Looking for a way to keep the neighborhood cats from using your flowerbeds as a litter box? These popular cat-repellent plants will do the trick while keeping your garden looking beautiful. Here’s a breakdown of what makes each of these plants a great addition to your yard.
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++Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)
Peppermint is loaded with essential oils, and while we love that fresh scent, cats can’t stand it from a mile away. The best part? It’s incredibly versatile for us humans. You can brew a soothing cup of tea to help with a cold or use the leaves to brighten up your favorite recipes. Peppermint is a low-maintenance choice—just give it a sunny or partially shaded spot and make sure the soil stays nice and moist.
++Common Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Common Rue gives off a distinct odor that acts like a natural “keep out” sign for cats. While it sends kitties packing, many gardeners appreciate it as a traditional medicinal herb or even a bitter seasoning. Just a heads-up if you’re using it in the kitchen: a little goes a long way, as it can be toxic in large amounts. It’s a hardy plant that adds a unique texture to your garden beds.
++Curry Plant (Helichrysum italicum)
The Curry Plant gets its name from its spicy, warm aroma that really pops after a fresh rain. While it’s a staple in Mediterranean cooking, cats absolutely hate the smell and will go out of their way to avoid it. It’s a sun-lover, so find it a bright spot in your garden. It’s pretty self-sufficient and doesn’t require much fussing over.
++Bigroot Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Also known as Balkan Cranesbill, this tough-as-nails perennial can handle rocky soil and doesn’t need much water. To us, the scent is pretty faint unless you rub the leaves between your fingers, but cats have much more sensitive noses—they’ll smell it from a distance and decide your garden isn’t the place to hang out. It does great in either full sun or partial shade.
++Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lemon Balm is a favorite for herb gardens because it makes a fantastic tea and adds a citrusy zing to dishes. However, those same essential oils that smell so good to us are way too intense for a cat’s nose. It’s a vigorous grower that spreads quickly, making it a great groundcover. It’s not picky about water and thrives in sun or partial shade.
++Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
If you want a physical barrier, planting a barberry hedge is the way to go. The “Atropurpurea” variety is especially effective because it grows dense and features sharp thorns that even the most agile cat won’t want to squeeze through. It offers beautiful yellow flowers in the spring and bright red berries later in the year. It usually reaches 3 to 6 feet in height and is happy in both sun and shade.
++English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is famous for its relaxing scent, but cats definitely don’t find it soothing—they actually find the essential oils quite off-putting. Planting lavender gives you that gorgeous “Provence” look with its purple blooms, and you can even use the flowers for baking or DIY sachets. Just make sure it gets plenty of direct sunlight to keep it happy and fragrant.
%%Scaredy Cat Plant (Coleus Canina)
The ultimate “secret weapon” in the fight against feline intruders is the Coleus Canina, aptly nicknamed the “Scaredy Cat Plant.” The name says it all! While we can’t really smell the leaves unless we crush them, cats can pick up the scent from several yards away. It’s one of the most effective ways to make sure cats give your yard a wide berth.