Cats can damage plants in gardens, and their carnivorous diet and faeces pose a risk to garden produce. While they can be a pest, it's essential to be aware of the legalities when attempting to deter them. Cats legally have the right to roam into neighbouring areas, and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 protects them from harm. Therefore, incorrect use of deterrents could result in prosecution. 

However, gardeners have now divulged a humane solution that “won’t harm them at all”, but simply encourages them to leave. A fellow green-fingered enthusiast, tormented by cats turning his garden into a litter tray, sought advice on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group. Steve Mclane requested: “Can anyone recommend a humane way of stopping neighbours’ cats using my garden as their toilet? Thanks.”

Responses revealed that citrus peels, especially from oranges, have proven effective.

Julie Crawey recounted her own experience, saying: “I seem to have some new resident cats in my garden this year. Remove the cat poo and put orange peels around. They seem to hate it.”

Mary Vale concurred: "Citrus peel scattered around worked for me. They smell it and scurry away."

Nona Maffei revealed: "Citrus fruit peel. I remember I bought a big box of oranges at Christmas time and had them stored in the utility area, and our cat, whose food bowl and water were in there, wouldn't go near it. It took us a while to work out why and it was the smell of oranges so I know 100 percent that it works."

Lucy Prime also advised: "Orange peel. Cats hate citrus and will run away from it."

For those with a flair for gardening and wanting to discourage feline visitors, a jet spray was another suggestion.

Mary Turner, sharing a snap of the PestBye Jet Spray Battery Operated Motion Activated Cat Scarer and Repellent, endorsed the product saying: “Get this from Amazon. 

“I haven’t seen a cat in my garden since just after getting one of these. My neighbour has two cats and they suggested this.”

Gerald Henderson also recommended a similar strategy, posting an image of the identical item found on eBay, commenting: “Get this off eBay. Stops them pooing without hurting them.”