At first glance, it may seem like just a makeshift solution or even a strange decoration. But forks stuck in pots and flower beds are used by some people as a simple barrier to try to stop cats from messing with the soil, digging near plants or using the pots as a ‘toilet’. The practice is cited by gardening experts at , who point to forks or small stakes as a way of making it difficult for animals to pass and dig between plants.
The main objective is to create obstacles on the ground. When forks are placed with the tines facing up between plants, they make the surface less comfortable for cats to walk, lie on or dig on. Horticulturist Brooke Edmunds of the Oregon State University Extension Service explains that netting, pine cones, chicken wire, thin bamboo stakes or forks placed between plants can help keep cats away from specific areas of the garden.
This fork trick is mainly used in pots, small vegetable gardens and newly planted beds, where loose soil can attract cats to dig. Cats Protection, a British organization dedicated to the welfare of cats, points out that these animals tend to relieve themselves in gardens, especially in areas of recently disturbed land, such as flowerbeds and areas prepared for planting.
Does this method always work?
There is no guarantee that it will work in all cases. The source itself highlights that, when talking about keeping cats away from the garden, “there is no single solution” and that the result depends on the space, the animal’s behavior and what attracts it to that place. Therefore, sticking forks may help in some cases, but should not be seen as a definitive answer.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (), a British animal protection organization, recommends safe and humane methods to discourage cats from entering the garden, such as not leaving food available, using dense or thorny plants, placing small pebbles or gravel and making entry difficult through suitable fencing. The same source reinforces that any method used must avoid causing suffering to the animal.
Care to take before trying it
If you choose to use forks, the appropriate thing to do may be to ensure that they are clearly visible and placed in a way that does not hurt people, children, pets or wildlife. The Oregon State University Extension Service recommends that forks or stakes stick out of the ground, precisely to prevent someone from putting their hand in the pot without seeing them and getting hurt.
It is also advisable to avoid dangerous, cruel solutions or solutions using unlicensed products. The RSPCA reminds us that cats are protected by law in the UK and warns that causing unnecessary suffering to a cat constitutes an offence, adding that unauthorized traps, poisons or deterrents should not be used. Although legislation varies from country to country, animal welfare guidance is clear: any method must be preventive, safe and non-aggressive.
Alternatives that exist to forks skewered
One of the simplest alternatives involves covering the ground with materials that cats don’t like to step on or dig. Cats Protection suggests using broken eggshells, rocks and pebbles in flowerbeds, as well as small branches or obstacles between plants, to make the area less attractive without harming animals.
RSPCA Australia also recommends altering the garden to reduce cat interest, using thorny or strong-smelling plants such as lavender, lemongrass, geraniums, rosemary or rue, and covering beds with pebbles, pine cones or thick bark, as some cats prefer to eliminate in loose soil.
Another measure highlighted by the RSPCA involves keeping beds moist, as some cats don’t like wet soil. The organization also suggests motion-activated sprinklers or a light splash of water near the animal, never directly against it, as a way to discourage its presence without causing harm.
What if the problem is recurring?
When the presence of cats is frequent, the sources consulted recommend first understanding what attracts them to the location. It can be food left outside, shelter, loose soil, plants where they lie down or even walking areas. The Oregon State University Extension Service advises thinking “like a cat” and seeing if the animal is looking for a ‘bathroom,’ hunting area, plants to brush against, or simply a protected path.
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