Gardening experts shared a homemade spray recipe to deter cats and foxes from digging up flowerbeds and marking territory in your garden
Katherine McPhillips and Ellen Jenne Senior U35 Spare Time Writer
08:25, 11 Apr 2026
Gardening expert shares homemade spray recipe to deter cats and foxes from digging up flowerbeds and marking territory in your garden(Image: Dgwildlife via Getty Images)
Cats and foxes are familiar nocturnal wanderers on our streets, and while they can be endearing to watch, it’s a different story when they begin frequenting your garden. Many gardeners have a soft spot for these creatures, yet they can prove to be a genuine menace during spring, when they tend to dig up freshly turned soil, displacing bulbs and wreaking havoc on flowerbeds.
Both animals are notoriously territorial and frequently use gardens as their own personal lavatories, which is not only unpleasant but can also contaminate crops such as tomatoes, rendering them unsafe for consumption. Alessandro Vitale, an organic gardener and founder of Spicy Moustache, has spent years contending with cats and foxes in London and has experimented with numerous remedies to safeguard his plants.
He has found that the “most effective” method to repel foxes and cats is to concoct a homemade herbal solution that these animals will instinctively avoid.
Both animals are used to humans so common deterrents like loud noises will not work on them(Image: Getty)
Alessandro said: “After the even years or so that I’ve been dealing with foxes, I [have] learned a few tips to avoid issues in my garden. I found that plants with a strong smell are ideal to keep foxes away from your garden.”
How can herbs keep cats and foxes out of a garden
Deterring cats and foxes can prove particularly challenging, as these animals are well accustomed to human presence and are rarely startled by loud noises. Consequently, most conventional animal repellent devices tend to prove ineffective against them.
Cats and foxes, however, are instinctively driven to use their keen sense of smell to detect danger, making them more likely to be deterred by unfamiliar scents, as these signal that an area may be unsafe, reports the Express.
These animals also possess extraordinarily sensitive noses, meaning the compounds found in herbs or pungent vegetables such as garlic can easily overwhelm them.
Herbs can prove highly irritating to their noses, causing their eyes to water and leaving them disoriented. Their natural instinct will be to steer clear of the scent rather than investigate it further.
Spraying a herbal solution around your garden also conceals the scents that attract foxes and cats in the first place, making it far more likely they’ll swiftly move on in search of other smells.
Preparing a herbal solution requires minimal effort and is a wonderfully humane method of safeguarding your plants from meddlesome foxes and cats.
Foxes and cats are more likely to be scared off by strange smells from strong smelling herbs(Image: Getty)
How to make a herb remedy that deters cats and foxes
You will need
1.4 litres of water30g of basil leaves30g of geranium leaves30g of sage leavesFour cloves of garlicOne big onion (optional)
Spray the solution around your garden and your plants should stay safe from foxes and cats(Image: Getty)
Method
Begin by placing the water in a pan over a low-to-medium heat until it simmers and nearly reaches boiling point.
Chop the basil, geranium and sage leaves before adding them to the water. Fresh herb leaves from a plant are essential, as they will be considerably more potent than dried alternatives.
Next, finely chop four cloves of garlic and add them to the water. An onion can also be chopped and added to the solution, though it will work perfectly well without one.
Once all the ingredients are in the pan, reduce the heat to low, place a lid on top and allow everything to simmer for approximately 30 minutes, so the flavours fully infuse into the water. Once the time is up, switch off the heat and allow the solution to cool completely. Next, strain the liquid to remove the solids from the water.
Pour the liquid into an empty spray bottle and apply it to the areas of your garden you wish to safeguard. Place the solid remnants on top of fences, around gates, or anywhere you believe cats and foxes are entering your property.
Apply the solution on a weekly basis or after rainfall, and both foxes and cats should cease venturing into your garden.
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