Woman's 19p hack to stop cats pooing in garden - and it's safe for the pets too

Cats are adorable and fluffy, and enjoy their independence - which is why they make for great pets.

However, there's one downfall to sharing space with these feline buddies the inevitable disorder they create in yours and your neighbours' gardens when using them as lavatories.

Also, in their quest to find an ideal soft spot to place their bottoms, they often uproot meticulously grown plants, causing quite a scene.

For gardeners seeking ways to deter these four-legged invaders while maintaining a clean garden, experts have proposed a safe and budget-friendly solution that they swear by.

Their effective technique was generously shared when a woman pleaded for assistance on the Gardening UK Facebook page, reports the Mirror.

One garden enthusiast, Lucy Starling, expressed her resentment towards the neighbour's cats ruining her plants: "What do people do/use to stop cats digging up flower beds and pooping in their garden? I've just recently done a new flower bed out the front of my house and every night a cat has come and dug some of it up and used it as a toilet."

Green-fingered gurus have shared a unanimous tip for keeping cats at bay: the potent power of citrus.

One gardening enthusiast advised: "Try citrus fruits. Use orange peel as cats don't like the smell of them."

Another green thumb revealed their success story: "Orange peels have worked for me in the past. Put them down daily. It broke the cat's habit and it stopped coming for its daily poo quite quickly."

Echoing this sentiment, another member suggested an aromatic barrier: "Slices of citrus fruits all along your border. I also use small wind chimes," they chimed in.

Even cat owners are turning to this fragrant solution, with one declaring: "I use oranges and orange peels, they are fantastic! I'm a cat owner and we've had to do that on occasions to stop the cat going for the corner of the wall etc," she penned. "They simply won't go near it as they don't like the smell. Not that any of these suggestions are cruel, but they'll take one sniff at orange peels and walk off. Won't harm them or bother them at all."

For a budget-friendly fix, Aldi offers a pack of five essential oranges at a mere 99p, which is a bargain at just over 19p each and you get the bonus of enjoying the fruit before deploying the peel. This method is not only harmless but also perfectly legal, as felines have the right to wander onto other properties.

The RSPCA has issued a stern warning about the consequences of causing harm to cats. "Causing unnecessary suffering to a cat is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (AWA)," it declares.

They further caution: "It may also be an offence to put down snares, poison or an unlicensed deterrent. The AWA also prohibits poisoning protected animals. The maximum penalty for anyone found guilty of an offence under the AWA is up to six months imprisonment and/or a £20,000 fine."