How to Keep Community Cats Out of Your Yard
Humane Solutions & Myth Busting
Written by Rachel Gardner, Freya’s Fearless Felines Cat Training & Behavior, CFTBS, CAFTP, CFVP
last updated 2/8/26
If you’re an avid gardener, bird watcher, or “dog-person”-you may not openly welcome community cats and residential pests vacationing in your yard. This article provides safe, humane, and ethical solutions to redirecting and preventing strays from entering your yard. This covers the different types of solutions that are recommended, briefly explains each, and serves as a companion to the handout included here. We encourage you to do your own research, use your best judgement, and to reach out for additional information. Resources and references can be found at the end of the article.
What is a community cat?
There are 4 types of felines you’re likely to see in your neighborhood:
Pet cats: cats that are claimed as owned through medical records, microchips, contracts, etc…; these cats rely on humans for food, care, and shelter
Stray cats: friendly, healthy, opportunistic, food-friends who roam the neighborhood but have no home; these cats seek out easy access to food, care, and shelter
Feral cats: fearful of humans and rarely seen; these cats avoid perceived threats, are opportunistic scavengers, and typically live in colonies of family groups
Lost cats: skinny, dirty, sickly, cats who need your help to get back home; cats who may have gotten out mistakenly, been stolen and dumped, or abandoned
Natural Deterrents
There is no shortage of recommendations for natural remedies for all of your woes, unfortunately many of the solutions that are offered are either ineffective or deadly. There are 4 types of natural or organic recommendations.
Spices: cayenne, paprika, chili, garlic, cinnamon, and mustard are the top results for sprinkling in the garden.
When ingested they cause severe intestinal discomfort and digestive concerns
When inhaled, they can cause burning in the mucus membranes which can lead to loss of appetite, malnutrition, compromised immune system and death
When it gets in the eyes, it can blind or maim
Composts: citrus peels, coffee grounds, and eggshells are listed as humane deterrents that keep cats from utilizing the yard to eliminate
May work as a deterrent due to the lack of appeal with the substrate form
Coffee grounds may cause intestinal discomfort, if ingested
These items may attract alternate wildlife such as rodents and insects
Plants: lemon balm, rosemary, catnip, lavender, citronella, lemon grass, marigolds, curry, sage brush, and more are all listed as deterrents for cats
Cat safe herb gardens include lemon balm, chamomile, valerian root, catnip mint, rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, dill, and silvervine
Holly berry, mint, succulents, nightshade, morning glories, iris, most lilies and foxgloves are a tiny portion of plants that are toxic to cats
Oleander, lavender, citronella, roses, berry bushes, and cacti may act as deterrents through smell and physical danger
Animals: dogs and other cats come up as recommended deterrents
An established catio with visual barriers and controlled access may deter regular visitors
Dogs are excellent companions and some may pose a risk to community animals and keep them out of the yard; encouraging a prey drive may pose a risk to resident pets or humans
Physical Prevention
Another recommendation is to physically block, remove, or displace cats from your property by using traps, devices, and tools.
Traps: some laws allow residents to humanely trap and remove unwanted community animals from their property with strict guidelines
Visuals: fake owls on the fence, shiny items such as pinwheels or spinners or other reflective surfaces can act as deterrents
Barriers: cat proof fencing includes those with rollers that prevent jumping over the fence and chicken wire barriers that curl over the top and prevent climbing/jumping
Deterrents: motion activated noise emitting boxes can be placed on fencing along with motion activated sprinklers
Hazards: electric barriers, motion activated sprays or spike strip varieties may cause pain, illness, injury, or death
Chemicals and Products
These are chemical compounds and products marketed that are designed to act invisibly. It goes without saying that putting anything out that is ingestible is going to cause harm regardless of the intent.
Sprays: citronella, pepper, and air that are motion activated may cause pain, illness, injury, or death
Cleaning and household products: it’s suggested that putting buckets of ammonia and bleach around your yard will prevent animals from entering or eliminating there
these items are more likely to attract cats to mask the smell of the competing ammonia and sometimes tantalizing bleach
Mothballs and soap shavings can cause digestive upset, illness, and death
Pesticides and poisons: 50 to 75% of searches suggested antifreeze, d-con, and other harmful chemicals that are known to cause severe discomfort, injury, chronic illness and premature death
Proactive Prevention and Motivations
There are a few ways to prevent cats from being attracted to your yard. Cats are curious and opportunistic scavengers who learn what they can rely on rapidly.
Conflicting Drives: animals will typically not utilize the bathroom where they have fresh food or water
A clear jug full of water, a birdbath, squirrel, feeding station or community animal safe area in your yard may promote less destructive behaviors, but will not keep them from coming in
Attractants: cats are natural opportunistic explorers who want to investigate open doors that lead into houses, garages or pet areas where they can access new experiences
Limit or eliminate their access to resources such as food, water, or shelter
Proactive neighborhood program: a trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return program will keep new cats from appearing, reduce the spread of disease and injury, provide a community project for your neighborhood, and reduce the impact on local shelters and rescues
Summary
In summary, while there are several useful reported solutions to keeping community cats out of your yard, there are just as many that are ineffective, dangerous and cruel. The most effective strategy is to make entry unappealing by building barriers and eliminating their access to resources and activities. The most important thing to remember is that all living beings are finding a way to fit in the world and should be afforded the same respect and comfort as one another; by understanding one another we can remain together.
