Stray kitties are not always the most welcome guests in our yards. While sometimes they are sweet and cute, they have the potential to pose all kinds of issues. As they are not typically well-acclimated to humans, they can easily feel cornered or unsafe, causing them to lash out and attack in self-defense. Additionally, they can carry a plethora of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. If you have other pets or children running around, it is generally not considered safe to welcome stray cats into your yard. When it comes to your garden, you don’t want stray cats around your fruits and vegetables, especially since they have a track record of urinating on plants. However, a humane solution that involves one of your favorite common fruits may be the answer for deterring stray cats from your yard both organically and naturally. This method is also used to repel cats from preying on birds visiting your birdfeeder.
Because cats have a superior and keen sense of smell, the intensely fragrant essential oils present in citrus peels are enough to repel them from your yard. However, there are a few different methods to utilize citrus peels to effectively discourage cats. This deterrent is an excellent way to reduce kitchen waste and keep stray cats out of your yard. It’s a win-win!
How to use citrus peels to keep stray cats out of your yard
Simply begin collecting orange peels, or make a big batch of orange juice so you have lots of peels at once, and grate them into small pieces. Then you want to evenly disperse them around areas the stray cats frequent, around your landscaped plants, on bare soil or grass, in potted plants, around trees, around the fence line, etc. If sprinkling the shavings around your yard isn’t a viable option, another alternative is to make an infusion and spray your yard with it. To do this, simply boil your orange peels for about 15 minutes, strain, let cool, and pour the water into a spray bottle (a pump sprayer would work best for large areas). Then spray around your property where the strays frequent. However, it is important to note that for this to be effective, it must be done every few days or so until the problem is solved. Getting rid of unwanted stray cats has never been easier with this simple DIY trick that also has the added benefit of recycling kitchen scraps.
