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.
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.
Scatter orange and lemon peels (cats dislike citrus smells), cayenne pepper, chili pepper flakes, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, or mustard oil.
If there's a particular piece of furniture you want to get your cat to stop scratching or to never start scratching in the first place, try covering the area with double-sided “sticky” tape, aluminum foil, or even cellophane. These are all surfaces that most cats don't like the feel (or sound) of under their paws.
Cats Hate the Look, Feel and Sound of “Tin” Foil
Aluminum foil also has some unique properties that make it particularly alarming to cats upon their first encounter. When moved, bent, or stepped on, the foil has a very distinct high-pitched crinkling sound.
Since most cats dislike the way aluminum foil feels and sounds under their paws, it can be an effective deterrent for keeping them off of a surface you don't want them to walk on.
Aluminum foil: Many cats don't like how aluminum foil feels or the sound it makes when they land on it. Even more, cats are actually afraid of it. Taping some strips of aluminum foil on your counters or placing it on the furniture you want your cat to avoid might do the trick.
Instead, choose one of the following fabrics, which look great and work well for cat parents: Microfiber. Faux suede. Denim.
First, dilute the vinegar in water using a 50/50 ratio. Next, spray a very small amount on any furniture that you cat is known scratch. The strong odor of the vinegar should deter them from scratching.
To prevent your cat from scratching hard surfaces around you home, dab the areas with a little Vicks VapoRub. Cats don't like the smell and will stay away from the area.
Humane deterrents are the best approach.... Smells that repel cats: To keep cats out of yards or gardens, plant the herb rue or sprinkle dried rue. Citrus or lemon scents (orange peels, lemon peels), garlic, ammonia, vinegar, coffee grinds, pipe tobacco, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus all deter cats as well.
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.
It has a strange sound
And believe it or not, aluminum foil actually makes high-pitched sounds that humans can't hear but your cat definitely can. “Cats have extremely acute hearing, and the strange crinkly noise that the foil makes when touched can be irritating to their ears,” Dr. Conrad told The Dodo.
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.
Quick Solutions: Scatter fresh orange and lemon peels or spray with citrus scented fragrances. Coffee grounds, vinegar, pipe tobacco, oil of lavender, lemongrass, citronella or eucalyptus also deter cats.
Cats should not really consume vinegar in more than the smallest quantity, as it's highly acidic. You should not give your cat anything seasoned with vinegar; although small quantities aren't harmful, it could upset her stomach. Vinegar as a cleaning product is safe to use around cats.
Keeping Fleas and Ticks Away
To make your own flea and tick repellent, mix one part vinegar with one part water and spray it on your pet's fur. You can also add a few drops of vinegar to your pet's drinking water to help repel fleas and ticks from the inside out.
While the smell of vinegar can be strong, it's nothing like the chemical/perfume smell of many cleansers that will irritate my asthma. If you're wondering if vinegar is safe for cats, the answer is yes, it is safe to use as a cleanser in cat households to clean everyday messes without dangerous chemicals.
Leather furniture is nice to own but can be easily ripped to shreds by a pair of feline paws. Leather or not, cats usually find a way to scratch furniture if the correct preventative measures are not taken to curb this behavior.
Fabrics on which hair does not stick are fabrics such as chiffon, silk and satin, microfiber, suede, leather, linen, and denim, as well as tightly woven fabrics. To repel hair, smooth and slippery materials are best, and also watch out that they do not produce static electricity, so be careful with synthetic fabrics.
Most cats do not like the sticky sensation. After a few days, you should be able to remove the covering but your cat will still stay away. – Aluminum Foil. Instead of plastic wrap and tape, use foil.
In the home, cats are often scared of noisy household appliances, especially if they didn't become accustomed to them as young kittens. Vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, printers, washing machines and hairdryers are common culprits.
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.
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.