Deterring cats with coffee grounds?

doublemom2 · Post by **doublemom2** » Mar 04, 2005 7:30 pm

For as tired as I am today , I had an inspiring idea !

We always have problems with our neighbor's cats using our garden as their litterbox (oh, joy). Lately I've been going to Starbucks and getting the big bags of their used coffee grounds - free - and adding them to my compost. I had the idea to spread the grounds out all along the ground near the fence where the cats hop over... it smells strongly of coffee and I'm hoping it'll keep the cats away.

Has anyone tried this before? I'm hoping it'll work, at least for a while. I can keep going back to Starbucks and getting as many bags of grounds as I want

Andi

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Mar 04, 2005 10:44 pm

Ya better hope the cats don't like it. I can't imagine a cat on a caffeen buzz.

doublemom2 · Post by **doublemom2** » Mar 05, 2005 12:12 am

when I tried to get my indoor cat to smell it, she sniffed and half-sneezed and walked away with a frown on her face.

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Mar 05, 2005 12:19 am

I have read something about caffeen being poison to slugs. Trouble is, by the time the grounds get to the yard, the caffeen is probablly gone.

Maybe your indoor cat would prefer a latae, or however it's spelled.

janet · Post by **janet** » Mar 05, 2005 9:38 am

Hi Andi. If the coffee grounds don't work (and who can beat free?), try one of the other scents that are supposed to repel cats.

You are not alone judging from this website: http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/info/keepingout.htm
They say:
For protecting gardens or flower beds, the herb rue is often mentioned as a good deterrent, either planted or sprinkled in its dry form. Other suggested items for garden areas include orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, and mustard oil.

doublemom2 · Post by **doublemom2** » Mar 05, 2005 12:45 pm

Thanks Janet - If the herb rue is the same as thalictrum (meadow rue), I have a huge one planted right at the spot where they jump the fence, and they don't seem to mind it at all. I think I'll stick with coffee grounds for now since it's free and good for the soil, and though I don't drink coffee I do like the smell fo the grounds.

Andi

janet · Post by **janet** » Mar 05, 2005 1:54 pm

The herb is a different plant (ruta gaveolens). Good luck with the coffee grounds and be sure to let us know if it works!!