Do Orange Peels Keep Cats Away? Vet-Reviewed Facts & Alternatives
Cats have a mind of their own and don't tend to listen to directions. Many cat owners would say that they can't control what their cat does under any circumstances. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if you can’t keep your own cats or stray cats away from your plants, flowers, and food gardens. There is no need for yelling and shooing; it does not work. Instead, start looking for a solution that will work, once and for all. You may have heard about using orange peels to deter cats from places where you don’t want them to be, and you may be wondering if they actually work. The answer is, anecdotally yes. So, what exactly do the orange peels do, and what results can you expect? Read on to learn more!
How Orange Peels Keep Cats Away
Cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell, and they can detect scents farther away than we humans can. Most cats also detest the scent of citrus fruits, like oranges. Therefore, they tend to steer clear of such fruits. An unpeeled orange won’t bother your cat that much, but the oils in the orange peel are sure to turn a cat around and make them go in the opposite direction.
How to Utilize Orange Peels as a Cat Deterrent
The easiest and seemingly most effective way to deter cats with the help of orange peels is to simply gather a few peels and layer them in the soil around the plants, trees, and foliage that you don't want any cats messing with. But you must do this regularly to keep cats away indefinitely. If you can not keep up with the process of adding and removing orange peels in your gardens, consider making an orange peel spray instead. You can then spray the leaves, stalks, stems, and trunks of trees, plants, and foliage that you want to deter cats from a few times a week.
Just fill a big pot with orange peels, and cover the peels with clean water. Then, boil the peels for about 15 minutes, and let the water cool down before filling a reusable spray bottle with it. The spray is ready to be used!
Other Cat Deterrent Options to Consider
If orange peels aren’t working for you or you want to add another layer of protection to your gardens, there are a few other deterrent options to consider. For example, you could install motion-sensor sprinklers that will turn on anytime a cat goes near your garden and scare them away. You could also try a motion light for nighttime deterrence.
Water guns and noisemakers like whistles can come in handy when you are around to see a cat getting into your gardens. However, you do not want to be watching your garden 24/7, so consider installing garden ultrasonic cat deterrents instead. Putting chicken wire over your gardens is also a great way to keep cats away. Surround your plants with anything pokey, like plastic plant stakes or pine cones, to keep cats from trying to get too close.
Why You Should Keep Cats Away from Your Food Sources
While it’s not a big deal for a cat to mess with an ornamental plant or flower unless they ruin them, it is a big deal if they get into your food gardens. Stray cats tend to carry a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii, which can be dangerous to a human’s health. Cats transmit Toxoplasma gondii through their feces, and even if only a cat's paw has come into contact with the feces, that paw could transmit the parasite to your veggies and greens and result in transmission to yourself or a family member. For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to take steps that will keep cats from getting into your food gardens.
Conclusion
Regardless of what you need to keep your cat away from, whether it be your indoor plants, your outdoor garden, etc., orange peels are a great choice. Most cats hate the smell of citrus, so they won't want to go anywhere near them, and they won't be tempted to eat them either.
Featured Image Credit: esudroff, Pixabay
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Rachael has been a freelance writer since 2000, in which time she has had an opportunity to research and write about many different topics while working to master the art of fusing high-quality content with effective content marketing strategies. She is an artist at heart and loves to read, paint, and make jewelry in her spare time. As a vegan, Rachael is obsessed with helping animals in need both in her community and anywhere in the world where she feels she can make a difference. Animals also happen to be her favorite topic to write about! She lives off the grid in Hawaii with her husband, her garden, and her rescue animals including 5 dogs, a cat, a goat, and dozens of chickens.
