The 8 Cat Repellents of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

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K. Alex Beaven is a writer for The Spruce Pets.

In This Article

Cat repellent is a tool cat owners can use to help keep cats away from potential dangers like toxic plants or halt unwanted behaviors like scratching furniture. Cat repellent products come in several forms, from sprays, adhesive tapes or panels, and mats that release a slight static charge on contact. It’s worth keeping in mind that unlike dogs, cats often respond best to positive reinforcement, so we recommend opting for the least-negative deterrent experience possible for your situation.

Cat behaviorist, Mieshelle Nagelschneider, told The Spruce Pets she advises selecting a product that follows the LIMA (Least Invasive and Minimally Aversive) pet-training principle. "Cats don’t need much of a negative outcome to deter them from jumping up on the kitchen counters or clawing furniture,” she said. “In fact, even a minor inconvenience will usually be quite effective, and most cats will learn after three experiences with a cat deterrent."

Easy to use and target small areas

Pleasant, light rosemary scent

Effective in our testing after just three days of use

Eco-friendly pump nozzle and natural ingredients

Low value for use on large areas

Looking for all-natural and effective spray that can work on several types of material? This Pet MasterMind Claw Withdraw Scratch Deterrent Cat Spray worked impressively fast. We tested this spray with a cat prone to scratching and snagging fabric couch cushions. After spraying one of the couch cushions in question, our tester noticed their cat seemed to be drawn to the new scent for the first day, but by day three the cat was fully avoiding the area. Although we can’t promise it’ll work with your cat in just a matter of days, Pet MasterMind does say that it’ll work on most cats within about two weeks. All you have to do is start by spraying your target area a few times a day for the first week, and then gradually do fewer and fewer sprays as your cat begins to avoid the area.

We particularly like this cat repellent spray because it’s made from only three ingredients— water, a rosemary-based herbal blend, and a paraben-free preservative—making it a safe and eco-friendly option you can feel good about using. While the cat had a different opinion, our tester appreciated the light scent left behind by the spray. We also appreciate that it can also be used on all types of fabrics and surfaces from carpet to leather (though we recommend doing a spot test to be sure it doesn’t leave any water stains). This natural, non-toxic, no-scratch spray is noted as being safe to use for all cat life stages, so if you notice your kitten is growing into some bad habits, this spray can help you get a jump on the issue early on. It’s also safe for use with senior cats, who may pick up new scratching behaviors later in life.

Size: 4 or 8 ounces | Active ingredient: Astragalus and rosemary herbal blend

Made with natural ingredients

Safe for pets and kids

Can be used indoor or outdoors

Citronella oil may also keep mosquitos at bay

Hand-grip nozzle with two spray options

Pricier option available with one size option

This organic spray uses peppermint and citronella oils to naturally repel cats and other small animals from targeted areas. It can be used in indoor and outdoor spaces, and we appreciate that the formula is safe for pets, plants, and kids. The hand-grip spray nozzle is a cinch to use and you’re able to control the spray to make it either a mist (for broad coverage) or a stream (for more targeted application).

To use, you’ll want to liberally apply the spray wherever you’re looking to deter cats away from, like dangerous indoor plants, landscaping, or entrypoint to under the house. For the first week, it’s recommended to spray multiple times a day to clearly mark the area, gradually decrease over the next week, and “touch up” at least once or twice every two weeks from then on out. Our biggest qualm with this spray is that you’ll likely go through a lot of product in the initial week, making it a fairly pricey option even though it’s sold in 32-ounce bottles. As a bonus, the citronella oil ingredient may also help to deter mosquitos, too.

Size: 32 ounces | Active ingredient: Peppermint oil, citronella oil

Easy-to-use aerosol spray with good coverage

Works almost immediately

Works by confusing your cat’s sense of smell

Daily reapplication needed

Strong smell

We tested this lower-priced aerosol spray with a cat our tester was trying to keep off of the TV stand. During testing, our tester sprayed the Four Paws Keep Off! Cat Repellent Spray on a towel and then placed the towel on the TV table. It did the trick—their cat almost immediately avoided the area—but our tester found the scent to be overpowering themselves.

Our tester said they appreciated how easy it was to use the aerosol spray and that it has good coverage, but because of the “stinky” quality and since this spray needs to be reapplied every 24 hours to remain effective, they recommend sticking to the outside use only. We also want to flag that this repellent uses chemicals, mainly methyl nonyl ketone, which confuses your cat’s sense of smell. This is a mildly toxic chemical that is deemed safe for cats with proper use, but we advise against using it as a deterrent for anything that your cat may be ingesting.

Size: 6 and 10 ounces | Active ingredient: Methyl nonyl ketone

Quickly covers large outdoor areas

Effective for up to three days in our real world testing

Dries odorless (for humans)

Works on several species

Strong chemical scent before drying

The Safer Brand Critter Ridder Animal Repellent is formulated specifically for outdoor use, and will deter cats as well as other animals like skunks and dogs, raccoons, and squirrels. One bottle is enough to cover 320 square feet. The manufacturer claims a 30-day effective period, but during real-world tests of our own, we found it only effectively repelled critters for up to three days.

During our testing period, we applied the spray to an outdoor stoop and front door entryway, two popular escape routes for our cat. The cat immediately froze upon approaching the sprayed areas and distanced themselves from the treated area. Although this spray dries odorless, we noticed the spray initially has a strong chemical smell. This spray works by combining a combination of bad-smelling and terrible-tasting ingredients, ranging from rotten eggs and dried blood to black pepper. It also contains capsaicin, a chili pepper derivative, so be sure not to inhale anything during application. It’s also available in granule form.

Type: Spray | Size: 32 ounces | Active repellent: Dried blood, putrescent egg, garlic, black pepper oil, capsaicin

The Spruce Pets

Easy to apply and can be cut to desired dimensions

Effectively keeps cats from clawing fabric surfaces

No smells or liquids

Wears out quickly in high traffic areas of a home

Not appropriate for leather or faux leather

The Stelucca Amazing Shields Cat Scratch Deterrent is a highly effective, chemical-free cat deterrent designed to protect upholstered furniture pieces from becoming your cat's manicurists.

Each transparent sheet has a sticky side that can be applied to a variety of fabrics but is not recommended for use on real or faux leather. We found it easy to adhere and it successfully protected the side of an armchair from the fury of our cat's claws. These shields felt more substantial than others that we tested, but they are still flexible and can easily be cut to size with a standard pair of scissors. After a few days in high-traffic areas, we did notice some gaps where the adhesive was starting to wear, but the protection was still intact.

From playtime to survival, a cat's claws are their essential multipurpose tools and they instinctually seek out surfaces to claw to keep their nails filed and healthy. It's important to have designated areas, like a scratching post, and interactive toys, so your cat can safely unfurl their claws when the mood strikes.

Type: Adhesive shield | Size: 17 x 12 inches | Active Repellent: Translucent panel

The Spruce Pets / Frances Crouter

Natural repellent that doubles as decor

Can be used indoors or outdoors

Low maintenance

Doubles as a treat for your cat

Only works in limited situations

Can be unreliable with fickle cats

We never recommend having plants that can be toxic to a cat in your home environment, but if your cat likes to nibble on plants, one of the best ways to deter them can actually be to distract them with something more enticing. We spoke to a holistic vet, Dr. Angie Krause, who told The Spruce Pets cat-attracting plants—like the catmint bush—can be used as a repellent for chronic munchers.

The idea is that instead of nibbling on the variety of houseplants or outdoor plants, the attracting catmint will redirect your cat’s attention and give them a plant that your cat can safely and expectedly munch away at. Plus, the catmint plant has a nice lemony scent, can be planted outdoors or potted indoors, and is easy to care for. It will also double as a treat for your cat. The downside is that redirection isn’t 100 percent effective and it may not work all the time since cats are notoriously curious and fickle.

Type: Distract | Size: N/A | Active Repellent: Catmint

Quick fix

Multiple uses

Inexpensive

Looks obvious

Completely covers surfaces

There’s something about the combination of texture, sound, and shiny surface area that absolutely grates on cats, and they will actively avoid it, at least for a little bit. Cats have sensitive hearing, and the crinkle of foil is incredibly dissonant for them. Additionally, the reflective surface may trick cats into thinking that the foil is a shallow pool of water.

Cats jumping on the kitchen counter? Slap down some aluminum foil and they likely will learn their lesson within their next few jumps. You can also lay foil down in front of areas you want the cat to stop getting into. However, this convenient and inexpensive solution isn’t a fail-safe deterrent as some cats will only be temporarily off-put by aluminum foil and no longer avoid it once they know it’s not a threat. It’s also not a good long-term solution since it sticks out like a sore thumb and requires you to cover a surface, leaving it unusable.

Type: Cover | Size: Custom | Active repellent: Aluminum foil

Cats are individuals when it comes to many things, and while testing cat repellents, we found different cats responded to different deterrents. That said, we think the Pet MasterMind Claw Withdraw Cat Spray is a great place to start. This is an all-natural spray that uses herbal scents that cats dislike, and it can safely be sprayed on plants, countertops, couches, and more. Since cats often respond poorly to negative reinforcement, positive redirection can be a useful repellent tool, such as setting up cat-attracting plants like the catmint plant near off-limits spaces.

We purchased 18 cat repellents to see how well they could keep curious cats at bay in real homes. For two weeks, we observed the effectiveness of each product, paying close attention to our participating cats' reactions and behavior adjustments. We also took note of our own feelings towards the cat repellent and any lingering residue left behind or obnoxious smells emitted.

Our testers gave feedback ratings for their experience with each product’s effectiveness, ease of use, and value points while also giving detailed feedback and insights on exactly how the product was tested in their homes and behavior of their cats.

“Being the sensitive creatures that cats are, a mild deterrent is not only usually enough, but doesn’t need to be used for very long due to their shallow learning curve,” Nagelschneider told The Spruce Pets. “A cat repellent should also be remote, so the cat owners are not involved. We don’t want the cat to endure the stress of their cat owner deterring them. Yelling at your cat or squirting them with a squirt gun can break the cat/human animal bond and increase stress, lead to aggression issues, create owner absent behavior (i.e. clawing your favorite chair when you’re not around) and even create new stress-related behaviors (like chewing on the wicker basket).”

First clearly identify the behaviors you’re trying to deter. Some products focus on just one or two of the undesired behaviors while others address them all. Decide whether you’re trying to prevent lounging, scratching, chewing or spraying, then ensure the product specifically addresses that behavior.

Sticky tape or protective plastic barriers can prevent lounging and scratching but won’t help with spraying. Sprays and pellets can contain ingredients that have a foul smell to keep animals away from a particular area and/or contain bittering agents that will prevent chewing. If the product label does not mention the specific behavior you’re trying to prevent, keep looking for one that does.

The first determination is whether you need an indoor or outdoor product—or one that can be used in both locations. Some products can only be used indoors because they do not hold up to the weather or rely on concentrated odor as a deterrent. Others may need to be plugged into an electric outlet or can only be used outdoors because the smell is unpleasant to humans, or the ingredients are not appropriate for application to furniture and fabrics.

Read the label thoroughly before you purchase to make sure it is appropriate for the surfaces you want to protect. Whenever using a new product on objects such as furniture, painted surfaces, curtains, rugs, or decking, always spot test a small and unnoticeable area for staining and odor acceptability. If the area is negatively affected by the spray, you can apply it onto a piece of cloth or towel, let dry and then place it onto the area you want protected.

Consider how much space you’re trying to protect and whether you’ll need to treat the area just once, daily or weekly. Are you trying to keep feral cats from using your flowerbed as a litter box or just trying to keep your tenacious kitty off your grandmother’s antique chair? Some cat repellents are designed to cover small areas—a few feet, at most—while others can cover up to 3,000 square feet or more. Some can be applied just once (thoroughly) while others require multiple, consistent applications to truly break the habit.

Many sprays and pellets are sold in a variety of volumes and sizes so check the label to ensure you’re getting enough product to ensure you can follow application recommendations for the best chance at success.

For large outdoor areas, consider motion or infrared activated repellents that use sound, water, flashing lights or a combination of all three. However, cats are cunning and can often figure out through trial and error where the edge of coverage is. Then they just modify their path to avoid triggering sensors. To avoid this phenomenon, you might need to reposition or move the sensor regularly to keep the cat guessing.

“Yes, the ones that work do,” says Nagelschneider. “You also need to use the right deterrent for the job. Bitter apple spray may work well to keep a cat from chewing on electrical cords but spraying a product like this or other scent deterrent products along the perimeter of your lawn will not keep an outside a cat away. They will walk right over them.”

“We have been recommending these for many years to deter outside cats from entering your property,” says Nagelschneider. “However, these should never be used inside the home and they will need to be turned off if/when your inside cat goes outside.”

This story was updated by K. Alex Beaven, a freelance writer for The Spruce Pets and lifelong cat owner. Alex updated the article with additional research and The Spruce Pets’ at-home product testing insights. Other stories Alex has written for The Spruce Pets include The Best Kitten Foods, The Best Cat Glove Brushes, and Best Lickable Cat Treats.

A previous version of this story was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had at least two cat and two dog companions in her home for the past 35 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in biology and a Master’s degree in environmental science with an emphasis on toxicology.

For expert input, The Spruce Pets spoke with Dr. Angie Krause, a veterinarian at Boulder Holistic Vet, and cat behaviorist Mieshelle Nagelschneider of The Cat Behavior Clinic.