Cat parenting is a delight, except when your feline starts tearing up your furniture or jumping up on an expensive sofa. Luckily, with a little time and the right tools, you can teach your cat to modify unwanted behavior. While there is no single silver-bullet repellent or deterrent to help you keep the feline from scratching the furniture or carpet or staying off places like counters and kitchen tables, cat deterrent sprays can help minimize this unwanted behavior by most cats.

Types of Cat Repellent Spray

  • Pheromones: Pheromone sprays mimic the scent cats deposit when they mark territory. This produces a calming sensation. If your cat’s misbehavior is due to a stressful situation (i.e., moving, a new animal in the house, etc.), these cat deterrent sprays are the ideal choice.
  • Sound: Before you panic about claxons going off through the house, the sound is no more than the hiss of air releasing from the can. Cats get startled by the resulting puff of air, avoiding the area.
  • Smell: Cats have sensitivities to certain smells, which is how these cat deterrent sprays work. Often based on lavender, rosemary, thyme, or eucalyptus, they create a barrier your cat won’t want to pass. However, keep in mind that not every smell deters every cat.

Natural Cat Deterrents

When it comes to your porch, garden, or yard, you aren’t limited, either. Plenty of natural plants make lovely additions to your landscaping while offending sensitive kitty noses:

  • Citronella: We love the citrus scent – but to cats? Citrus is the WORST. This also has the bonus of keeping mosquitos at bay!
  • Lavender: A common herb used in soaps and potpourri, the flower is horrid to cats.
  • Pennyroyal: Part of the mint family (like catnip), cats DON’T enjoy the scent of this particular plant.
  • Peppermint: You got it: some mints are feline-friendly, and others aren’t. Take it easy with peppermint, though. If it’s ingested, it turns into a toxic problem.
  • Rosemary: Having this herb around can enhance your cooking or brighten up clothes you store away. And your fluffy feline? They won’t want anything to do with it.
  • Rue: Cats won’t go near it, but YOU need to take care when handling this natural cat deterrent. Humans often end up with skin rashes.
  • Scaredy Cat Plant: Cats aren’t precisely afraid of the plant, but they HATE the smell. Of course, so do most people as they feel it smells strongly of dog urine.
  • Wintergreen: Basically, other than catnip, you can set out any mint family plants as a nice border to keep the feral felines at bay.

Cat Preparation

Even though you’re using cat deterrent sprays, make sure you clip your cat’s nails regularly. On average, cats need a nail trim every month. And make sure you have those scratching boards handy.

Have plenty of patience. Cat deterrent sprays aren’t miracles; they can take over a week to show results. Your cat’s learning a new behavior. This is negative reinforcement (not the positive reinforcement you use when clicker-training), and it’s a slow process.

Keep in mind the possibility that the misbehavior you see MAY have a root in a health concern. If the cat deterrent sprays fail, take your cat to the vet for a thorough examination.

Top 9 Cat Repellent Sprays

HAPIPET Cat Deterrent Spray

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Pleasant citrus scent for you, awful smell for your feline friend. The scent will create a No-go and No Scratch area for your pet. Use on furniture, plants, carpet, draperies, holiday decorations. Prevent pets from scratching and chewing. Suitable for anywhere you don’t want the Pets to stay. Spraying anywhere you don’t want the Pets to stay. And cooperate with the stop gesture. Recommend to spray 4 times daily for the first two weeks and then apply as needed. It need to spray repeatedly until your pets forms a conditioned reflex.



3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid with Bitter

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This 3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid with added bitters is specially formulated to train your cat or kitten to stay away from treated areas and deter them from chewing items in your house both indoors and outdoors. Discourage cats from sitting and loitering, jumping, scratching, chewing your furniture, carpet, wood flooring, and drapes within the household! Spray on areas you want to keep your cat away and not chew. Make sure to reapply every 24 hours or until the habit is broken. The application rate depends on how severe the cat’s habits are and how often the cat visits the area.



PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Dog and Cat Deterrent

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Teach your pet boundaries simply and safely with way with PetSafe SSSCAT Spray Deterrent. If your cat likes to play on your kitchen countertops or if your dog tends to sneak into the trash can, use SSSCAT spray deterrent to teach them to avoid off-limits areas around your home. When your pet is within 3 feet of the spray deterrent, the motion-activated sensor detects your pet’s movements and releases a quick burst of spray. The spray startles your pet and discourages them from staying in the off-limits area. This odorless spray is safe, harmless and does not stain surfaces. Each SSSCAT spray can contains approximately 80-100 bursts of spray. When your current can is empty, simply purchase a SSSCAT Replacement Can. Trust PetSafe to help keep your pet healthy, safe and happy.



SENTRY Pet Care Sentry Stop That!

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To modify destructive or aggressive behavior, this new product for dogs and cats combines noise and a specially-developed pheromone mist. The pheromone in the sentry Stop That! Spray mimics a natural pheromone that almost immediately calms and refocuses pets to end their negative behavior by reducing their excitability. Unlike other noise-making products that are very temporary, the spray’s pheromone mist redirects the pet’s attention and behavior. The effect is longer lasting than noise alone and helps the pet not to re-engage in the negative behavior.



Harbors Cat Repellent and Trainer – Cat Repellent Spray

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Concentrated indoor cat repellent with non-toxic three natural oils formulation. Made in the US and marketed by a family-owned business. Improved bottle and spray design. Requires only 3-4 sprays per application and three times per week initially and then as needed. Works for most indoor items – furniture, plants, countertops, cords, and draperies. Recommended to check on a small inconspicuous area for staining before using on special surfaces such as vinyl, leather and faux-leather. Safe for use around children and pets. Do not spray directly on pets and avoid contact with eyes.



SmartyKat Anti Scratch Training Aids

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The Instinct to scratch is hard-wired into cats, direct your cat away from and protect your home furnishings with Smarty Kat scratch not spray. Spray onto home furnishings to protect them from feline scratching, drapes, carpets, furniture, and beds. This SAFE and effective barrier is invisible and effective. Smarty Kat toys, beds and scratchers are designed for the needs of your cat: exercise, hunt, stimulation, interaction, scratch and comfort without forgetting about fun! Innovation and your cat’s need lead our design followed closely by Safety and environmental concerns, this product is designed to child safety standards with sustainable materials.



Four Paws Healthy Promise Dog & Cat Bitter Lime Deterrent Spray

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Give yourself some help in the behavior department with the Four Paws Healthy Promise Dog & Cat Bitter Lime Deterrent Spray. This taste deterrent will stop pets from chewing and scratching wood, furniture, other surfaces and even themselves. It’s perfectly safe for both pets and humans, and it’s easy to apply thanks to the spray bottle. Just give it a spritz anywhere that your pet likes to chew! The bitter taste will stop him from gnawing away, and he’ll soon associate that bitter taste with the surface and be trained to stop chewing for good.



MESSY PET CAT 4-in-1 Pet Training Deterrent

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Mild cat deterrent spray that keeps the cats (and dogs) away from furniture, carpet, trees, shrubs, and other forbidden areas. Made in the USA. Features a combination of 2% Methyl Nonyl Ketone that produce a long-lasting minty smell to repel cats and kittens. Lasts up to 12-24 hours on a full application. Safe for cats and kittens of all sizes and ages as well as humans. Only contains minimal human and pet-safe chemical emulsifiers in addition to the active ingredients. But do not spray directly on pets. Works best with mild-mannered cats and kittens (up to 12 lbs) and small dogs.



Bodhi Dog Cat No More Marking! Spray

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Cat No More Marking! Spray is specially formulated to train your cat or kitten to stay away from treated areas and deter them from marking in your house both indoors and outdoors. Cats are no longer attracted to previously soiled surfaces and odors are eliminated. The application removes urine marking odors. Clean the affected area, then spray Cat No More Marking! twice daily for a week. Then once daily as needed if urine marking should reoccur. Test a small inconspicuous area before using on fabrics. The application rate depends on how severe the cat’s habits are and how often the cat visits the area.