How to keep cats away from your flower beds can be a tricky proposition. If you have not had cats in your flower garden before, you may be surprised at their habits. After all, cats are one of the most persistent of all garden visitors. They will venture over and beyond flower bed boundaries, especially if there is a source of food nearby. Many times a cat will dig up and consume the flower itself. Some homeowners have even been bitten or injured by cats who were accidentally snagged in their flower garden netting or other type of enclosure.

Cats are highly adept climbers. It takes a great deal of training for them to get around a tall trellis or canopy. A cat will jump six inches off the ground to reach flowers on a plant or an individual bush. Once they have a good grasp on the structure they usually move right in. The cat does not need much exercise to stay fit.

A cat’s sense of smell is so strong, they will find and destroy virtually any organic material they can get their paws on. This includes your prized roses, tulips and daffodils. You do not want to try to stop the cat from destroying your garden flowers. They are your responsibility. You have to keep the area clean of any droppings so the flowers will not wilt.

You will need to use traps to catch your cat if it is a frequent garden dweller. You do not want to use devices such as the “scout” traps which are too large and which will attract your cat. Instead, invest in a small metal or plastic traps that can be attached to a post or stick within the flower bed. Most garden shelters have these for free. You should be able to get one from a nursery or hardware store.

Once you have trapped your cat, carefully pull the trap back into the flower bed. It should take only a few seconds. Then, flush out the hole with a garden hose. Let the water run freely until it has completely cleaned the trap.

If the cat has managed to get into your flower bed and into the root system, you will need to remove the entire bed. Begin by digging up the area where the cat has entered. Keep in mind that the cat will probably track mud and soil back to its den. So it is very important to thoroughly remove all traces of soil. If the cat has entered through the holes in the leaves, you may need to use an insecticide to kill the cat.

If the cat has entered through the holes in the center of the flower bed, you should dig a shallow grave and place newspaper inside. Cover the hole with mulch and rake the dirt away. When you re-soil the flower bed, be sure to use mulch again. Try to re-soil the flower bed at least a month after you have repotted the area. You do not want the cat to start using the flower bed as a pot, because it will go right back to being a flower bed.

As you can see, there are many ways you can teach your cat not to access your flower beds. The best way is to make sure they are protected from you. You can train a cat not to access your flower beds using these easy methods and so much more. But if you are tired of keeping cats away from your home, there are other options as well. Learn how to keep cats away from your flower beds and other areas you care about.