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 discuss with a wide range of merchandise together with sprays, adhesive tapes and panels, and even mats that ship a light static shock upon contact.

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

“Cats don’t want a lot of a damaging end result to discourage them from leaping up on the kitchen counters or clawing furnishings. In truth, even a minor inconvenience will often be fairly efficient, and most cats will study after three experiences with a cat deterrent,” Nagelschneider instructed The Spruce Pets.

We bought 18 cat repellents to see how nicely they might maintain curious cats at bay in actual houses. For 2 weeks, we noticed the effectiveness of every product, paying shut consideration to our taking part cats’ reactions and conduct 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

  • Robust 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 formulation was developed with vets and could be sprayed on high of topical medicines and bandages as an added safety for therapeutic stitches or sores. It additionally works on furnishings, received’t stain materials, and can be utilized safely round vegetation. This can should be frequently reapplied because it fades or will get washed off, and it could take a number of functions to drive the message residence together with your cat. As with most pure merchandise, effectiveness will differ. We like that it may be used indoors and outside, however watch out for spraying in small areas, because the rosemary scent could be sturdy even after drying.

Kind: Spray | Dimension: 8, 16, and 32 ounces | Energetic repellent: Rosemary

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

  • No chemical substances

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

  • Might be minimize to measurement

Sofisti Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape is a double-sided tape that’s secure 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 isn’t a have to ration its use. The deterrent tape seems white on the roll, however seems extra translucent as soon as either side are uncovered—one caught to the floor you wish 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 will help you prepare your cat to direct their clawing elsewhere, equivalent to a scratching submit positioned close by. You possibly can encourage your cat’s higher behaviors by giving them treats after they use the right surfaces, as an alternative of your furnishings.

Kind: Tape | Dimension: 15 ft x 2.5 inches; 15 ft x 12 inches | Energetic Repellent: Sticky movie

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

This two-fold spray could are available in a small container however packs a disciplining punch. The Sentry Cease That! Conduct Correction Spray is an efficient coaching software that always solely must be allotted as soon as to cease undesirable conduct—nevertheless it must be accomplished instantly following the “incorrect” conduct so your cat will affiliate the deterrent with its actions. When the product is dispersed, it releases a robust bad-smelling pheromone in unison with an abrasive noise (for cats). Subsequent offenses can typically be curbed by merely responding to your cat’s conduct by selecting the canister again up since they may bear 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 straightforward entry, however that limits the variety of sprays out there. Remember the fact that it’s doable that the abrupt noise could upset overly anxious cats exhibiting anxiety-rooted conduct.

Kind: Spray | Dimension: 1 ounce | Energetic repellent: Loud noise and pheromones

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

  • Shortly covers giant out of doors areas

  • Efficient for as much as three days in Spruce exams

  • 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 canines, raccoons, and squirrels. One bottle is sufficient to cowl 320 sq. ft. The producer claims a 30-day efficient interval, however throughout real-world exams 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 out of doors 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 observed the spray initially has a robust chemical scent. This spray works by combining a mixture 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 be certain to not inhale something throughout software. It’s additionally out there in granule kind.

Kind: Spray | Dimension: 32 ounces | Energetic 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 turning into your cat’s manicurists.

Every clear sheet has a sticky aspect that may be utilized to a wide range of materials however just isn’t advisable 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 minimize to measurement with a typical pair of scissors. After a number 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 they usually instinctually search out surfaces to claw to maintain their nails filed and wholesome. It is necessary to have designated areas, like a scratching submit, and interactive toys, so your cat can safely unfurl their claws when the temper strikes.

Kind: Adhesive defend | Dimension: 17 x 12 inches | Energetic 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 maintaining cat away from vegetation throughout our actual world testing

  • No chemical substances concerned

  • Might be minimize to measurement

Some vegetation usually are not secure for cats to play with, and whereas cats are drawn to vegetation and prefer to dig of their filth, they should be taught to remain away. A scat mat is an efficient solution to maintain your cat from disturbing the vegetation inside and outdoors your private 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 should deter cats from leaping up or going close to an space that you really want them to avoid. The mats can simply be minimize to the dimensions you want and the strips could be related to one another. The cat repellent additionally comes with six giant staples that allow you to anchor the scat mats proper within the filth of your plant. Whereas these mats will not stop your cat from attacking leaves and branches, we discovered that they may efficiently maintain cats from digging in planters, as was the case in our actual world testing.

This scat mat from D&D is manufactured 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.

Kind: Scat mat | Dimension: 16.5 x 13.4 inches | Energetic 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

  • Out there in a number of sizes

  • Eco-friendly manufacturing and packaging

What We Don’t Like

  • Accommodates lemongrass oil

  • Might stain materials

For pet house owners on the lookout for a pure deterrent or a secure product with kittens, the Bodhi Canine 3-in-1 Cat and Kitten Coaching Support spray is your finest guess. This cat repellent makes use of important oils and botanical essences, like rosemary, cinnamon, and lemongrass, to create an disagreeable scent your cat will doubtless wish to keep away from. It’s secure to make use of immediately on vegetation and most surfaces, although it could stain materials, so it’s finest to do a check patch earlier than making use of. This formulation additionally incorporates bitters to discourage cats from chewing sprayed surfaces as nicely. 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 could be poisonous to cats, although that’s often when it’s ingested immediately or subtle. If it really works, you’ll should reapply because the scent wanes, and it helps should you just like the scent of lemongrass and rosemary your self.

Kind: Spray | Dimension:  8 and 32 ounces; 1 gallon | Energetic 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’re going to actively keep away from it, not less than for slightly bit. Cats have delicate listening to, and the crinkle of foil is extremely dissonant for them. Moreover, the reflective floor could trick cats into considering that the foil is a shallow pool of water.  Cats leaping on the kitchen counter? Slap down some aluminum foil they usually doubtless 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 entering into. Nonetheless, this handy and cheap resolution isn’t a fail-safe deterrent as some cats will solely be briefly off-put by aluminum foil and not keep away from it as soon as they comprehend it’s not a menace. It’s additionally not long-term resolution because it stands out like a sore thumb and requires you to cowl a floor, leaving it unusable.

Kind: Cowl | Dimension: Customized | Energetic repellent: Aluminum foil

Ultimate Verdict

Whereas testing cat repellents we discovered that totally different cats responded to totally different deterrents. However we predict that you simply’ll have the very best probability of maintaining 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 light deterrent just isn’t solely often sufficient, however doesn’t should be used for very lengthy on account of their shallow studying curve,” Nagelschneider instructed The Spruce Pets. “A cat repellent also needs to be distant, so the cat house owners usually are 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 conduct (i.e. clawing your favourite chair once you’re not round) and even create new stress-related behaviors (like chewing on the wicker basket).”

Conduct

First clearly establish the behaviors you’re attempting to discourage. Some merchandise give attention to only one or two of the undesired behaviors whereas others handle all of them. Resolve whether or not you’re attempting to stop lounging, scratching, chewing or spraying, then make sure the product particularly addresses that conduct.

Sticky tape or protecting plastic limitations can stop lounging and scratching however received’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 stop chewing. If the product label doesn’t point out the particular conduct you’re attempting to stop, maintain on the lookout for 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 usually are not applicable for software to furnishings and materials.

Learn the label completely earlier than you buy to verify it’s applicable for the surfaces you wish to shield. At any time when utilizing a brand new product on objects equivalent to furnishings, painted surfaces, curtains, rugs, or decking, all the time 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 chunk of material or towel, let dry after which place it onto the realm you need protected.

Protection Space and Software Charge

Think about how a lot house you’re attempting to guard and whether or not you’ll have to 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 number of ft, at most—whereas others can cowl as much as 3,000 sq. ft or extra. Some could be utilized simply as soon as (completely) whereas others require a number of, constant functions to really break the behavior.

Many sprays and pellets are offered in a wide range 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 the very best probability at success.

For giant out of doors areas, take into account movement or infrared activated repellents that use sound, water, flashing lights or a mixture of all three. Nonetheless, cats are crafty and might typically 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 have to reposition or transfer the sensor recurrently to maintain the cat guessing.

FAQ

  • “Sure, those that work do,” says Nagelschneider. “You additionally want to make use of the suitable deterrent for the job. Bitter apple spray may go nicely 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 maintain an out of doors a cat away. They’ll stroll proper over them.”

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

Why Belief The Spruce Pets?

Ok. Alex Beaven is a lifelong cat particular person with restricted capacity to implement self-discipline on her cats. Different tales Alex has written for The Spruce Pets embrace The Greatest Kitten Meals, The Greatest Cat Glove Brushes, and Greatest 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 residence 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 Conduct Clinic. Nagelschneider is an Oxford-trained Licensed Cat Behaviorist™ and Cat Science Writer on Nationwide Geographic and Discovery Channel. She has 25 years of expertise offering complete conduct care primarily based on feline evolutionary biology. Nagelschneider is a pioneer of the cat behaviorist specialty, having assisted hundreds of pet house owners of their understanding and problem-solving with cat aggression, urination, defecation, spraying and vocalization.

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