as a cat repellent by spraying it on clothes and placing it around plants and flowers you’d like to protect.
8. Other examples of an effective cat repellent are cayenne pepper, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, coffee grounds, lemon grass oil, citronella oil and eucalyptus oil.

There are many homemade deterrent techniques that you can employ as a cat repellent. However, if you are looking for a more effective cat repellent that is proven to keep unwanted cats out of your home and/or garden, check out our Animal Repellent Category for specific cat repellent product reviews.