If you have a problem keeping cats away from sand, then there are a few things you can try. It’s important to remember that the cat isn’t pooping or peeing in a sandbox or garden because they’re being difficult. They’re following their nature so any remedy used to try and stop them should be humane and safe.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do. The Spruce recommends some natural options and ones that use a cat’s heightened sense of smell. You can spray a white vinegar-water solution around the edge of the sandbox. You could also sprinkle used coffee grounds as cat’s don’t like the smell of coffee. We can’t vouch for the latter on a sandbox but we do use it on our bark and mulch section of our garden and it has kept the cat’s away.
Remember, you may have to reapply regularly depending on the weather. The Spruce also makes the point that you should consider covering the sandbox over when not in use. We think this is one of the easiest and most reliable forms of a deterrent. You can use a cheap piece of tarp and then weight it down with bricks to keep cat’s away.
Only take advice from reputable websites as some may suggest things which are harmful to cats. You can also buy products in pet stores that claim to act as a deterrent but we can’t comment on how good they are.