Buzz
Whether you’re a cat lover or not, it’s likely that you’ve been annoyed by cats making a mess in places they shouldn’t. This could be in your beloved garden, with indoor plants, or even your couch in the living room. And if a mischievous cat scratches or urinates in inappropriate spots, it can be quite bothersome. Fortunately, there are many natural ingredients that can be used to create homemade cat repellents. Strong-scented substances like essential oils, citrus peels, vinegar, lemongrass oil, pepper, and garlic can effectively keep cats away. Most cat repellents can be used both indoors and outdoors, but it’s a good idea to test them on fabric or delicate items first to ensure they won’t stain.
Ingredients
Cat Repellent Solution Made from Essential Oils
- 2 drops of lemon essential oil
- 2 drops of orange essential oil
- 2 drops of lavender essential oil
- Water
Cat repellent solution made from vinegar
- 1 part vinegar
- 1 part liquid hand soap
- 1 part water
Cat repellent solution made from citrus fruits like oranges and lemons
- 2 cups (480 ml) of water
- 1 cup (100 g) of orange, lemon, and/or tangerine peel
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of lemon juice
- Dishwashing liquid with lemon scent
Cat repellent solution made from lemongrass oil
- 20 drops of lemongrass oil
- ¾ cup (180 ml) of water
Cat repellent solution made from garlic, pepper, and lemon
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) of cinnamon powder
- 1 crushed garlic clove
- 3 - 4 drops of lemon essential oil
- Water
Steps
Making a cat repellent solution using essential oils
Add essential oils to the spray bottle. To create this cat repellent, you'll need a 60 ml glass spray bottle. Add 2 drops of lemon essential oil, 2 drops of wild orange essential oil, and 2 drops of lavender essential oil to the bottle.
- Cats are more sensitive to smells than humans, so strong fragrances like citrus and lavender oils can repel them. If preferred, you can substitute with peppermint and/or eucalyptus oils instead of lemon, wild orange, and lavender.
- It’s essential to use a glass spray bottle because essential oils can degrade when stored in plastic ones.
Fill the spray bottle with water and shake to mix the oils. Once you’ve added the essential oils, fill the bottle with water. Tighten the cap and shake it thoroughly until the oils dissolve into the water.
- You don’t need to use filtered or distilled water; regular tap water will work perfectly fine.
Spray the mixture where you want to keep cats away. Once the water and oils have combined, spray the mixture in the areas where you want to deter cats. This blend is particularly effective if you have houseplants and want to keep cats from approaching them.
- Be careful not to spray it on carpets, curtains, or other fabric items, as the oils may stain them. Test it on a small, hidden section of fabric first to ensure it won’t damage the material.
Create a cat repellent solution using vinegar.
Pour vinegar and water into the spray bottle. To prepare the cat repellent solution, you will need a spray bottle. Add one part vinegar and one part water, then shake it well to mix them together.
- Use white vinegar for this solution.
- Tap water, filtered water, purified water, or bottled water can be used.
- You may use either a plastic or glass spray bottle for the mixture.
Pour dish soap into the spray bottle and shake the mixture well. Once the vinegar and water are mixed, add some liquid dish soap to the spray bottle. Shake it thoroughly to ensure the soap blends completely with the vinegar mixture.
- You can use any liquid hand soap, but it's best to choose a transparent one for this recipe.
Spray or wipe the mixture on areas where you want to keep cats away. Once the vinegar, water, and soap have fully blended, spray the mixture on the areas you wish to keep free of cats. You can spray directly from the bottle or pour some onto a cloth and wipe the surfaces.
- This mixture can be used both indoors and outdoors to deter cats.
Make a cat repellent solution with orange and lemon peels.
Boil the water. Pour 2 cups (480 ml) of water into a medium-sized pot. Heat the water over medium to high heat until it reaches a boil, which should take about 5-7 minutes.
- You can use regular tap water for boiling.
Add the orange and lemon peels and simmer. Once the water is boiling, add 1 cup (100 g) of orange, lemon, and/or tangerine peels to the pot. Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Cats dislike citrus scents, so any mixture of orange, lemon, and/or tangerine peels totaling 1 cup (100 g) will be effective.
- When the mixture starts boiling again, reduce the heat to a simmer.
Allow the mixture to cool and transfer it into a spray bottle. After simmering for 20 minutes, turn off the heat. Let the mixture cool for about 30 minutes before pouring it into the spray bottle.
- If the citrus peels form large clumps, you can strain them out to make it easier to pour the mixture into the bottle.
Add lemon juice and dish soap, then shake well to mix. Once the mixture is in the spray bottle, pour in 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of lemon juice and a bit of lemon-scented dish soap. Shake the bottle well to ensure all ingredients blend together.
- You can substitute orange juice for lemon, but remember to use freshly squeezed juice.
- Any clear dish soap works, but lemon-scented soap is most effective since cats dislike citrus scents.
Spray the mixture in key areas around the house. After the ingredients have mixed well, spray the mixture in all areas of the house where you want to keep cats away. You can spray the floors, walls, and even furniture.
- For safety, it’s best to first test the spray on a hidden spot of furniture to ensure it doesn’t damage the items.
Make a cat repellent solution using citronella oil
Fill a spray bottle with water. To create this cat repellent mixture, you’ll need a glass spray bottle. Pour in enough water to fill the bottle almost to the top.
- Tap water, filtered water, distilled water, and bottled water are all suitable for this cat repellent mixture.
- The glass spray bottle helps maintain the quality of the mixture since oils may degrade when stored in plastic bottles.
Pour citronella oil into the spray bottle and shake well. After filling the spray bottle nearly to the top with water, add 20 drops of citronella oil. Shake it thoroughly to mix the oil with the water.
- Similar to citrus essential oils and other types of essential oils, citronella has a strong scent that cats find unpleasant. This mixture also acts as a natural insect repellent.
Spray the mixture in areas around the house and outdoors. Once the citronella oil is properly mixed with water, spray the solution in any area where you want to keep cats away. It can be used both indoors and outdoors, but remember to reapply outdoors after rain.
- If you're applying citronella in places where cats tend to urinate, it’s important to clean the area thoroughly before using the mixture.
Prepare a cat repellent solution using garlic, pepper, and lemon
Mix pepper, mustard, and cinnamon in the spray bottle. To create this cat repellent solution, you'll need a 60 ml glass spray bottle. Add 1 teaspoon (2 g) of black pepper, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of dry mustard, and 1 teaspoon (3 g) of cinnamon to the bottle.
- If you prefer, you can replace black pepper with cayenne pepper.
Add essential oils and garlic. After adding the spices into the spray bottle, crush a garlic clove and add it to the mixture. Next, squeeze in 3-4 drops of lemon essential oil and shake gently to combine all the ingredients.
- If you don't have fresh garlic, you can substitute it with 1/8 teaspoon (1/2 g) of garlic powder.
- Wild orange or grapefruit essential oils can be used as alternatives to lemon essential oil.
Pour water into the bottle and shake well. Once you’ve mixed all the spices and oils in the spray bottle, fill it up with water. Shake the bottle vigorously to make sure the ingredients are fully combined.
- Tap water works effectively in this recipe.
Spray the mixture on outdoor areas. Once the spray bottle is filled with the solution, apply it to outdoor areas where you want to keep cats away. This recipe is particularly helpful when spraying on garden soil, bushes, and other plants.
- You can also use this mixture to prevent cats from approaching indoor plants.
Tips
- Chopped citrus peels scattered around the garden can also work to keep cats away. The peels will deter cats without harming the plants or the garden soil.
- Used coffee grounds can help keep animals out of flower beds, and they are beneficial for the plants and soil.
- Always test any homemade cat repellent mixture on a hidden part of your furniture to ensure it won’t cause discoloration. Spray a small amount of the mixture on a soft white cloth and blot it. If the color transfers to the cloth, don’t use it on upholstery.
- Make sure all ingredients are safe for animals; otherwise, the mixture could harm or even kill your pets.
Warning
- Never spray the mixture directly on cats. Some ingredients, such as citrus essential oils and black pepper, can be harmful to them. You should only apply the spray to areas where you want to keep them away.
