I have had reasonable results with planting ruta graveolens (but did not put
up a video camera to check if they kept all the cats away). I just went to a
search to learn its latin name (because I only know the dutch name) and the
web owner warns against planting it near things like basil because the bad
smell of ruta might influence the taste of other plants.

http://www.ouroboros.nl/~janneke/kru...n/wijnruit.php

I don't know if people can smell it too or if you would only smell it when
you put your nose to the plant.

Caroline