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Cats can be wonderful companions, except when you see them treating your garden as their own personal litter box. If you’re struggling with cats using your garden as an impromptu port-a-potty, you might want to consider using cayenne pepper to deter them. Powdered cayenne works to repel frisky garden felines because of its strong and pungent aroma. It is, after all, one of the main ingredients in mace. Cat’s sensitive noses just can’t hack it. The potent spiciness of cayenne pepper is also believed to confuse their sense of smell. Without this all-natural kitty deterrent, digging paws can wreak havoc on your garden beds. In addition to uprooting plants, their scat can introduce harmful parasites and bacteria to the soil in your garden, which poses a risk to not just your plants, but also your own health.
Using Cayenne pepper to discourage cats from treating your garden as a toilet is simple and effective. Start by identifying the areas of your garden that cats seem to frequent the most. Once pinpointed, sprinkle a liberal amount of cayenne pepper around these spots. A cat’s strong sense of smell will automatically pick up the cayenne and make them turn the other way and find somewhere else to do their business.
It’s eco-friendly and cost effective
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As a natural ingredient, cayenne pepper won’t harm the soil or plants. In fact, it has multiple benefits. This particular ingredient also deters deer, rabbits, squirrels, and other critters that might be looking for an easy snap. Cayenne pepper contains a compound called capsaicin, which is responsible for its spiciness. It also acts as a mild natural pesticide that deters bugs that might put the hurt on your tomatoes and zucchinis. You’ll want to reapply the cayenne after a seasonal shower or giving your plants a drink, since H2O can dull the scent and make it less effective.
That being said, while cayenne pepper can be an effective and eco-friendly solution to the garden litter box conundrum, it’s important to exercise caution. Cayenne pepper may be dangerous not only to wildlife, but the cats themselves. You’ll want to avoid using it excessively, because too much pepper can potentially harm any beneficial insects that might meander over it. Additionally, you’ll want to be mindful of windy conditions while you’re applying the spicy red stuff to prevent it from going where you don’t want it to go, like in your face. If you have fur babies of your own, you’ll also want to tread lightly with this hack and keep them away from the treated areas. Like your garden bandits, they aren’t immune to the burning effects of capsaicin.
