Overview

• B&Q has started selling lemon balm plants for £13.99 as a cat deterrent, marketing the herb’s citrus fragrance to discourage felines from soiling garden beds.
• Gardening expert Ish advocates a homemade spray of one part white vinegar to two parts water to create an odor barrier around plant borders without harming the greenery.
• Other fragrant herbs such as lemon thyme, lavender, rosemary and rue are recommended to leverage potent aromas that cats find unappealing.
• Techniques like densely planting crops, scattering twigs or bark mulch deter cats by making surfaces uncomfortable to traverse.
• The RSPCA warns that under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, owners can only use non-harmful methods to deter free-roaming cats and must avoid any measures that cause unnecessary suffering.