Using harsh chemicals is not encouraged and experts have recommended a natural homemade ‘repellent’ that could help keep cats away and it only uses four ingredients.
If you have spent days and weeks breaking your backs over building the perfect garden come rain or shine then it can be frustrating when cats wander in and destroy things.
There are many ways to keep cats away and some methods are more welcomed than others when it comes to these curious felines. Using harsh chemicals is not encouraged and experts have recommended a natural homemade “repellent” that could help keep cats away and it only uses four ingredients.
Cats are curious pets eager to explore their surroundings but it can become frustrating if they are defecating in your garden and digging up your plants. They tend to behave this way to feed their instincts by burying their waste and marking their territory through scent.
The New Zealand Cat Foundation (NZCF) who help abandoned cats find a loving home has shared a homemade remedy to keep cats from being naughty in your garden. The organisation explained cars are sensitive to smells.
This sensitivity to smells can be the most effective way to keep them out of your plants is to make a natural spray filled with citrus fruit peels. They said: “Cats dislike citrus scents, so any combination of orange, lemon, lime, and/or tangerine peels that totals a cup will work for the repellent.”
The NZCF added: “Cats dislike certain smells, which means those scents are perfect to use in your plot to keep them out of your garden. It’s perfectly possible to be a cat lover and keep cats from pooping in your garden.”
The citrus smell can be an overwhelming scent for cats because of their sensitive noses which means they will avoid the areas with that smell as a survival mechanism. There are many scents cats will dislike such as lavender, thyme and marigolds but citrus contains natural repellents such as limonene and linalool, and can be very effective and repelling cats due to its overpowering scent.
How to make a homemade cat repellent
You will need:
-
400ml of water
-
100g of citrus fruit peels (oranges, lemons, limes or tangerine)
-
Two teaspoons of lemon juice
-
Lemon-scented dish soap
-
Empty spray bottle
Instructions
To begin, add the water to a pot and heat it on the stove on medium-high heat until it comes to a boil, which should take around five minutes.
Add the citrus peels to the mixture once the water begins boiling, then lower the heat and allow the mixture to simmer for around 20 minutes.
Once the time is up, leave the mixture to cool completely, which should take around 30 minutes, then pour into an empty spray bottle. If the citrus peels are too big for the bottle, chop them up or stain them out so it is easier to add the mixture to the bottle.
Add the lemon juice and around two squirts of dish soap into the mix, then place the lid securely on and shake well to ensure the ingredients are combined.
Spray in spots cats are known to visit in your garden and make sure to apply every few days on after it has rained.
