How to keep cats away from garden beds?

Many summer residents often wonder how to wean cats to spoil in the garden? Undoubtedly, the benefits of our smaller brothers are great, but negative moments are not uncommon, especially if your pet has chosen a garden with valuable plants. You should also not be discounted and the danger of cat feces to human health. It is no secret that when eating rodents, cats are infected with various diseases. The most dangerous diseases include helminthiases (pinworms and roundworms), toxoplasmosis, amebiasis, etc. Special emphasis should be placed on the toxicity of cat feces, especially urine, which contains a large amount of nitrogenous compounds and literally "burns out" vegetation.

Many naively believe that it is possible to restrict cats' access to the beds by fencing them, for example, with a netting. In the case of representatives of the feline family, the fence does not give the desired effect, but the blow to the budget is quite tangible.

This article contains the well-known methods and methods of deflecting cats from garden beds.

Traditional methods

In order to ward off animals, many gardeners resort to folk remedies. The most popular are:

• aromatic herbs (mint, mustard powder, black pepper, lemon peel);
• essential oils (cinnamon, fir, eucalyptus, mint, etc.). It should be noted that the use of essential oils is an expensive pleasure, therefore they are used only in a small area (flowerpots, garden vases).

A good effect is achieved when using spruce or pine spruce branches. The essential oils that make up the needles are not to the liking of cats, as well as its ability to prick paws.

In the absence of spruce branches, you can mulch the beds with rotten straw or hay - their smell is also disliked by fluffy scoundrels, as is the structure itself. In addition, straw mulch retains moisture for a long time after watering, and a cat, as you know, tends to choose to meet its physiological needs only on a dry surface. Mulching is also useful for the bed itself - favorable conditions are created under it for the development of beneficial microorganisms and worms, which provide the roots of plants with adequate nutrition.

Repulsive sprays and granules

In veterinary pharmacies and pet stores, you can buy special sprays or granules designed to ward off cats from the garden. These drugs are developed on the basis of various essential oils, pheromones of predatory animals or chemical compounds that discourage spoilage in the beds. The only drawback of such funds is the cost.

Electronic helpers for garden protection

There are some controversial recommendations on the network, for example, the use of motion sensors in combination with a sprinkler installation. The operation of such a device is very simple: the motion sensor is included in the electrical circuit of the watering pump and connects it when it detects an "intruder" (cat) who will not like a cold shower. Although the effectiveness of this method of protection is quite high, it has inherent disadvantages. Firstly, a separate irrigation system (pump and hoses) will be required, which will entail an increase in the expenditure item of the budget, and not everyone can afford it. The second unpleasant moment - the owner himself, inadvertently, risks falling under a cold shower.

One of the best modern methods of protection can be considered electronic scarers, which will not only help ward off cats from garden beds, but also protect the crop from rodents and many pests.The operation of such devices is based on the creation of electromagnetic (acoustic) waves, the oscillation frequency of which lies outside the limits of the threshold sensitivity of the human ear. It is noteworthy that the auditory organ of cats, dogs and rodents is able to perceive such electromagnetic oscillations as "lower" (infrasound) and "upper" (ultrasound). Ultrasonic waves cause painful hearing irritation, and when exposed to infrasound, an effect called "panic attack" occurs - both options force the intruder to leave the forbidden territory as soon as possible. Infrasonic acoustic devices also have an impact on humans, so their use in residential premises is unacceptable. Ultrasound is less dangerous, although it can cause tinnitus and headaches in some individuals. When buying electronic emitters, it is important not to purchase a fake, otherwise it is just a waste of money with zero effect.

Instead of an epilogue

So, each of the proposed methods has both pros and cons, so which of the methods to choose, the gardener himself must decide.