Don’t just accept it as just part of gardening.
Are you in need of some fox and cat repelling tips (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
There’s nothing quite so frustrating as a gardener than seeing your precious lawns dug up by foxes, or finding your flower beds dirtied by the neighbours’ cats. Unwanted visitors like cats and foxes can dig up bulbs and seeds, knock off flowers and generally cause destruction, something many pet owners view as just part of gardening.
But, in an exclusive interview with the Express, gardening expert for the Greenhouse People, Matt Jordon, has revealed the secrets to scaring away cats and foxes and therefore keeping your garden safe throughout the year.
Keep everything trimmed
Foxes and cats like spaces which make them feel safe and secure, and a garden with overgrown areas can provide shelter for them. For those trying to avoid these animals coming into and settling in gardens, give those hedges a trim and that lawn a mow.
Matt said: “Foxes love overgrown areas, so keeping your garden neat and tidy is a sure and effective way to help deter foxes from doing their business in your backyard. Focus on keeping your grass trimmed short, cutting back any overgrown bushes or shrubbery and keeping planting schemes tightly packed to avoid attracting foxes to den in your garden overnight and encouraging cats to come and dig in your garden.”
But bear in mind that overgrown areas are also sanctuaries for lots of other wildlife, such as hedgehogs, while allowing wildflowers to grow will also help pollinators.
Purchase some motion-sensor deterrents
Foxes and cats like to feel safe, so a motion sensor light or even motion activated sprinklers can be used scare them away. Matt explained: “Foxes and cats are more likely to move on from gardens where they don’t feel secure, so sudden lights, noises and sensations should scare off unwanted guests and prevent your garden from becoming a public toilet. Motion-activated lights are not only a good investment for your home’s safety, but they also conveniently keep foxes, cats and other pests at bay without bringing animals to harm.
“Alternatively, sprinklers are a popular option for struggling gardeners. Cats infamously aren’t fans of water, so making sure your grass and flowerbeds are damp will deter them from toileting in your garden.”
Be aware that they may get used to certain methods so gardeners might like to try a variety of tactics.
Fill your garden with uncomfortable textures
While potentially helping with foxes too, this tip is especially suited for scaring away unwanted cats, as they are super sensitive to strange textures. According to Matt, we should “try spreading larger mulch chunks or rocks across flower beds to keep cats away.”
You can also lay some thin chicken wire over the surface of your soil for a safe way to make your garden uncomfortable to step on.
Cats can be cute – but can really cause problems for gardeners(Image: Getty)
“Be wary that if you have stony areas in your garden, avoid using too fine a gravel which could be misinterpreted as a large litter tray for cats. You should avoid using any spikes or dangerous materials that could bring harm to your neighbouring felines and foxes.”
Get rid of food sources
One reason cats and foxes may come sniffing around a garden is to “seek out food”, according to Matt: “You’ll need to remove bird feeders and make sure your bins are secure. A sudden surge in cat and fox droppings could even be a sign that mice have found their way into your garden and are attracting predators. Double-check that your compost pile hasn’t become a rodent nest and that there aren’t any food scraps attracting vermin.”
Make some homemade repellent
Foxes have a super strong sense of smell and will eat almost anything. Gardens with chickens or rabbits, bird feeders, open bins, and vegetable patches will be especially appealing.
The gardening pro warned: “Pests like foxes use scents to mark their territory to return to at a later date, which unfortunately for your garden means it’ll become that fox’s personal toilet.
“Spraying a vinegar mixture over your plants and lawn will help rid your garden of any marking scents and stop them from returning. You can also try adding scents foxes don’t like, such as garlic or chilli peppers. To repel cats, try citrus smells or herbaceous fragrances such as lavender, rosemary and peppermint.”
If a territory has been marked by a fox, it will take some persistence to persuade them to move on, and if they feel their territory is threatened then gardeners may find they increase the amount of marking.
According to Matt, of all the side-effects of cats and foxes, faeces could be the most dangerous.
This is because many pets will eat their own poo and other animal faeces.
However, this is a very dangerous habit for your pet, as animal poo can host a variety of diseases and parasites. One of the deadliest for dogs is parvovirus which is highly contagious and can often prove fatal, especially for unvaccinated dogs.
“Not only is poo dangerous to pets, but can also harm humans. Cat stool poses a very serious threat to both humans and other cats alike and should never be left to fester in the garden.
“Toxoplasmosis is an infection which infected cats can pass on to humans through their faeces and is particularly dangerous for those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems. Follow my top five tips to prevent cats and foxes from pooing in your garden.”
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