FELINES: There’s not much that equals a cuddle from a warm and fuzzy cat, but when your yard is overrun with strays or feral cats, what can you do to safely keep them out?

Contact with No Feline Left Behind, and a donation if you can afford it, may be your first line of defense. But there are several plants that can turn away cats, too.

Cats don’t care for aromatic plants like lavender, rosemary or the “scaredy cat plant” — coleus caninus, a gross-smelling member of the mint family which humans only smell when it is touched or bruised. Find out first if any of the plants are invasive, and if they are, plant them in pots instead of the ground.

Pennyroyal, lemon thyme and strong citrus scents are all bothersome to kitties, too. Throw orange peels directly on the soil. Citronella, eucalyptus, lemon balm and the curry plant are good choices, says The Cat Vet.

While some websites say to plant rue, it is a skin irritant to people, and can cause blisters. It might be best to avoid it.

Some swear by sprinkling coffee grounds or cayenne pepper on small areas to deter cats, according to the Humane Society. Cayenne pepper contains capsicum and can cause irritation to eyes and airways, so if used, do so sparingly.

There are cat-proof fences for sale, with things like rolling bars that don’t let a cat get by.

Of course, check to make sure you don’t have attractants in your yard, like catnip or valerian.

Having a sprinkler is a good deterrent, as are wind chimes or motion-activated ultrasonic sound that startles a cat, but doesn’t harm them.