Looking for a safe, but effective way to keep cats away? Either because you want to prevent an intruder cat from leaving “one of his gifts” in your garden, or because like many dog owners you prefer to avoid possible fights between your pet and the neighbor’s cat, here we recommend some best homemade cat repellents that are worth it.

What are the best remedies to scare cats? What is its repellent effect? Are they totally safe or is there a risk of poisoning? To know all this and more, keep reading below …

Note: During the writing of this article, different specialized sources were consulted in order to establish the safety of certain ingredients as a cat repellent.

The best homemade cat repellents (smell)

The first thing you should know is that not all homemade repellants work the same for all cats. It is known that what is totally unpleasant for some may not be so for others. Don’t be discouraged if you need to experiment a bit before finding the perfect homemade cat repellent.

The sensitivity to odors in cats is said to be 40 times that of humans. That is why the vast majority of natural repellants are based on the use of substances and ingredients that can affect a cat’s smell and irritate his mucous membranes.

That said, let’s see how to prepare 6 repellent sprays for cats, especially effective if you are looking for a solution for outdoor use …

1. Vinegar and water repellent

In a spray container, combine apple cider vinegar, and water in equal parts. Shake to blend well, and spray the mixture around or any other desired area. Frequent re-spraying is recommended to keep the repellent effect active.

Using diluted vinegar is considered safe for cats, dogs, and other pets in the home.

2. Homemade garlic, lemon, and cinnamon repellent

The combination of garlic, cinnamon, and lemon is another simple alternative that serves as a deterrent. Crush 1-2 garlic cloves very well and add them to a liter of hot water; now add the juice of 1 lemon and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon.

Stir and let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours. Then strain this solution and pour it into a spray bottle. The result will be a powerful repellent for cats.

Note: some people use to add pepper to this mixture; if you do, be sure to add a very small dose. Cases of cats seriously affected by pepper have been reported.

Cats are strongly repelled by the smell of citrus, onion, and raw garlic.

3. Repellent infusion of rosemary

The rosemary plant is a great natural repellent for cats. It is recommended to use a concentrated infusion of fresh rosemary and water, spraying it on the desired areas. If you prefer, you can place rosemary plants at strategic points around the house.

Note: if you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can use a few drops of rosemary essential oil to prepare the mixture.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), rosemary is considered an anon-toxic plant for dogs, cats, and horses.

4. Citrus repellent and rosemary extract

As mentioned above, cats do not tolerate the smell of citrus or rosemary, which is why it is a good idea to combine them to obtain a safe, but high-potency repellent.

Extract the juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange to pour into a spray container; Add 4-5 drops of rosemary oil and fill the bottle with water. Shake well to integrate the ingredients and spray generously around the surroundings, repeating 1-2 times a day.

Don’t miss out on the lemon and orange peels. Infused with a strong citrus scent, they will also help keep cats away if you spread them on the ground, on top of trees and fences.

5. Citronella oil

Citronella oil is a homemade repellent for cats with which many people have had success. Although citronella is often used as a mosquito repellent, cats are also disturbed by it.

It is recommended to mix one part citronella oil with four parts water and spray generously on the most problematic access areas.

Citronella oil, a natural substance that originally comes from Sri Lanka, is one of those scents that is unpleasant for the vast majority of cats.

6. Dishwasher, eucalyptus, and lemon

This is said to be another of the best cat repellants or anti-cat remedies. Although dish detergent is used, it is still safe, as well as effective, to keep them away.

Fill a spray container with water, add 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent, 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil, and 10 drops of lemon essential oil. Cover and shake well to integrate ingredients before using.

More anti-cat repellants (touch)

These cats can be scared away not only with the help of unpleasant odors. If you want even better results, you can combine any of the above remedies with some tricks whose success lies in the sense of touch.

For example:

Lay ropes

Something as simple as a rope has been known to keep them away. Placing ropes along the ground, or on top of a fence or fence, will make the cat uncomfortable walking on it and therefore discourage crossing.

Apply oil

In case you want to prevent cats from crossing over a chain-link fence, the generous application of some oil or slippery substance is another effective method that you can use.

Place pine cones, pebbles, gravel, or stones

Cats hate walking on rough-textured surfaces. Keep these intruders at bay by placing multiple rows around the house with whatever option you have on hand.

Place ground coffee with citrus peels

This method is doubly effective, since on the one hand it provides intense and dissuasive odors, and on the other, the typical rough texture hated by cats. Prepare a mixture of ground coffee with pieces of citrus peel and spread it on the desired areas.