Cats will 'turn and run in opposite direction' if you leave one fruit in garden (2025)

If you're fed up of finding clumps of cat poo in your vegetable patch, there is a simple method gardeners have been using to keep cats out - and you can just use what's already in your kitchen

Many people aren't exactly fans of cats, particularly when they turn your garden into their personal litter box. Indeed, felines can wreak havoc in your outdoor space - they destroy seedlings, prey on birds, and leave unsanitary messes scattered around your flowerbeds.

So if you're not a cat lover and you're fed up with discovering piles of cat poo in your veggie patch, you've likely tried everything from high-pitched 'cat scarers' to spritzing cat repellent liquids. But instead of resorting to gimmicks, there's a simpler, all-natural method that gardeners have been employing for years to deter cats - and it involves something you probably already have in your kitchen.

Orange or lemon peels are an effective cat deterrent - put simply, cats just can't stand the stuff. Just buy an orange or a lemon as you usually would, but rather than tossing the peel into your compost bin, scatter them on your soil.

Cats despise citrus peels - they find the smell overpoweringly strong and it signals them to steer clear, reports the Express. It also works with other citrus fruits like limes, but oranges are likely the most convenient option.

Another bonus of using orange peel is that it decomposes into the flowerbed and enriches the soil, so you're not only deterring cats but also benefiting the plants and flowers in your garden (just be mindful not to make the soil too acidic if you do it too frequently).

If you're seeking a budget-friendly solution to deter cats from your garden, one option is to distil orange essence into a spray bottle and mist it at strategic locations.

Reapplying bits of orange zest or peel every few weeks could be an effective way to keep feline visitors at bay for less.

Cat experts over at Catster have pinpointed the reason behind cats' aversion to orange: the oil it contains, which they associate with danger, triggers their innate instinct to evade citrus scents.

Vet Dr Paola Cuevas explains: "Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, and they can detect scents farther away than we humans can. Most cats also detest the scent of citrus fruits, like oranges.

"Therefore, they tend to steer clear of such fruits. An unpeeled orange won't bother your cat that much, but the oils in the orange peel are sure to turn a cat around and make them go in the opposite direction."

Dr Cuevas further advises: "The easiest and seemingly most effective way to deter cats with the help of orange peels is to simply gather a few peels and layer them in the soil around the plants, trees, and foliage that you don't want any cats messing with."

However, she warns that this requires persistence: "But you must do this regularly to keep cats away indefinitely. If you can not keep up with the process of adding and removing orange peels in your gardens, consider making an orange peel spray instead.

"You can then spray the leaves, stalks, stems, and trunks of trees, plants, and foliage that you want to deter cats from a few times a week."

When it comes to plants, felines aren't fans of lavender or potent herbs like mint. However, orange peel is likely the most straightforward and convenient solution - and it's effective.