Cat Repellent Ingredients

Cat repellent is a useful tool to keep cats away from areas. You can buy commercial cat repellents or prepare your own at home. Dispense them via spray bottle or can, or sprinkle them around particular areas you want your cat to avoid. Whether store bought or homemade, most cat repellents contain commonly found ingredients.

  1. Water

    • Water is the base of most cat repellents. Water adds an element of moisture and also gives the other ingredients a place to combine. Water is such an effective repellent for cats--because most cats really hate getting wet--that by itself it can be used as a repellent.

    Hot Pepper

    • Hot pepper, such as cayenne pepper, is often used to deter cats. Combine cayenne pepper with other ingredients to create a spray repellent, or like water, sprinkle it alone around off-limits areas. Cayenne or other hot peppers create an element of heat when touched, tasted or sniffed by cats--and cats find this heat unpleasant. Hot peppers are a controversial ingredient for cat repellents, however, as they may cause tenderness of the paws or eyes and respiratory damage if not used properly.

    Ginger

    • Cats dislike the taste and smell of ginger. Ginger is also non-toxic to cats, so if they ingest it or get it on their face, it will not harm them. This makes it an excellent ingredient for gentle cat repellents.

    Rosemary

    • The pungent aroma of rosemary is unappealing to cats. When they smell rosemary in an area or on an object, they are naturally inclined to avoid the area or object. Rosemary is also safe for cats, so you can repel them without harming them.

    Essential Oils

    • Essential oils are toxic to cats when ingested, but when they are diluted and used in repellent formulas they are safe and effective. Essential oils often used in cat repellents are citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and lemongrass oil.

    Citrus

    • Cats hate the smell of citrus. Citrus juices, oils and peels are very effective when used in cat repellents. Citrus is safe for cats and will not harm them, but they find it so unpleasant that they choose to avoid it.