‘Effective’ plants ‘cats hate’ to keep them out of your garden for good (Image: Getty)
Nuisance neighbourhood should never be harmed under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006, but often homeowners are faced with unwanted visits.
Cats are free to roam wherever they please, which may mean they enter and use them as toilets or playgrounds.
A spokesperson for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “The UK is famous for its love of animals, but affection for our four-legged friends rarely extends to allowing your garden to become a toilet.
“Nobody wants to cause them any harm, but you’ve got to try to stay one step ahead if you want to maintain a clean and undisturbed beds.
“Cats are cunning creatures and may become wise to your tricks, so it’s important to regularly vary your methods.
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“Homeowners who would rather not welcome felines to their gardens can follow our tips for keeping them out.”
1. Plants
Introducing smelly plants that “cats hate” to problem areas can persuade them to keep out of your garden.
“Effective” choices include canina or lavender, which humans love the scent of, but it can be slightly too strong for cats.
If you’re planning on growing garlic, this can also help to deter cats from your outdoor space.
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2. Other scents
The experts explained: “Commercial cat repellent containing predators’ odour could have them retreating.
“But spreading coffee granules or citrus peel around your back garden might also repel feline visitors via their noses.”
Simply use orange, lime, lemon or grapefruit peel around the garden when the weather is dry for an effective deterrent.
3. Rough ground
Similar to other animals, felines hate rough surfaces, so laying chicken wire under mulch or embedding it in the top layer of soil can also help.
Citrus peel is an effective feline deterrent (Image: Getty)
Cats will do their best to avoid areas covered in stones or pebbles, too, so placing these around the perimeter of the garden can be successful.
4. Clean up
Above all, it’s important to ensure the garden is clean by ensuring bins are secure, decluttering to remove any hiding places or mice, and ensuring there is no food waste around.
The experts added: “Check no potential toys are lying around and dispose of any existing cat poo used to mark their territory.”
Other effective deterrents include creating a cat-zone to keep them away from precious areas we well as purchasing a high frequency sound device.