The 8 Cat Repellents of 2024, Examined and Reviewed

Cat repellent can be utilized to maintain a cat away from potential hazard, like a poisonous houseplant, or from sinking their claws into your valuables, like a model new couch. The time period cat repellent can confer with quite a lot of merchandise together with sprays, adhesive tapes and panels, and even mats that ship a gentle static shock upon contact.

If you end up in want of cat repellent, cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider of The Cat Habits Clinic strongly advises deciding on a product in accordance with the pet coaching principal of “LIMA,” an acronym which means “Least Invasive and Minimally Aversive.”

“Cats don’t want a lot of a adverse consequence to discourage them from leaping up on the kitchen counters or clawing furnishings. Actually, even a minor inconvenience will normally be fairly efficient, and most cats will study after three experiences with a cat deterrent,” Nagelschneider advised The Spruce Pets.

We bought 18 cat repellents to see how properly they may hold curious cats at bay in actual properties. For 2 weeks, we noticed the effectiveness of every product, paying shut consideration to our collaborating cats’ reactions and habits changes. We additionally took word of our personal emotions in direction of the cat repellent and any lingering residue left behind or obnoxious smells emitted.

The 8 Cat Repellents of 2024, Examined and Reviewed
PHOTO: Chewy
What We Like

  • Can use indoors and outside

  • Vet formulated

  • Works on topical medicines

  • Comes with satisfaction assure

  • Doesn’t stain

What We Don’t Like

  • Effectiveness varies

  • Sturdy scent

This no-biting spray focuses on deterring your cat from chewing on furnishings and wounds by leaving a bitter-tasting residue on the goal space. The rosemary-based system was developed with vets and might be sprayed on prime of topical medicines and bandages as an added safety for therapeutic stitches or sores. It additionally works on furnishings, gained’t stain materials, and can be utilized safely round vegetation. This may should be regularly reapplied because it fades or will get washed off, and it might take a number of purposes to drive the message house along with your cat. As with most pure merchandise, effectiveness will range. We like that it may be used indoors and outside, however watch out for spraying in small areas, because the rosemary scent might be robust even after drying.

Sort: Spray | Measurement: 8, 16, and 32 ounces | Lively repellent: Rosemary

Sofisti-Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • No chemical compounds

  • Efficient on a number of surfaces, together with furnishings, doorways, and drapes

  • Might be lower to measurement

Sofisti Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape is a double-sided tape that’s protected to use all through surfaces in a house together with drapes, upholstery, and partitions. It may be bought as a 15-foot roll of tape or as a pack of 15 x 12-inch sheets.

We used the roll to discourage a cat from scratching at a picket door and doorframe. The tape is efficient, simple to chop, and inexpensive, so there is no such thing as a must ration its use. The deterrent tape seems to be white on the roll, however seems extra translucent as soon as each side are uncovered—one caught to the floor you need to shield and the opposite able to repel claws. Whereas not opaque, the tape remains to be very noticeable on surfaces.

The tape is meant that can assist you prepare your cat to direct their clawing elsewhere, reminiscent of a scratching put up positioned close by. You may encourage your cat’s higher behaviors by giving them treats once they use the correct surfaces, as a substitute of your furnishings.

Sort: Tape | Measurement: 15 ft x 2.5 inches; 15 ft x 12 inches | Lively Repellent: Sticky movie

Sentry Pet Care Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray For Cats
PHOTO: Chewy

This two-fold spray could are available a small container however packs a disciplining punch. The Sentry Cease That! Habits Correction Spray is an efficient coaching device that always solely must be disbursed as soon as to cease undesirable habits—but it surely must be accomplished instantly following the “incorrect” habits so your cat will affiliate the deterrent with its actions. When the product is dispersed, it releases a powerful bad-smelling pheromone in unison with an abrasive noise (for cats). Subsequent offenses can usually be curbed by merely responding to your cat’s habits by selecting the canister again up since they may keep in mind the impact, so that you don’t even have to make use of the precise product each time. We just like the small journey measurement of the bottle since it may simply match inside a bedside desk or kitchen drawer for simple entry, however that limits the variety of sprays obtainable. Needless to say it’s doable that the abrupt noise could upset overly anxious cats exhibiting anxiety-rooted habits.

Sort: Spray | Measurement: 1 ounce | Lively repellent: Loud noise and pheromones

Safer Brand Critter Ridder Animal Repellent
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • Rapidly covers massive out of doors areas

  • Efficient for as much as three days in Spruce checks

  • Works on a number of species

  • Dries odorless (for people)

The Safer Model Critter Ridder Animal Repellent is formulated particularly for out of doors use, and can deter cats in addition to different animals like skunks and canine, raccoons, and squirrels. One bottle is sufficient to cowl 320 sq. ft. The producer claims a 30-day efficient interval, however throughout real-world checks of our personal, we discovered it solely successfully repelled critters for as much as three days. Throughout our testing interval, we utilized the spray to an outside stoop and entrance door entryway, two common escape routes for our cat. The cat instantly froze upon approaching the sprayed areas and distanced themselves from the handled space. Though this spray dries odorless, we seen the spray initially has a powerful chemical scent. This spray works by combining a mix of bad-smelling and terrible-tasting substances, starting from rotten eggs and dried blood to black pepper. It additionally incorporates capsaicin, a chili pepper spinoff, so make certain to not inhale something throughout software. It’s additionally obtainable in granule kind.

Sort: Spray | Measurement: 32 ounces | Lively repellent: Dried blood, putrescent egg, garlic, black pepper oil, capsaicin

Amazon Stelucca Amazing Shields Cat Scratch Deterrent
PHOTO: Amazon

The Stelucca Superb Shields Cat Scratch Deterrent is a extremely efficient, chemical-free cat deterrent designed to guard upholstered furnishings items from changing into your cat’s manicurists.

Every clear sheet has a sticky aspect that may be utilized to quite a lot of materials however isn’t really helpful to be used on actual or fake leather-based. We discovered it simple to stick and it efficiently protected the aspect of an armchair from the fury of our cat’s claws. These shields felt extra substantial than others that we examined, however they’re nonetheless versatile and might simply be lower to measurement with a typical pair of scissors. After a couple of days in high-traffic areas, we did discover some gaps the place the adhesive was beginning to put on, however the safety was nonetheless intact.

From playtime to survival, a cat’s claws are their important multipurpose instruments and so they instinctually hunt down surfaces to claw to maintain their nails filed and wholesome. It is essential to have designated areas, like a scratching put up, and interactive toys, so your cat can safely unfurl their claws when the temper strikes.

Sort: Adhesive defend | Measurement: 17 x 12 inches | Lively Repellent: Translucent panel

The Spruce Pets / Frances Crouter

D&D Living Cat Deterrent Scat Mat
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • Appropriate for areas and objects which might be dangerous to cats however can’t be sprayed, like vegetation or meals preparation surfaces

  • Efficient in conserving cat away from vegetation throughout our actual world testing

  • No chemical compounds concerned

  • Might be lower to measurement

Some vegetation should not protected for cats to play with, and whereas cats are drawn to vegetation and wish to dig of their grime, they should be taught to remain away. A scat mat is an efficient option to hold your cat from disturbing the vegetation inside and out of doors your own home.

The D&D Residing Cat Deterrent Scat Mat has plastic spikes that won’t trigger any harm to your cat’s paws however will trigger a little bit of a shock in the event that they step on them. It would deter cats from leaping up or going close to an space that you really want them to steer clear of. The mats can simply be lower to the dimensions you want and the strips might be linked to one another. The cat repellent additionally comes with six massive staples that allow you to anchor the scat mats proper within the grime of your plant. Whereas these mats will not forestall your cat from attacking leaves and branches, we discovered that they may efficiently hold cats from digging in planters, as was the case in our actual world testing.

This scat mat from D&D is made from polypropylene and is available in a set of 10. Every mat measures 16.5 x 13.4 inches and has 1-inch plastic spikes. These mats will cowl as much as 15 sq. ft. In contrast to sprays, their effectiveness is constant and there’s no detectable scent.

Sort: Scat mat | Measurement: 16.5 x 13.4 inches | Lively Repellent: 1-inch plastic spikes

Bodhi Dog 3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • Non-toxic and chemical-free

  • Household-owned

  • Accessible in a number of sizes

  • Eco-friendly manufacturing and packaging

What We Don’t Like

  • Incorporates lemongrass oil

  • Might stain materials

For pet homeowners in search of a pure deterrent or a protected product with kittens, the Bodhi Canine 3-in-1 Cat and Kitten Coaching Support spray is your greatest wager. This cat repellent makes use of important oils and botanical essences, like rosemary, cinnamon, and lemongrass, to create an disagreeable scent your cat will seemingly need to keep away from. It’s protected to make use of straight on vegetation and most surfaces, although it might stain materials, so it’s greatest to do a check patch earlier than making use of. This system additionally incorporates bitters to discourage cats from chewing sprayed surfaces as properly. The rub is that, as with some pure merchandise, it’s not as efficient as merchandise with artificial or chemical deterrents. It additionally incorporates lemongrass oil, which might be poisonous to cats, although that’s normally when it’s ingested straight or subtle. If it really works, you’ll should reapply because the scent wanes, and it helps in case you just like the scent of lemongrass and rosemary your self.

Sort: Spray | Measurement:  8 and 32 ounces; 1 gallon | Lively repellent: Pure botanicals, important oils, and bitters

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil, 200 Square Feet
PHOTO: Amazon
What We Like

  • Fast repair

  • A number of makes use of

  • Cheap

There’s one thing concerning the mixture of texture, sound, and glossy floor space that completely grates on cats, and they’ll actively keep away from it, not less than for a bit of bit. Cats have delicate listening to, and the crinkle of foil is extremely dissonant for them. Moreover, the reflective floor could trick cats into pondering that the foil is a shallow pool of water.  Cats leaping on the kitchen counter? Slap down some aluminum foil and so they seemingly will study their lesson inside their subsequent few jumps. You may as well lay foil down in entrance of areas you need the cat to cease moving into. Nonetheless, this handy and cheap resolution isn’t a fail-safe deterrent as some cats will solely be quickly off-put by aluminum foil and now not keep away from it as soon as they realize it’s not a risk. It’s additionally not long-term resolution because it stands proud like a sore thumb and requires you to cowl a floor, leaving it unusable.

Sort: Cowl | Measurement: Customized | Lively repellent: Aluminum foil

Last Verdict

Whereas testing cat repellents we discovered that totally different cats responded to totally different deterrents. However we expect that you simply’ll have one of the best likelihood of conserving your cat away from vegetation or different off-limits areas with NaturVet Bitter Yuck! spray.

What to Search for in Cat Repellent

“Being the delicate creatures that cats are, a gentle deterrent isn’t solely normally sufficient, however doesn’t should be used for very lengthy attributable to their shallow studying curve,” Nagelschneider advised The Spruce Pets. “A cat repellent also needs to be distant, so the cat homeowners should not concerned. We don’t need the cat to endure the stress of their cat proprietor deterring them. Yelling at your cat or squirting them with a squirt gun can break the cat/human animal bond and improve stress, result in aggression points, create proprietor absent habits (i.e. clawing your favourite chair while you’re not round) and even create new stress-related behaviors (like chewing on the wicker basket).”

Habits

First clearly establish the behaviors you’re attempting to discourage. Some merchandise concentrate on only one or two of the undesired behaviors whereas others handle all of them. Determine whether or not you’re attempting to forestall lounging, scratching, chewing or spraying, then make sure the product particularly addresses that habits.

Sticky tape or protecting plastic obstacles can forestall lounging and scratching however gained’t assist with spraying. Sprays and pellets can include substances which have a foul scent to maintain animals away from a selected space and/or include bittering brokers that may forestall chewing. If the product label doesn’t point out the particular habits you’re attempting to forestall, hold in search of one which does.

Location

The primary dedication is whether or not you want an indoor or out of doors product—or one which can be utilized in each places. Some merchandise can solely be used indoors as a result of they don’t maintain as much as the climate or depend on concentrated odor as a deterrent. Others could should be plugged into an electrical outlet or can solely be used outside as a result of the scent is disagreeable to people, or the substances should not applicable for software to furnishings and materials.

Learn the label totally earlier than you buy to verify it’s applicable for the surfaces you need to shield. At any time when utilizing a brand new product on objects reminiscent of furnishings, painted surfaces, curtains, rugs, or decking, at all times spot check a small and unnoticeable space for staining and odor acceptability. If the realm is negatively affected by the spray, you possibly can apply it onto a bit of fabric or towel, let dry after which place it onto the realm you need protected.

Protection Space and Utility Fee

Take into account how a lot area you’re attempting to guard and whether or not you’ll must deal with the realm simply as soon as, every day or weekly. Are you attempting to maintain feral cats from utilizing your flowerbed as a litter field or simply attempting to maintain your tenacious kitty off your grandmother’s vintage chair? Some cat repellents are designed to cowl small areas—a couple of ft, at most—whereas others can cowl as much as 3,000 sq. ft or extra. Some might be utilized simply as soon as (totally) whereas others require a number of, constant purposes to really break the behavior.

Many sprays and pellets are offered in quite a lot of volumes and sizes so test the label to make sure you’re getting sufficient product to make sure you can comply with software suggestions for one of the best likelihood at success.

For giant out of doors areas, contemplate movement or infrared activated repellents that use sound, water, flashing lights or a mix of all three. Nonetheless, cats are crafty and might usually work out by trial and error the place the sting of protection is. Then they only modify their path to keep away from triggering sensors. To keep away from this phenomenon, you would possibly must reposition or transfer the sensor commonly to maintain the cat guessing.

FAQ

  • “Sure, those that work do,” says Nagelschneider. “You additionally want to make use of the correct deterrent for the job. Bitter apple spray may fit properly to maintain a cat from chewing on electrical cords however spraying a product like this or different scent deterrent merchandise alongside the perimeter of your garden is not going to hold an outdoor a cat away. They are going to stroll proper over them.”

  • “We have now been recommending these for a few years to discourage outdoors cats from coming into your property,” says Nagelschneider. “Nonetheless, these ought to by no means be used inside the house and they’ll should be turned off if/when your inside cat goes outdoors.”

Why Belief The Spruce Pets?

Ok. Alex Beaven is a lifelong cat individual with restricted capacity to implement self-discipline on her cats. Different tales Alex has written for The Spruce Pets embody The Finest Kitten Meals, The Finest Cat Glove Brushes, and Finest Lickable Cat Treats.

A earlier model of this story was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had not less than two cat and two canine companions in her house for the previous 35 years. She holds a Bachelor’s diploma in biology and a Grasp’s diploma in environmental science with an emphasis on toxicology. 

Wilde spoke with Cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider of The Cat Habits Clinic. Nagelschneider is an Oxford-trained Licensed Cat Behaviorist™ and Cat Science Creator on Nationwide Geographic and Discovery Channel. She has 25 years of expertise offering complete habits care based mostly on feline evolutionary biology. Nagelschneider is a pioneer of the cat behaviorist specialty, having assisted hundreds of pet homeowners of their understanding and problem-solving with cat aggression, urination, defecation, spraying and vocalization.

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