Q&A for How to Make Homemade Cat Repellent

I believe the most effective way of keeping cats off your property is to keep food out of your yard. Also, make sure your garbage is secure so that pets and wildlife aren't finding anything interesting in your property. If there's nothing to be found, these cats won't bother you anymore.

You can try odor-based deterrents, such as orange peels or mothballs. Certain plants, like the “scaredy cat plant” (Coleus canina) may also repel cats. If that doesn’t work, you can try installing a motion-activated sprinkler or putting a bristly “scat mat” around your garden bed to make it less appealing to cats.

There are a variety of electronic cat repellents on the market, and how effective they are may depend on the individual cat. Ultrasonic cat deterrents are effective for many cats, but your cat may get used to the sound after a while. There are also mats or pads available that deliver a very mild electric current if the cat steps on it (strong enough to startle the cat without hurting it).

For keeping cats away from furniture, you need to pick a repellent that smells bad to cats, but not to humans! Try a citrus-based repellent to give your furniture a fresh scent while also keeping cats away. You may want to test it in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t damage the upholstery.

It could. Citrus scents in general are unpleasant to cats.

Pour the pepper and water mixture through a coffee filter or a scrap of cotton fabric.

Try different cat repellents to see which one works best. If you have a garden or plants, the lemon and eucalyptus solution may be best as it doesn't harm plants.

Cats can be a nuisance to some people, even to a cat lover on occasion. They leave their feces in gardens, they dig things up (like plants) and they may go after birds. They can be loud and noisy, having cat fights during the nighttime and they can upset people who don't much like cats. You may even wish to keep them off one area of a garden but be happy to have them roam in other parts.

The cinnamon might, but the others not so much. Perhaps the acid from lemon juice could, but since a number of homemade cleaning solutions contain lemon juice, it's not likely. If you're concerned, test a small patch first. That said, don't spray fabrics, there is always a risk of staining where fabrics are involved.

You can put a scratching post very close to the door frame or a coarse (non cotton) doormat, that works for me with my cats. Also, don't forget to apply catnip to the post or mat to attract your cat.

Invest in decent scratching posts; they might help. It is normal for cats to scratch. The trouble is getting them to scratch in the right places.

Clean the areas thoroughly so the cat won't smell that he's previously gone to the bathroom in the area. Next, apply one of the repellents to the area to keep him away. You should reapply weekly, though if it rains, you should spray the area again.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a non-toxic, completely pet safe solution for ridding your home and your pet's bedding from fleas and other pests. It's best to get a duster to apply it (wear a mask). You'll want to apply a light dusting, not a thick layer. Any pest that encounters it will dehydrate and die. Make sure you get food grade, not pool grade, DE. Apply it at doorways, windows, between and under appliances, near pet dishes, anywhere pests can be a problem. As it's non-toxic, pets can lick it off of their paws and you don't need to worry. It can even be taken internally for parasites.

Cats like crawling into the engine because it's warm, and they like warm places to sleep. You can try cooling down the engine faster by putting a fan there, or you can try any of the methods above.

Body language is key. They most likely won't approach you, and if they do, making yourself appear larger (stand up straight, square shoulders) will convey the "don't mess with me" message. Avoid making direct eye contact, as this is a sign that you are attempting to start a fight. If eye contact is accidentally made, blink slowly. This is a sign of trust and respect in the cat world. If a cat approaches you, stand perfectly still. Allow it to rub against you. DO NOT kick or hit it, it will attack your hand/foot/arm/leg out of fear. If the animal does make an aggressive advance, back away slowly, avoid eye contact, do not lash out unless the cat attempts to injure you.

Assuming you've already taken the kitten to the vet to make sure it doesn't have any medical problems, I would suggest getting a shallower litter pan if you have one that's deep/normal depth. Kittens have tiny legs, and they don't like the idea of jumping into a poop box without knowing if they're going to land on poop. If this doesn't work, consider any reasons why your cat may be territorial, such as other cats, dogs, or people who it sees as a threat. If your cat is declawed, there is a small chance that the declawing was botched. This would cause substantial pain, particularly for a youngster. Talk to your vet if you're still concerned.

After a rain storm, or as soon a you see the cats in your garden.

It shouldn't. Vinegar is a natural air sanitizer, and the odor shouldn't linger.

Try putting chicken wire in the pots. You can cut the wire to fit around the plant.

Once a week, after rain, and after the furniture gets washed, whichever comes first.

It may deter the other animals from the area that you spray (if you spray your door, you may find that the dog won't want to use that door anymore) but it shouldn't hurt them. Obviously, never spray anything except certified products meant for the specific animal you are dealing with, as certain chemicals and substances can damage their skin or fur in concentrated amounts or when used incorrectly. However, if you have other animals, look up the ingredients to make sure they aren't poisonous to them.

Ammonia may repel some cats, but it isn't effective on all cats.

The vinegar repellent is sometimes effective with dogs.

If you are worried about wildlife being harmed, you can use the more natural mixtures such as essential oils.

They should be safe on soft-top, but you should test the repellents in an inconspicuous spot on the roof to ensure that they won't stain the fabric.

It's a natural remedy, so you will have to reapply quite often, about once a week.

Yes. If you have a lot of strays in your area, consider calling in a catch-and-release program to get them spayed/neutered to reduce the problem in the future, fix aggressive/noisy behavior, and reduce spraying/defecating.

No, these repellents won't kill your cat. However, you should never apply them directly to the cats because the ingredients may sting their eyes and cause other harm.

Pepper has been found to be harmful to cats and other animals. The recipe that uses pepper SHOULD NOT be used to deter cats.

Unfortunately, yes. Vinegar is an excellent plant killer, so if you have plants, go with citrus repellents instead.