Mulch is great for gardens It helps retain moisture, prevents weeds, and makes garden beds look neat and tidy But mulch also attracts cats looking for a convenient place to poop and relieve themselves. Cat feces in mulch is unsightly and unhygienic. It spreads diseases and ruins the look of your carefully tended garden beds.
If neighborhood cats are treating your mulched beds as their personal litter box, don’t despair. You can take steps to keep cats away and protect your mulch Here are 12 easy, humane and effective methods to stop cats pooping in mulch
Why Cats are Attracted to Mulch
Before learning how to keep cats out of mulch, it helps to understand why they are drawn to it in the first place.
Soft texture – Mulch has a soft, loose texture that cats find inviting. It is similar to the loose substrate they would naturally seek out and dig in to relieve themselves.
Earthy smell – Mulch has an earthy, soil-like smell that attracts cats and triggers their instinct to eliminate on loose, organic material.
Convenient digging – Mulch is loose and easy to dig in, allowing cats to easily cover up their waste. Cats by nature like to bury their urine and feces.
Favorite locations – Mulched beds are often located next to walls, bushes and other vertical objects. Cats prefer these locations to feel secure while relieving themselves.
How to Keep Cats Out of Mulch
Fortunately, there are many effective and humane options to prevent cats from soiling your mulch. Here are 12 proven methods:
1. Use Rocks or Pebbles as Mulch
Replace some or all bark mulch with rocks, pebbles or gravel. The coarse, uneven texture is uncomfortable for cats to walk and dig in. Rock mulch deters cats but still helps control weeds and retain moisture. Avoid very sharp gravel that could hurt paws.
2. Try Pinecone Mulch
Mulch with pinecones or add pinecones to existing bark mulch. Pinecones make the mulch surface bumpy and unpleasant for cats to walk and dig in. Pinecones are all-natural and complement garden beds nicely.
3. Lay Chicken Wire
Place a layer of chicken wire just above the mulch, securing it with U-shaped landscape pins. Chicken wire is uncomfortable on cats’ paws but lets plants grow through. It’s reusable from season to season.
4. Use Natural Cat Repellents
Apply natural scents that deter cats but are safe for gardens. Citrus peels, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, mustard powder, aloe gel and herbal oils can make mulch unappealing to cats. Reapply after rain. Avoid chemical cat repellents that may be toxic.
5. Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Motion-activated sprinklers detect cats entering the area and give them a harmless spray of water. They can be positioned wherever cats enter or approach mulched beds. The surprise spray startles cats and trains them to avoid the area.
6. Block Access
Use fencing, lattice panels or closely spaced plants to block access to mulched areas and keep cats away. Make sure there are no gaps larger than a few inches so cats can’t get in. Chicken wire buried a few inches below mulch also blocks digging.
7. Use Uncomfortable Mulch
Some organic mulches feel unpleasant on cat’s paws. Rough wood chips, large nugget mulch, lava rock mulch, and thorny twigs or branches make walking on mulch uncomfortable. Avoid toxic mulch like cocoa hulls.
8. Scatter Fresh Orange Peels
Cats dislike the strong citrus smell of fresh orange peels. Scatter peels on top of the mulch or even shallowly bury them. Replace peels weekly and after rain. Other citrus like grapefruit and lemon work well too.
9. Plant Cat-Repelling Plants
Herbs like rue, lavender and pennyroyal have strong scents that naturally repel cats. The herb coleus canina also deters cats. Plant them around edges of mulch beds. Make sure plants are safe for cats if nibbled.
10. Use a Cat Repelling Spray
Apply commercial cat repellent sprays made with harmless but unpleasant scents. Some contain citronella, lavender, eucalyptus or lemon-grass oil. Reapply weekly or after rain. Check the product is non-toxic for plants and pets.
11. Use an Ultrasonic Repeller
Ultrasonic devices emit high-frequency sound that is unpleasant and annoying to cats but silent to humans. Position them near mulch beds. Effectiveness can vary based on device quality. Avoid using if you have outdoor cats you don’t want to disturb.
12. Provide a Litter Box
For persistent neighborhood cats, provide a litter box in a hidden spot with sand or dirt, away from mulched beds. Cats may adapt to using it instead of mulch. Scoop waste daily. Make sure cats are not someone’s outdoor pets before taking responsibility.
When to Apply Cat Deterrents
Be strategic in when you apply deterrents like irritating mulches, cat repellents and ultrasonic devices.
Cats are most active at dawn and dusk when marking territory. Focus efforts in the early morning and evening.
Heat also dissipates scents, so reapply repellents after a hot day.
Rain washes away odors and chemicals so renew deterrents after wet weather.
Target spring and fall when cats roam more to breed and mark expanded territory.
Be Consistent and Patient
Repelling cats takes commitment and patience. Perseverance is key, even if it feels like your efforts are not working at first.
Continue applying deterrents and restricting access daily and cats will eventually give up and move on. Never harm or threaten cats to drive them away.
Preventing cats from fouling mulch beds takes diligence. But with persistent, humane efforts, you can reclaim your garden and enjoy clean, cat-free mulch.
Summary of Key Points:
- Mulch smells and feels appealing to cats looking for a place to relieve themselves
- Several natural, humane options can make mulch unappealing including textures and scents cats dislike
- Block access to mulched beds with barriers and plants to keep cats away
- Apply deterrents like citrus peels, cat-repelling plants and ultrasonic devices consistently
- Be patient and persistent – it can take time for cats to get the message and leave your mulch alone
With commitment to humane deterrents and restricting access, you can successfully keep unwanted cats from treating your mulch like a litter box and maintain a clean, cat-free garden.
How do I keep my neighbor’s cat out of my garden?
I need help keeping cats out of my gardens. My neighbor’s cat uses my front door gardens as his litter-box. I want to plant herbs in these beds as the sun is right. Help!
Katherine Garland, Horticulturist I’m sorry to hear of your feline troubles. Keeping cats out of the garden is not easy, but here’s a terrific article by a colleague that offers some practical tips:
Keeping Cats Out of the Garden
By Richard Brzozowski, Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Cats whether they be domestic or feral (wild) can be a real problem for gardeners. Cats can destroy plants and mess up your seed bed. Cats defecate and urinate in the garden soil and make the place an unpleasant place. Cats can serve as a reservoir for diseases that include histoplasmosis, leptospirosis, mumps, plague, rabies, ringworm, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch fever, and distemper. Cat feces can contain parasites that can affect the health of people. It is in the interest of the gardener to keep cats out of the garden.
The following strategies are offered for those gardeners with a cat problem:
- Chicken wire fencing can be laid on the ground in the garden to prevent digging by cats. The wire can be secured with extra large “hair pins” formed by cutting wire coat hangers in half. Most plants will grow through the wire easily. The wire can be covered with a thin layer of mulch if needed.
- Single or double strands of electric fence at low voltage can be used to teach cats that the garden is not a place for them. Polywire strands or ribbons are attached to short fiberglass rods. The polywire is durable and will last several years with care. As a substitute for the polywire, one could also use 22 gauge galvanized utility wire. The wire should be placed at heights of four and nine inches. A single strand could be placed at a four-inch height. Fence chargers can be purchased from farm and feed stores or from farm supply catalogs. One style of electric fence charger is powered by flashlight batteries. The fence can be turned off after the cats have “learned” to avoid the area. This same barrier can help keep woodchucks out of the garden.
- Rough textured mulch is uninviting for cats. Cats are attracted to garden soil with the same texture as kitty litter, so use mulches that are coarse.
- Rue, a hardy blue-green herb, is said to repel cats.
- Dog hair spread on the ground or hung in onion bags around the garden could work to keep cats away. Some cats won’t go near dog hair.
- Live dogs can serve as garden guards against cats as well as other animal pests.
- Anise Oil, methyl nonyl ketone, Ro-pel and Thymol as well as other repellents sold at pet stores and garden centers may be effective in repelling cats. Read and follow label directions of any product that you obtain. Some of these products may not be labeled for use around food crops. Some products may be irritating to people.
- Keep the cats indoors or negotiate with the cat owners to do so.
- If the cats are stray, call your local animal control officer.
- Avoid feeding pets outdoors. Food is an invitation for stray animals and neighborhood pets as well as wildlife.
- Remove brush and other cover where animals are apt to hide or live. Keep the vegetation in the area clipped.
- Some animals are attracted to compost piles. When composting, use a covered and walled compost bin. Bury fresh materials in the pile.
- Try placing loaded mouse traps under a layer of newspaper in and around the garden to teach the cat(s) to stay out.
- Don’t grow catnip in your garden. This attracts cats.
- Don’t use mothballs or moth flakes made from naphthalene to try to repel cats and other pests outside. When used outdoors the balls and flakes melt and may contaminate groundwater.
Cats are more active during twilight and night-time so freshen repellents and prepare barriers for higher use during those times. To avoid contamination by cats feces wear gloves when gardening. Wash your hands and under fingernails thoroughly after working in the garden when not using gloves.
How To Keep Cats Out Of Your Yard
FAQ
How to keep cats out of your mulch beds?
- Cat repellent mulch
- Plant things like lavender
- Put some lemon or orange slices in the flowerbed
- Use landscaping fabric
- Automatic deterrents that spray air or water
- Sometimes pinwheels work
- Cat-proof fencing
- Make a separate garden bed just for the cats
How do I stop cats from pooping in my mulch?
To deter cats from defecating in your mulch, try using citrus peels, motion-activated sprinklers, or laying down chicken wire.
What is the most effective cat repellent?
Will coffee grounds keep cats away?
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.
Does mulch attract cats?
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.
How do you keep cats out of your garden?
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?
Can cat excrement & urine soaked mulch keep cats away?
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.
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.
How to keep stray cats from pooping on mulch?
Many people have been able to keep stray cats from coming to their yards by using citrus-based sprays. If you have some, then it’s going to be a good option that won’t harm your plants. There are many things that you can do to try to keep stray cats from pooping on your mulch.