Having a cat can bring great joy to your life. However, there are some indoor and outdoor areas where cats simply aren’t welcome. Since cats are quite stubborn and believe they are the king or queen of their domain, convincing a cat to stay away is easier said than done. Learning how to keep cats away is easy with these tips and tricks.
How to Keep Cats Away From You at Night
Although most people believe that cats are nocturnal, this isn’t the case. Cats are actually crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. If you allow your cat free reign in the bedroom, he is likely to come in during the early morning hours and bug you. The easiest way to discourage this behavior to keep the door shut.
If keeping the door shut isn’t an option, make sure that you feed your kitty right before you go to bed. That way, your cat isn’t likely to trouble you for a midnight snack.
Exercise is also important if you want your cat to leave you alone all night long. Play with your cat just before bed to allow him to burn off excess energy. He’s more likely to sleep through the night if he’s exhausted from the day before.
How to Keep a Cat Off the Counter
Many cats like to be up high because they descended from tree-dwelling cats that used high places in order to hunt. Unfortunately, that means your cat is likely to end up on your countertops at home.
Start by lining the edges of your countertops with double stick tape. Cats don’t like the way it feels on their feet. You can also lay out tin foil because cats don’t like it either. If you notice that your cat is about ready to jump up on the counter, redirect his attention with a loud noise. This method can also work well when trying to keep your cat off of furniture.
If your cat likes to be up high, make sure you provide plenty of acceptable spaces for him to climb. Cat trees are always a good idea, but you can also get creative with cat shelving.
How to Keep Cats Away From Plants (Your garden)
There’s nothing worse than working hard on a backyard garden only to discover that it has been destroyed by cats. When it comes to figuring out how to keep cats away from an area, fencing the area in is definitely an option, although it can get expensive fast. Instead, try some natural repellents.
Most cats hate getting wet, which makes a sprinkler system a great deterrent. Some sprinklers can even be hooked up to a timer, causing the cat to get wet whenever he trips the trigger.
Many herbs like lavender, lemon-thyme, and coleus canina have strong smells that can keep cats at bay. Coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, orange peels, and cayenne pepper can be sprinkled around the perimeter to dissuade felines from entering your garden.
There are also a number of commercial cat repellents that can be sprayed in areas that you want neighborhood cats to avoid.