Cat Litter Is The Unlikely Secret Weapon To Banish Moles From Your Garden

Moles are the bane of backyards across the country. While there are certainly common mistakes that attract moles to a yard, these small, subterranean mammals can burrow their way into even the most manicured yard and well-kept garden. Although it is possible to trap or poison them, there are drawbacks to these methods as well. For example, some folks are uncomfortable with killing an animal, no matter how destructive it may be. Others worry about their pets or other creatures getting into traps and poison meant for moles.

With that in mind, it is no surprise gardeners have come up with creative ways to keep moles away, such as planting garlic in their gardens or tending to flowers that may repel moles. But, if you are searching for yet another humane way to prevent massive yard destruction from moles, your housecat may be able to help. No, your cat doesn't need to confront, catch, or fight the mole. In fact, for its part, your cat doesn't need to do anything other than what it already does — relieve itself in the litter box. That is enough to transform cat litter into the unlikely secret weapon to banish moles from your garden.

What you need for this mole repellent hack is pretty straightforward. You need a cat and kitty litter. However, the type of litter used is important. What is going to repel the moles isn't the cat litter itself, rather it is the scent of cat urine. The scent of the cat urine convinces moles a predator is in the area and they need to abandon their plans for that particular patch of land. To that end, you shouldn't use any litter products that have a scent masking agent, as they defeat the purpose of utilizing the used litter as a mole repellent. Secondly, since you will be putting this on your lawn and garden, you should choose a biodegradable kitty litter product.

You need to know where to put cat litter to repel moles. While you can sprinkle it over the entire yard, you should take care to sprinkle it along the mole trail or runway, which indicates the tunnels underground. You should also place some on the mole's mound and cover it with some dirt from the mound.

The main advantage of using cat litter as a mole repellent is, well, it repels moles. Additionally, it is considered budget-friendly, as there is no added expense for cat owners. Furthermore, it is incredibly simple to apply, as described above. It is also humane, as it does not kill the mole or harm their reproductive ability.

However, as is the case with just about any solution, using cat litter as a mole repellent is not a perfect remedy. For one, as was just stated, it does nothing to reduce the current or future population of moles. So, while they may avoid your yard or garden, they will still be around. Secondly, while the kitty litter is biodegradable, it is also tainted. Used cat litter can contain a variety of parasites and bacteria, including E. Coli. So, it should only be used on lawns and flower gardens –- never on or near plants that are meant to be eaten. Finally, according to the ASPCA, the scent of cat urine can trigger other cats to spray or mark territory. This is a concern if you are in an area with feral or outdoor cats, as they may begin to spray in your yard or even use your garden as a litter box.