Cats can be a nightmare for gardeners, as they can destroy plants when doing their business – by there’s one common ingredient that can help deter them
Ellen Jenne U35 Spare Time Writer
13:30, 10 Oct 2025
Cats can be a nightmare for gardeners, as they can destroy plants when doing their business – by there’s one common ingredient that can help deter them(Image: kelvinjay via Getty Images)
Cats can bring tremendous joy to a household, offering love and companionship, along with the occasional small creature as a gift. Nevertheless, if you’re a dedicated gardener with a flourishing garden, cats can present a threat to your carefully nurtured plants, reports the Express.
Garden designer and TikTok influencer Ish has revealed several techniques that will stop cats from “doing their business” in your outdoor space. Felines can wreck garden plants by scorching the foliage with concentrated ammonia from their wee, which works like fertiliser burn, and by burying their waste, which brings in dangerous bacteria and parasites.
They can also upset bulbs and roots when they dig up the soil to bury their droppings.
Mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spraying on gravel and edges in the garden(Image: Getty)How to deter cats from destroying gardens
One reliable technique suggested by Ish involves using a vinegar mixture. He explained: “Cats can’t stand the smell of white vinegar. Anything acidic, they’re just not a fan of.”
Using a spray bottle, fill it roughly one-third with water, then top up the remainder with white vinegar. Give the mixture a thorough shake.
Spray the vinegar mixture on any gravel and borders in your garden. Ish cautioned against spraying the mixture directly onto the plants.
He explained: “The watered down vinegar won’t have any smell to us, but they’ll be able to smell it and they’ll sure as hell stay away.”
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Since vinegar possesses a pungent and acidic scent, most cats will steer clear of areas that have been treated with the mixture. Cats are known to dislike strong and pungent smells, such as citrus, spices and essential oils.
Spraying vinegar on your plants can deter cats from scratching or urinating in unwanted areas.
PetMD has explained that the smell of vinegar can irritate a cat’s respiratory system. This irritation can occur when vinegar is used to clean inside homes, along with products containing bleach, ammonia, or other strong acidic or noxious smells.
This discomfort will make them want to avoid the plants. PetMD also cautioned that vinegar can be toxic to cats if they ingest it by licking it off their paws or fur.
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