According to the ASPCA, cats typically dislike the smell of citrus, so using orange, lemon or lime peels sprinkled around plants can help keep cats away. Using the oils of these citrus fruits is also a smart solution, since they are nontoxic to humans and cats.
Citrus: orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit
Citrus smells are widely reported as being repugnant to cats. You can use this to your advantage by throwing orange peels around your garden to keep cats away or spritzing a citrus scent on indoor fabric that you don't want your cat scratching up.
2. Lemon or orange peel. Cats hate citrus scents, so take your leftover orange and lemon peel and scatter it where you'd like to deter the offending felines. Just be sure to replace the peels once they get old and lose their smell.
herb rue, either planted or sprinkled in its dry form. Orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, & mustard oil.
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.
Vinegar as a cat repellent
Spraying Outdoors – Straight or diluted vinegar can be sprayed around the edges of a garden, and on plants, fences, posts and garden décor to keep cats away. Concentrate the spray on areas that the cats frequent or that you particularly want to protect.
Citrus fruits
They contain varying levels of citric acid and essential oils that can be irritating to your cat's nervous system. Large enough quantities can cause depression of the central nervous system, leading to tremors, seizures, or death.
Think about how your cat responds to the smell of anything citrus. It may pull back and run to another area of your home as cats find any citrusy scent offensive. All citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, limes and lemons) are mildly toxic to cats.
Avoid using citrus, such as orange and lemon peels, if you know that your cat, which many do, finds it to be a highly unpleasant smell. For some, it can irritate or even stress them out.
However, cats have an extremely sensitive sense of smell and as citrus fruits are very aromatic, what smells heavenly to us is way too over the top for cats. This dislike of citrusy scents can be turned to an owner's advantage.
Citrus is a great natural deterrent for both cats and dogs and it is safe for your houseplants. You can mix a few drops of lemon juice with water and use a spray bottle to apply it to the leaves of your plants, or you can place the lemon rinds over the soil if digging is more of an issue.
Only a few drops of lemon juice or a few lemon peels ingested can cause stomach discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. The more lemon your kitty eats, the worse the symptoms. Large quantities of this citrus eaten can lead to poisoning and even death.
Citrus – I bet you knew this would be top of the list! Cats really don't like citrus, whether oranges, lemon, grapefruit, etc. When you're trying to train your cat away from a certain spot in your house, citrus is often the recommended deterrent.
Many liquid potpourri products and essential oils, including oil of cinnamon, citrus, pennyroyal, peppermint, pine, sweet birch, tea tree (melaleuca), wintergreen, and ylang ylang, are poisonous to cats.
If you have a furry feline who insists on scoping out your living room from half way up your Blue Spruce, here's an easy way to keep them grounded for good! Try placing citrus peels like oranges and lemons under your tree skirt. In general most cats detest citrus and will keep their distance.
Some of the most toxic food for cats include onions & garlic, raw eggs & meat, chocolate, alcohol, grapes and raisins. Avoid feeding your cat table scraps, especially around the holidays, as these may contain potentially toxic ingredients.
Texture: Sticky paper, aluminum foil, heavy plastic or a plastic carpet runner (knubby side up) can be placed in areas you want to be off limits. Cats hate walking on these surfaces.
Citrus or lemon scents (orange peels, lemon peels), garlic, ammonia, vinegar, coffee grinds, pipe tobacco, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus all deter cats as well. The scents diminish over time, so re-applying is necessary. Motion-activated sprinklers: These have motion sensors that trigger a short blast of water.
Some of the most common smells cats hate include citrus, vinegar, peppermint, pine, onions, or spicy food. The dislike for certain smells might be rooted in survival, says Dr.
Scented litter
A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat.
Catnip and More.
Many herbs we use in cooking are safe and fun for cats to sniff, and some are known to be feline favorites. Catnip, part of the mint family, affects many cats with a scent-induced kitty “high.” Silver vine has a similar effect. And valerian can energize cats.
1. Mix together 3/4 parts water with 15 drops of each essential oil. Cats dislike eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint – just choose the ones you don't mind the scent of yourself.