Remove food sources
Secure trash cans
Clean up pet food
Eliminate shelter spots
Cover garden soil with mulch, pine cones, or rough stones
Use motion-activated sprinklers
Install motion-activated lights
Place citrus peels around the yard
Use cat-safe deterrent sprays
Spread coffee grounds sparingly
Place physical barriers around beds and fences
Use chicken wire or garden mesh over soil
Keep sandboxes covered
Trim shrubs and dense ground cover
Block access under decks and sheds
Use ultrasonic cat deterrents
Reapply deterrents after rain
Ask neighbors to keep their cats indoors
Use humane trap-and-release only where legal and appropriate
Contact local animal control for persistent stray cats