I use pepper that stops them till it rains. But I do find they prefer freshly dug ground so it stops once the ground hardens over.

From experience, the only thing that works is physical barriers - put lots of garden canes close together to stop access to cats. A net will also work. This will not affect your flower and veggies from growing.

Big, chunky bark mulch, or crumpled chicken wire on the ground.

Used teabags dipped in a mild solution of Jeyes fluid always worked for me,just laid in the area..or rose prunings,stuck in at an angle ..not flat on the soil,so as not to hurt them.