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 smells like soil and attracts cats, which makes them want to go to the bathroom on loose, organic matter.
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 spots: Beds with mulch are often put next to trees, walls, or 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
Use natural scents that keep cats away that won’t hurt your garden. Cats may not like mulch if it has dried fruit peels, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, mustard powder, aloe gel, or herbal oils in it. Reapply after rain. Avoid chemical cat repellents that may be toxic.
5. Install Motion-Activated Sprinklers
Sprinklers that are set off by motion detect cats entering the area and spray them with water. They can be put in places where cats enter or approach mulched beds. Cats are scared off by the surprise spray, which taught them to stay away from 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:
- Cats can’t dig in the garden if you put down chicken wire fencing on the ground. Extra-large “hair pins” made by cutting wire coat hangers in half can be used to hold the wire in place. Most plants will grow through the wire easily. If you need to, you can put a thin layer of mulch over the wire.
- Low-voltage electric fences with one or two strands 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. If you take good care of it, the polywire will last for many years. It is possible to use 22 gauge galvanized utility wire instead of polywire. The wire should be set up between 4 and 9 inches high. A single strand could be placed at a four-inch height. You can buy fence chargers at farm and feed stores or from catalogs of farm supplies. Batteries from a flashlight power one type of electric fence charger. Once the cats have “learned” to stay away from the area, the fence can be taken down. This wall can also help keep woodchucks out of the garden.
- Rough textured mulch is uninviting for cats. Cats are drawn to garden soil that feels like cat litter, so use mulches that are rough.
- Rue, a hardy blue-green herb, is said to repel cats.
- Cats might stay away from the garden if dog hair is spread out on the ground or hung in onion bags. Some cats won’t go near dog hair.
- Real dogs can keep cats and other animals out of your garden.
- Cats may not want to come near anise oil, methyl nonyl ketone, Ro-pel, or thymol, or other repellents you can buy at pet stores and garden centers. Read and follow the directions on the label of every product you buy. Some of these items might not say on the label that they can be used around food crops. Some products may be irritating to people.
- Keep the cats inside, or talk to the cat owners about it.
- Animal Control should be called if the cats are stray.
- Avoid feeding pets outdoors. Food is a magnet for wildlife, stray cats, and pets in the neighborhood.
- Get rid of brush and other places where animals like 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.
- To teach the cat(s) to stay out of the garden, try putting down newspaper-covered mouse traps that are set.
- Don’t grow catnip in your garden. This attracts cats.
- Naphthalene-based mothballs and moth flakes should not be used outside to keep cats and other pests away. When balls and flakes are used outside, they melt and could change the water in the ground.
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?
Plant things that keep cats away, like lavender, put lemon or orange slices in the flowerbed, use landscaping fabric, or use automatic deterrents that spray water or air. 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?
The best cat repellent usually uses more than one method. However, using a mix of smell-based deterrents, physical barriers, and maybe even motion-activated devices is a good place to start. Orange peels, coffee grounds, and even some essential oils (like peppermint or citronella) have strong smells that cats don’t like. Physical barriers like prickly mats, netting, or chicken wire can prevent cats from accessing specific areas.
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.