Natural 19p ingredient will stop cats pooing in garden - and it's eco-friendly

26 July 2023 , 09:21

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The 19p method will stop cats from pooing in your garden (Stock Image) (Image: Getty Images)

Whilst cats are adorable, they can leave some not-so-desirable gifts in your garden. You'll likely want to stop them pooing in your outdoor space - especially when you put so much effort into keeping your garden looking nice.

But it's important to use a humane method that won't hurt them. After all, they're just animals and don't know any better - and they're also protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

People don't realise that using a natural item in your garden can serve as a deterrent against cats, and even rats, so they don't come and inadvertently undo all the hard work you've put into curating your home.

One gardener took to the Gardening UK Facebook page to ask an unrelated question about orange peel, and people discussed that the item could actually be the answer to keeping feline friends out of the garden.

They wrote: "Hi, I have a few compost questions. Can I put orange peel in the compost bin? I eat loads of oranges but as I never knew if you could I tend to throw the peel away. I know you can't put onions, cooked food, and meat in, but is there anything else you shouldn't put in the compost bin?"

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People in the comments were quick to share their top tips, with some people sharing that orange peel may be handy when it comes to stopping cats from pooing in the garden, as the pungent smell of oranges puts them off.

One person said: "I have always put onions and also orange, lime, and lemon peels in, and it's never been an issue for me. It's helped my plants greatly and has deterred rats and cats from my garden."

According to Cats Protection, felines have an extremely sensitive smell, and as citrus fruits are so aromatic, it's too much for cats to handle.

On its website, it says: "If you want to discourage your cat from using a particular area of your garden as a toilet, leaving orange peel among the flowers may help persuade your cat to cease digging around your prize marigolds. The idea behind this is simply the cat smells the fruit, dislikes it and so wanders off."

A five-pack of oranges can be picked up from local supermarkets for around 95p, working out at around 19p per orange in Tesco, so it's cheap and cheerful, and worth giving a go.

Do you have any advice? Email: [email protected]

Danielle Kate Wroe