Protecting Your Garden from Cats

Your beautiful cuddly cat makes a great pet and companion and your lush green garden is a sense of pride and joy. So what can you do to strike a happy medium and keep your cat out of the garden or any other areas? Adding certain types of flowers to your garden or other areas around the home will beautify the surroundings and keep your cat and other neighborhood cats from those areas.

RutaGraveolens
Planting rue, or Ruta Graveolens, a cat repellent in certain areas of your yard, will keep cats away from those areas. This hardy perennial plant has gray-green foliage with clusters of small, yellow flowers that blooms in midsummer. Rue plants thrive in full sun and well established plants will prosper in hot dry areas. Wear gloves when handling Ruta graveolens to avoid skin blisters. Keep children away from this plant; if it's eaten serious reactions can occur including nausea, vomiting, confusion, exhaustion and convulsions.

Coleus Canina
Coleus canina, or the Scaredy-Cat Coleus, is a cat repellent plant. This hybrid bred plant is native to Germany where it is specifically used as a garden repellent against cats. Coleus canina, also affectionately known as the Pee off plant; has lush foliage with small blue flowers that blooms in the summer. An established coleus canina plant releases a pungent aroma that makes cats flee. Coleus canina thrives best when planted in pots, which make it easier to move them to different areas.

Bergamot
Bergamot is related to the Monarda family plant. This perennial plant grows to a height of two feet with red, pink or mauve flowers in whorls at the end of their stems. Bergamot leaves make the popular, soothing bergamot tea. This sweet smelling herb originated from North America. Its leaves are pointed with serrations. Birds and bees love to collect nectar from its pom pom cluster of flowers; while cats flee the area where bergamots are planted.

Other Flowers That Repel Cats
According to Ron Smith, Horticulturist, North Dakota State University Extension Service, flowering plants such as, lavender, absinthe and geranium work as cat repellents too. Plant these among your flower beds, around your vegetable garden or in others areas and watch the cats stay away; allowing you to enjoy your cat, the garden and an array of beautiful flowers.

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http://www.global-garden.com.au/gardenherbs1.htm#Bergamot

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/hortiscope/contents.htm