While cats are loyal and loving companions, not everyone wants a feline hanging around their yard.
These popular pets are known to mark their territory by urinating, which can damage plants that enthusiastic gardeners may have put a lot of effort into growing.
Fortunately for anyone who wants to keep cats away from their home, one gardening expert has shared a “cat repellent” plant that helps keep cats away from your garden.
Speaking in a YouTube video for lovethegardenBritish gardening expert Suzanne Hall said there is a particular herb that forces cats to “run a mile.”
This plant, Coleus canina, is a variety of herb in the mint family Lamiaceae and has been nicknamed “cat scare plant” due to its ability to scare away dogs and cats.
This is because it contains leaves and flowers that are sticky to the touch and have a smell similar to eucalyptus, which dogs and cats do not like.
In case this doesn’t work, Ms Hall also shared other natural tricks that could be helpful in keeping cats away from your garden.
He said adding ground black pepper to hot water in a spray bottle, shaking it and spraying it near plants is effective because cats don’t like the strong smell and the substance is safe to use on flora.
The expert claims that lavender also works thanks to its equally powerful smell.
In a YouTube video for LoveTheGarden, Suzanne Hall said there is a plant that forces cats to “run a mile” (file image)
It comes after a grumpy neighbor’s letter complaining about cats roaming and defecating on his property gained support from locals.
The note was shared on the Moreton Bay community Facebook page, north of Brisbane, earlier this week after a resident received it in their letterbox.
‘Dear neighbor. “If you have a cat that likes to roam, keep it inside,” the note said.
‘There have been two cats on our property recently (1 black, 1 grey) and they have been defecating where our children play.
‘There was poop on our stairs today. If this continues, the city council will set a trap for us and we will take the cats to the pound. Thank you.’
The letter gained support from local residents, with one saying: “The letter is respectful and the cat’s owner should be too.”
A second added: “I think this letter is polite and not offensive, and if I were them I would be beyond frustrated at having to clean up after someone else’s pet.”