A gardener has shared a simple, natural method using an old clear plastic bottle filled with water to stop cats from pooing in gardens, claiming it has worked for five to six weeks.
Roger Crookes, who posts garden advice on his YouTube channel, described the trick as the "easiest and cheapest" method he has discovered. He placed the bottle of water on the ground near areas where cats tend to relieve themselves.
Gardener's three-step approach
Before trying the bottle, Roger attempted a three-part approach: removing the faeces, replacing the scent with a strongly scented plant called the scaredy-cat plant (Coleus caninus), and placing small thorny twigs on the ground.
The scaredy-cat plant, a herb from the mint family with green leaves and blue and purple flowers, produces an odour that cats reportedly find disagreeable. Thorny twigs also deter cats, as they prefer soft, loose soil and avoid prickly surfaces.
Roger noted that this approach worked for a period before becoming ineffective. He repeated the process once more, but "unfortunately, they came back".
The bottle trick that worked
Recalling the trick, Roger said: "So I just put the bottle of water down; that was five weeks ago, maybe six weeks ago. Haven't seen a cat since. Don't know why it worked or how it works, but it does seem to work."
One commenter claimed the bottle "keeps the cats away", as cats are "frightened by the mirror effect" the water gives off.
Other natural deterrents
Ultrasonic repellents can also be effective, detecting when an animal enters the vicinity and emitting a high-pitched sound audible only to animals while flashing a light, startling the cat away.
Citrus peel from lemon, orange, and grapefruit is another natural deterrent, though it breaks down quickly and needs regular replacement to maintain its effect.
Rough terrain and plastic fencing or chicken wire around garden beds create surfaces cats avoid, as they dislike the sensation of mesh beneath their paws and tend to avoid gravel and areas covered with stones and pebbles.
