'I'm a gardening expert and this is how you stop cats pooping in your plants'

A pet hate for many gardeners is a neighbour's cat using their flowerbeds as a litterbox. The frustrating felines often dig up plants and flowers when going to the toilet, destroying months of hard work.

But there are several natural and cheap deterrents to keep the unwanted visitors at bay, according to Liz Zorab, a bestselling gardening author. However the owner of Byther Farm admitted some were "more effective than others".

She told the Express: "So, there are several ways to try to stop cats from pooping in your garden. If you want to deter the unwanted feline visits to your growing beds, it is worth trying and testing several the cheap or free methods or mixing them up and changing the method regularly.”

READ MORE: Hollyoaks star says she feared the worst upon hearing mum's cancer diagnosis

Scattering the peels from lemons, oranges or limes around plants was one method that could stop cats hanging around. Liz said: “Generally cats do not like the smell of citrus, so will veer away from places that smell of it. This option is free if you simply save the peels from citrus fruits when you use them in the kitchen.

“And because it will break down over time, it will add organic matter to your soil. Alternatively, you can use citrus oils, but be careful not to drop undiluted citrus oils on your plants.” The downside to this method is that peels would need to be replaced every few days, and immediately after rainfall, to maintain a strong enough scent.

Liz suggested a motion-activated water spray could potentially keep an area off-limits. She said: “It sprays a jet of water to surprise the cat away from the garden. Not just used to stop cats from pooping in the garden, it is effective for most animals. And can be used in more extensive gardens.”

The third and final tip from Liz was to place to use mulching, a gardening method of placing a thick layer of organic material around flower beds to keep plants healthy and strong. She said: “Cats love to use the softer soil of your garden beds because soft soil easy to dig in, after all, who wants hard work before they do their business? Covering the soil with a mulch or hard landscaping can deter cats from pooping in your garden.”