This cheap ingredient is an effective deterrent for a wide range of pests in the garden
Sophie Harris Senior Lifestyle Reporter and Ellen Jenne Senior U35 Spare Time Writer
10:42, 02 Apr 2026
This cheap ingredient is an effective deterrent for a wide range of pests in the garden(Image: Scott Suriano via Getty Images)
Cats can be a nuisance in gardens, as they disturb soil, harm plants, or treat the space as their personal lavatory. The naturally free-roaming creatures like to frequent nearby gardens as their own personal toilet.
Similar to foxes and rats, completely avoiding them completely is unrealistic, though there are methods to discourage them safely. On the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, an anonymous member enquired about deterring cats from their garden, reports the Express.
The anonymous post read: “A cat has taken to using the stones in my garden as a toilet. I hate this. It stinks. Is there anything you can suggest that I can put on it? The cat seems to be oblivious to any hack I’ve tried.”
Caroline Reynolds responded: “White vinegar. Cats, rats and foxes dislike the smell. It won’t hurt them, it’ll just keep them away. I have a spray bottle and spray the garden a couple of times a week.”
Cats will often venture into neighbouring gardens(Image: Getty)
Another anonymous member suggested: “White vinegar! Spray the area in the morning and at night for the first few days, then just once a day. They’ll stop using it as a toilet; they hate the smell.”
White vinegar serves as an effective, natural feline deterrent due to cats’ strong aversion to its pungent, acidic odour. Given felines possess remarkably sensitive senses, it’s believed they can detect vinegar from considerable distances.
Beyond spraying garden areas while avoiding plants, you can alternatively saturate rags or cloths in a diluted vinegar mixture and position them in troublesome spots.
White vinegar is available for as little as 39p per bottle and proves useful for numerous household tasks and outdoor maintenance.
Ensure it’s kept well clear of your lawn or neighbouring plants, as it will cause them to die. That said, it works effectively for eliminating weeds.
The natural substance will also prove successful at deterring various creatures from your garden. This includes foxes, rats and even mosquitoes during the warmer months.
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