Homemade Cat Repellents

There are places you want your cat to be: in your lap, at the foot of the bed or ensconced in that fancy, fleecy bed you bought last year. But there are other places where your cat is not as welcome, such as the vegetable garden, anywhere within 10 feet of your new couch or the kitchen countertops. You can keep even the most determined cat out of these off-limits areas with a few tried-and-true cat repellents.

  1. In The Garden

    • If cats are digging in your garden beds, line the area with wire mesh and lightly cover the area with mulch. Unable to dig in any meaningful way, cats will move to softer and more yielding surfaces.

      Cats find certain smells repellent, and this can be used to your gardening advantage. Sprinkle citrus peels around your plants and other off-limit areas. You can also purchase citrus oils to make your own cat-repellent sachets that can be tied to low hanging branches. If your plants are acid lovers like azaleas or blueberry bushes, a spray of white vinegar on the surrounding soil will deter cats.
      Certain plants deter cats, too. Rue, lavender, peppermint and a new introduction, the Coleus Canina, are all believed to be cat repellents.

    Furniture and Countertops

    • To protect your furniture from the ravages of clawing, line the vulnerable areas with several thicknesses of aluminum foil or double-stick tape. Cats do not like the feel of either of these materials. For added protection, a lemon oil spray or sachet can be added to your defenses.

      If possible, allow your cat access to the room only when it is occupied. Keep a spray bottle or water pistol handy--and use it. An unexpected spritz of water is unpleasant for your cat, and if used consistently, an excellent deterrent. After several well-aimed squirts, your cat will learn to avoid the couch.

      The spray bottle approach works for countertops, too. Another effective counter protector is the plastic drop cloth. Line the countertop with a plastic drop cloth for several days. Your cat will come to believe that there will always be a plastic drop cloth draped over your beautiful kitchen countertops and stop jumping up.

    Boogie Bass

    • The next time you are at a yard sale, keep your eyes open for the infamous Boogie Bass, an inexplicably popular novelty item from the late 1990s. The Boogie Bass was a motion-activated fish that moved to the beat as it sang song parodies. The Boogie Bass can be strategically placed to deter your cat with sound and motion. If you already own a Boogie Bass, all the better.