10 Plants That Repel Cats (Plants Cats Hate)

Cats can be either a welcome sight or an absolute nuisance in the garden. While their presence may be beneficial in the sense that they can keep rats and other pests away, it can also lead to damaged plants. Gardens can easily become the natural litter boxes of stray cats. In the process of digging up soil, they can dislodge young plants and smother nearby herbs. Their waste can also introduce toxic elements and pathogens into the substrate.

Instead of installing cat-proof fences and using man-made tools to shoo felines away, many seasoned horticulturists make use of plants. Some species emit unique fragrances or have features that naturally repel cats. Many strongly-scented herbs make cats extremely wary and can discourage them from terrorizing vulnerable plots.

For best results, situate cat-deterrent plants along the key entry points of your home or garden. You can also cultivate them as green borders around flower beds and patches with important herbs. As a bonus, they’ll increase your garden’s diversity while repelling many other troublesome insects and animals. The best part (as long as they aren’t invasive) is they won’t cause significant harm to your locality’s wild fauna!

1) Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Often grown as an ornamental bush, rosemary is a truly stunning plant with a wealth of uses in the home and garden. Drought-tolerant, its well-established shoots can be remarkably hardy and ever-reliable. Known for its evergreen, dark, and leathery leaves, which are similar to the needle-shaped leaves of hemlock conifers, it maintains an upright or trailing form.

Rosemary can function as a cat-deterrent as cats tend to dislike its scent and texture. The distinct fragrance, which is produced by the essential oil in its leaves, wafts from parts of the plant that are rubbed or damaged. Bushes that have grown to a moderate height of about 1 – 1.5 meters (3.3 – 4.9 feet) should also naturally give off a strong scent. This may be undetectable to humans, but felines should be able to sniff it out right away.

Though cats prefer to keep their distance, rosemary itself is not known for being toxic to them. They are highly unlikely to attempt to consume the bitter leaves. To promote the growth of this herb’s stems, make sure to situate them in sunny, well-draining parts of the garden, especially in areas where cats are most likely to dig up the substrate.

2) Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Although lavender blooms and their scent are attractive to us humans, they are detested by our feline friends. The phytochemical-rich essential oils, which include varied levels of camphor, linalool, and more strongly-scented compounds, should keep them well away from the garden. This is why cat owners are also discouraged from using lavender-scented products within the home itself. Forced exposure to the scent may cause cats to display signs of distress.

To maximize their repellent effects, aim to grow lavender species as shrubs. Well-established stands should not only repel cats but also reduce the chances of grazers and other destructive pests from wreaking havoc in the garden. Plant them around flower beds with easily damaged and tender species. However, keep in mind that they will attract their own hosts of pests if they are not provided with optimal conditions.

Taller varieties of lavender plants can be used as borders along fences to block a potential visitor’s line of sight. Moreover, any cats that attempt to jump over your fence may unintentionally brush against the lavender bushes, releasing a more potent and fresh scent.

3) Common rue (Ruta graveolens)

Also known as the herb-of-grace, common rue is set apart by its acrid taste. Its strongly-scented extracts contain toxic compounds. Ingestion of these may cause both mutagenic and injurious effects on the consumer. When applied to the skin and placed under sunlight, rue oils may even lead to phytophotodermatitis (in the form of skin blisters).

Named for its ability to invoke regret due to the bitterness of its leaves, rue is generally disliked by cats. The smell effectively deters them from coming too close to the highly textured foliage. This ornamental plant also has additional benefits due to its taste and smell. It can repel insects, be used as a unique ingredient in the kitchen, and be added to incense or room deodorizers.

If you intend to use common rue to keep cats away from delicate plants, avoid growing it within garden beds. Instead, keep a neat row of this plant along the front or through the center of tender stands of herbs and flowering species. Once rue is well-established, it can quickly spread to about 3 feet (1 meter) wide. Full sun to partial shade, coupled with well-draining soil, should encourage the shoots to grow rapidly.

4) Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Pennyroyal has long since been used as a cooking herb throughout its native range. Its oval, toothed leaves emit a strong and distinctly minty scent, especially when they are rubbed or crushed. These occur in opposing pairs along the length of branching stems. Depending on ambient conditions, the stems may thrive throughout the year or die back in either summer or winter.

Due to the composition of its essential oil, pennyroyal can function as a natural pest repellent. Its fragrance is usually disliked by cats, fleas, gnats, and many other insects. The oil itself is known for being toxic in large doses, even to humans. In controlled doses, however, it can aid in the treatment of many commonplace ailments.

Pulegone, a toxic phytochemical, is one of the main components of pennyroyal oil. It is a common additive in organic pesticides. You can count on most wild animals to stay away from plants that have high concentrations of this compound. To deter cats and keep them out of your garden for as long as possible, aim to cultivate well-established stands of pennyroyal and regularly harvest cuttings to release their scent.

5) Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Another member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), oregano is a fantastic addition to the home garden. This lovely perennial is frequently cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its low-maintenance needs and its many uses. Oregano leaves, which are usually light to olive-green in color, may have a bitter or spicy taste profile. While its flavors (in moderate doses) appeal to humans, they are generally disliked by animals.

When grown around vegetable gardens and flower beds, dense and well-established stands of oregano should help ward off cats and other wild animals. The leaves are toxic to felines as they can lead to gastrointestinal problems. Their scent alone should throw off any unwanted intruders especially if other members of the mint family are present.

If you intend to grow this oil-rich herb, situate it in spots receiving full sun. Ample sunlight is necessary for leaf expansion and for optimal spread. Note that oregano usually prefers warm weather conditions and thrives best in well-draining substrates. Healthy specimens are able to thrive in a wide range of environments; they can persist in temperate zones as annuals.

6) Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus)

An attractive, tender herb that easily complements the appearance of other flowering plants, lemon thyme grows as a creeping perennial. Over time, its delicate shoots form dense and highly textural mats. For this reason, it is fantastic as a landscaping plant in small to large gardens. As a sub-shrub, its shoots grow to a maximum height of about 4 inches (10 cm). They tend to spread to a width of about 3 times their height.

The essential oil of lemon thyme has a scent that is similar to that of many citrus plants. Cats generally stay away from citrus-scented herbs, especially those that emit a distinctly strong fragrance when their leaves are crushed or rubbed. Thus, cultivating this species is an ideal means of naturally dissuading cats from turning your yard into their own personal toilet or hunting grounds!

Horticulturists often favor lemon thyme as it comes in many cultivars. Some of these have leaves with variegated hues and even stronger fragrances. Moreover, their nectar-rich blooms attract hordes of butterflies and beneficial insects to the garden. Low-maintenance, they can provide ecological enrichment while aiding in keeping pests away from the more delicate parts of your yard.

7) Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)

Geraniums under the Pelargonium genus are known for being natural pest repellents. Apart from keeping your garden free of fleas and other troublesome insects, they also have a knack for repelling cats and larger grazers. Their mechanism for keeping potential predators and pests away lies in their essential oils, which are concentrated in their attractive leaves.

Though the scents of many popular geraniums appeal to us, they signify the presence of toxic compounds to cats, dogs, and even horses. Consumption of their leaves can lead to problematic symptoms like vomiting, anorexia, skin disorders, and even depression. These are plants that you would definitely wish to avoid growing in your home or garden if you have naturally curious pets.

For the purpose of keeping out cats, however, growing geraniums as environment-friendly repellents is perfectly fine. The use of toxic plants, though potentially dangerous to pets and children, should be less harmful to your area’s natural ecology when compared to the use of chemical-based pest repellents.

8) Scaredy cat plant (Coleus caninus)

Named for its ability to deter cats, C. caninus definitely deserves a place on this list even if it doesn’t always seem to work. Believed to throw off just about any animal that may attempt to visit your garden, it supposedly produces a skunk-like scent that becomes more pronounced whenever its leaves and blooms are touched. Keep in mind, however, that its repellent abilities may simply be a gardener’s tale.

Nonetheless, if you’re considering cultivating plants for the main purpose of keeping cats away, you might as well get yourself a few specimens of this smelly species. Its scent is similar to that of some eucalyptus species with insecticidal properties. Interestingly, its oil has been proven to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

The scaredy cat plant’s ornamental features are actually quite attractive. As far as maintenance requirements go, this herb needs minimal attention if it is planted under full sun and in well-draining substrates. Stands can easily be expanded by propagating healthy cuttings. Be warned, though, that pruning the plant will release its notable stench!

9) Curry herb plant (Helichrysum italicum)

Though the curry herb plant has a scent that is similar to that of the curry powder used in Indian cuisine, it is not at all related to the curry tree (Murraya koenigii). Its natural stands are largely restricted to rocky and dry regions with principally sandy substrates. Its stems gradually become woody as they mature. These bear markedly fragrant, greyish-green leaves that look much like those of lavender plants.

Throughout its native range, the curry herb plant has traditionally been used to add flavor to local dishes. Its taste can be attributed to the presence of a potent essential oil with both medicinal and protective benefits. In the wild, the fragrant oil likely protects the plant from grazers and destructive pests. In sandy gardens, it can be used to prevent cats from digging up substrates.

The curry herb plant grows as a shrub and can be cultivated to add bushy textures to semi-arid landscapes. When it is present in large stands, it should effectively deter cats and deer, forcing them to second guess the viability of your property as a source of food and form of shelter.

10) Thorny plants (Various species)

Thorny plants are frequently used as natural fences or borders because they are great at keeping most wild animals out of private property. Of course, cats are unlikely to tread on or crawl underneath plants that may uncomfortably prick or scratch their skin. A fence made out of prickly pear cacti, for example, could injure both small and large animals and should discourage them from making their way into the most tempting gardens.

Thorny fences need not always be made up of spiny cacti, which usually require sandy and dry substrates to thrive. Aim to select species with your region’s climate conditions in mind. In cooler temperate zones, you may consider growing berry bushes with thorns along their shoots. When arranged in a compact manner, these should effectively prevent intruders from making their way into your garden. Note that, to deter cats and kittens, the base of a thorny fence should not have large gaps between the lowest branches and the ground.

Hedges made up of hawthorn, holly, blackberry bushes, pyracantha, and berberis species should work quite well. As a bonus, these barrier plants should also add complexity and bursts of seasonal color to your property! If you’re wary of working with thorny plants, you might consider growing shrubs with sharp leaf edges instead. As a deterrent to wild animals, toothed and tough leaf margins may work just as well as thorns.