The Best Cat Repellents to Keep Your Home Pest-Free
If you’re a cat owner, then you know that, while they make great companions, they can also be real pests—literally. Cats have a tendency to scratch furniture, urinate on carpeting, and generally make a mess of things. And if you have an indoor cat, chances are you’ve also had to deal with the occasional “accident” outside the litter box. Thankfully, there are a number of effective cat repellents on the market that can help keep your home free of these furry little nuisances. Here are some of the best.
Scat Mat Anti-Pest Strips
These adhesive strips emit a harmless static charge that deters cats (and other animals) from entering areas where they’re not welcome. They’re safe to use around children and pets, and they’re weatherproof, so they can be used both indoors and out.
Ssscat Automatic Pet Deterrent
This battery-operated device uses a motion sensor to detect when an animal is in an off-limits area. When it does, it emits an ultrasonic sound that only animals can hear—but that’s enough to startle them and send them running in the opposite direction. It’s great for small spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, as well as larger areas like porches and patios.
Citronella Spray Repellent
Cats dislike the smell of citronella, making it an effective natural repellent. You can find citronella spray repellents at most pet stores, or you can make your own by mixing one part citronella oil with three parts water in a spray bottle. Just be sure to test it on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t damage your furniture or carpeting.
There are a number of different cat repellents on the market, so finding the right one for your needs is just a matter of trial and error. If you have an indoor cat that’s prone to accidents outside the litter box, try using Scat Mat Anti-Pest Strips or Ssscat Automatic Pet Deterrents in problem areas. For outdoor cats that scratch up your furniture or urinate on your patio cushions, try using Citronella Spray Repellent. With any luck, you’ll find one that works for you and say goodbye to those pesky feline nuisances for good!
What is the most effective cat repellent?
The 5 Best Cat Repellents of 2022
- Best Overall: Pet MasterMind Cat Spray at Chewy.
- Best Spray: PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Pet Deterrent at Chewy.
- Best Outdoor: Nature’s Mace Cat Repellent at Naturesmace.com.
- Best for Furniture: Sticky Paws Furniture Strips at Chewy.
- Best Indoor:
What will repel cats from my garden?
Use scent to keep the cats away
- Cats dislike the smell of rue, lavender and pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme.
- Cats steer clear of strong citrus scents.
- Sprinkling brewed coffee grounds over the soil may also help.
- The scent of human hair is said to deters cats.
How can I keep my neighbor’s cats out of my yard?
9 Humane ways to keep cats out of your yard and garden
- Get rid of food sources.
- Block access to hidey holes.
- Use scent repellents.
- Fill your garden with cat-repelling plants.
- Make potential lounging or digging spots uncomfortable.
- Buy an ultrasonic animal repeller.
- Install motion-activated sprinklers.
- Try cat-proof fencing.
What smell keeps cats out of garden? Rosemary, lavender, lemongrass, and lemon thyme are all known to deter animal visitors. Another idea many of our experts shared is creating a cat-friendly corner of the yard to keep cats out of the garden. You could even designate an alternate litter box in a sandy corner.
What is the most effective cat repellent? – Additional Questions
How can I stop my Neighbours cat pooping in my garden?
How to stop cats pooping in the garden: 8 simple tips
- Odour repellent.
- Citrus peels.
- Install a motion-activated sprinkler.
- Using sound motion detectors.
- Cover your garden with twigs.
- Bananas.
- Keep your garden clean.
- Use an outdoor litter tray.
What smell do cats hate the most?
As a general rule, cats are sensitive when it comes to smells, but there are a few scents they hate that might just surprise you. They can’t stand citrus and as much as you might love the smell of fresh herbs, cats hate rosemary and thyme. Banana and mustard are a big no-no too, as well as lavender and eucalyptus.
What is a good homemade cat repellent?
A liquid herb supplement can consist of lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and rosemary extract mixed with a bit of water. This is an excellent cat deterrent. Another liquid fusion can be made by mixing the juice from a green orange and strong coffee. This has proven to be a great cat deterrent.
How do you stop cats from using your garden as a litter box?
1. Lay poultry wire or wire hardware cloth over bare soil in garden beds, instructs Pet Finder. Cut a hole in the wire for any plants. Cats can’t dig through the wire to bury their waste, which makes the bed unattractive for litter box use.
Can vinegar keep cats away?
The smell of vinegar can keep your cats away from some specific areas and items in and around the house. Vinegar can work as an effective cat repellent and training tool. Using Vinegar can make you prevent your cats from going to that your favorite furniture or any other area in the house.
What can you sprinkle to keep cats away?
To keep cats away from gardens, flower beds, or specific areas of property, scatter fragrant items that don’t appeal to a cat’s sense of smell, like fresh orange or lemon peels, organic citrus-scented sprays, coffee grounds, vinegar, pipe tobacco, or oil of lavender, lemongrass, citronella, or eucalyptus.
How do you stop cats from peeing and pooping in flower beds?
Dilute and add vinegar to rags and scatter them through your garden to discourage cats from digging or defecating there. You can also make homemade cat repellent spray using dried mustard, cayenne pepper, and various essential oils. Things you find outside can also work well as cat deterrents.
How do I stop cats from peeing and pooping in my yard?
Ways to prevent cats from pooping in your yard
- Clean up the poop and remove the stinky smell first.
- Build a fence in the garden or your yard.
- Plant thorny flowers or trees around your yard.
- Use syrup bottles or old CDs.
- Place cat-repellent plants.
- Use cat-repellent sprays.
- Use lime or lemon peel.
- Mothballs.
Do coffee grounds keep cats out of garden?
Coffee Grounds
The strong smell of coffee can be enough to keep cats off of your garden. Simply take your fresh, wet coffee grounds and distribute them around your borders and plants where you want to discourage feline attention.
Will Epsom salt deter cats?
Sprinkling Epsom Salt As A Deterrent
You can also make a pet deterrent by sprinkling some Epson salt around your garden and around every plant. When you plant seeds, sprinkle some salt in a row and reapply every two weeks.
Do marigolds keep cats away?
Plants work to deter cats in two ways. One is to keep the cats out of specific areas by planting a few varieties they don’t like. Cats are not fond of lavender (Lavandula), rue (Ruta graveolens), geraniums (Geranium), absinthe (Artemisia absinthium), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) or marigolds (Tagetes).
Does chilli powder deter cats?
Put down extra strength hot chilli powder. It annoys cats’ paws and whiskers without causing them serious harm. They’ll stay well away. Over many years of battling to protect my garden from these little beasts, I’ve found the following deterrents to be most effective.
Do used tea bags keep cats away?
One of the things that has worked for me in the past is to save teabags and spray them with a muscle heat spray, like Deep Heat. The tea leaves absorb the strong odour. Place them around the spot in the garden where the cats damage the plants.
Will chili powder hurt plants?
Chili Powder
The powder won’t affect the plants. So make sure you sprinkle it around liberally. Putting a lot of time and energy into your garden only to see it destroyed by squirrels is a frustrating proposition. As a result, many gardeners think long and hard about animal-friendly ways to deter the little critters.
Does cayenne pepper hurt cats?
Cayenne pepper is not toxic to cats in itself. That said, if a cat digs or walks in an area with cayenne pepper sprinkled over it, the pepper may get stuck to the paws and fur. If they clean themselves, the pepper could get into their eyes and cause pain and irritation.
Will cayenne pepper keep cats away?
Yes, you read that right; cayenne pepper can help you fend off cats. Kitties hate the smell of cayenne pepper, and that’s one advantage that you have. So, you can simply add it to your garden. Sprinkle the spicy chili around your plants, or you can choose to spray it.
Does black pepper keep cats away?
Keep Cats out with Black Pepper
If you have cats coming onto your property and digging up your gardens, sprinkle the area liberally with ground black pepper. Cats dislike the scent of the pepper.