Home ▸ Lawn Care Guide ▸ Pets & Your Lawn ▸ How Do Cats Affect my Lawn?

How Do Cats Affect My Lawn?

The stealthier culprit that can cause issues for your lawn, don’t go blaming the dog just yet.

As far as lawn health is concerned, dogs tend to be bigger villains than cats. Our feline friends are more intent on using their neighbouring gardens as lavatories than “doing it on their own doorsteps”.(!)

This can be massively frustrating for the owner of the abused garden but as cats dig holes in which to deposit their waste, at least it means they tend to do this in the borders and leave your lawn alone.

The Problems

Cat faeces can be a problem as the droppings may carry parasites that can potentially be harmful to human, we do advise that if you are to pick up and dispose of the faeces then do so wearing gloves and any protective equipment to keep you out of harm’s way.

Cats’ urine is more dilute than that of dogs, so that presents less of a problem for your lawn but can still result in patches if left unchecked.

Repairing dead patches:

If dead patches start to appear, try to follow the steps below which should help with the recovery process:

Use a rake to remove the dead area, but you will need to be forceful during this process.
Next is to rough up the patch to create a tilth, it may be an idea to add some top dressing.
Cover the affected area in lawn seed.
If needs be firm seed into the soil to help create contact.
Simply ensure you water the new patch at least twice a day and don’t allow it to dry out until seed germination has occurred.

The dilution method on urine can be problematical and, even if you are very diligent, you will at some point notice dead patches in your lawn.

Lawn treatments and pet safety:

If you choose to put treatments on your lawn, make sure you read all instructions carefully to avoid any harm to your pets. If you are a Lawntech customer, please see further information about our treatments below.

Fertiliser:

The fertiliser applied on lawns is a semi-organic product and is applied in a granular form. There are no risks to pets or wildlife when this treatment is applied.

Moss Treatment:

This product is iron-based and is applied in liquid form. The product has no risks to dogs and cats but we do advise that you keep them off the lawn for at least a day so the product has time to dry to avoid stained paws (and potentially floors).

Herbicide:

Like with the moss treatment, dogs and cats must be kept off the grass for the rest of the day following a herbicide treatment to allow the product to dry.

The Counter Measures

Clear away any cat faeces you do find and wash away urine when possible. This helps avoid the risk of picking up any nasty bug and washes away the territory marking
The smell of Rue, Lavender, Pennyroyal, Coleus canina and Lemond Thyme are said to be unappealing to cats, so plant a few of these throughout the garden space, or if you have cats, use selectively to deter them from areas like borders or vegetable patches. As a bonus, interplanting will attract pollinators and can help to avoid pests too.
Other scents that cats are said to find unpleasant are citrus and coffee, so tossing fruit peels or coffee grounds over soil or beds an act as a deterrent and will break down.

Plants to avoid if you have a cat

Certain species of plants can be harmful to cats, and the inquisitive kitten may be more likely to consume new and unfamiliar vegetation than the adult cat. Many of the plants would taste bad to them, which is usually sufficient to discourage them from consuming in harmful quantities.

However, when it comes to pets, we’d always rather be safe than sorry, so below are some plants to avoid as recommended by International Cat Care, who have a more detailed list on their website:

Lilies are toxic and potentially fatal to cats, so should be avoided completely.
cyclamen
poinsettias
rhododendrons.
Bird of paradise
Clematis
Foxglove
Poppy
Peony
Chrysanthemum
The bulbs of lowers such as crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips can be dangerous to cats

What are the signs to look out for?

Ingesting these plants can cause gastrointestinal distress such as repeated vomiting and diarrhoea. They may also exhibit signs of irritation around the mouth and throat or be off their food and lethargic. If your cat exhibits these systems or if you have any reason to suggest they may have ingested something, get them to a vet immediately.