The 8 Best Cat Repellents of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Spray

NaturVet Bitter Yuck! No Chew Spray

$14 At Amazon $18 At Chewy $14 At PETCO

This no-biting spray focuses on deterring your cat from chewing on furniture and wounds by leaving a bitter-tasting residue on the target area. The rosemary-based formula was developed with vets and can be sprayed on top of topical medications and bandages as an added protection for healing stitches or sores. It also works on furniture, won’t stain fabrics, and can be used safely around plants. This will need to be continually reapplied as it fades or gets washed off, and it may take several applications to drive the message home with your cat. As with most natural products, effectiveness will vary. We like that it can be used indoors and outdoors, but beware of spraying in small spaces, as the rosemary scent can be strong even after drying.

_{Type: Spray | Size: 8, 16, and 32 ounces | Active repellent: Rosemary}

Best Tape

Sofisti-Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape

$10 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

Sofisti Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape is a double-sided tape that is safe to apply throughout surfaces in a home including drapes, upholstery, and walls. It can be purchased as a 15-foot roll of tape or as a pack of 15 x 12-inch sheets.

We used the roll to deter a cat from scratching at a wooden door and doorframe. The tape is effective, easy to cut, and affordable, so there is no need to ration its use. The deterrent tape looks white on the roll, but appears more translucent once both sides are exposed—one stuck to the surface you want to protect and the other ready to repel claws. While not opaque, the tape is still very noticeable on surfaces.

The tape is intended to help you train your cat to direct their clawing elsewhere, such as a scratching post placed nearby. You can encourage your cat's better behaviors by giving them treats when they use the proper surfaces, instead of your furniture.

_{Type: Tape | Size: 15 feet x 2.5 inches; 15 feet x 12 inches | Active Repellent: Sticky film}

Best Aerosol

Sentry Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray For Cats

$18 At Chewy $18 At PetSmart

This two-fold spray may come in a small container but packs a disciplining punch. The Sentry Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray is an effective training tool that often only needs to be dispensed once to stop unwanted behavior—but it needs to be done immediately following the “wrong” behavior so your cat will associate the deterrent with its actions. When the product is dispersed, it releases a strong bad-smelling pheromone in unison with an abrasive noise (for cats). Subsequent offenses can often be curbed by simply responding to your cat’s behavior by picking the canister back up since they will remember the effect, so you don’t even have to use the actual product every time. We like the small travel size of the bottle since it can easily fit inside a bedside table or kitchen drawer for easy access, but that limits the number of sprays available. Keep in mind that it’s possible that the abrupt noise may upset overly anxious cats exhibiting anxiety-rooted behavior.

_{Type: Spray | Size: 1 ounce | Active repellent: Loud noise and pheromones}

Best for Outdoors

Safer Brand Critter Ridder Animal Repellent

$24 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

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}

Best for Furniture

Stelucca Amazing Shields Cat Scratch Deterrent

$25 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

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}

Best Scat Mat for Guarding Plants

D&D Cat Deterrent Scat Mat

$27 At Amazon

Some plants are not safe for cats to play with, and while cats are drawn to plants and like to dig in their dirt, they need to be taught to stay away. A scat mat is an effective way to keep your cat from disturbing the plants inside and outside your home.

The D&D Living Cat Deterrent Scat Mat has plastic spikes that will not cause any injury to your cat's paws but will cause a bit of a surprise if they step on them. It will deter cats from jumping up or going near an area that you want them to stay away from. The mats can easily be cut to the size you need and the strips can be connected to each other. The cat repellent also comes with six large staples that let you anchor the scat mats right in the dirt of your plant. While these mats won't prevent your cat from attacking leaves and branches, we found that they will successfully keep cats from digging in planters, as was the case in our real world testing.

This scat mat from D&D is made of polypropylene and comes in a set of 10. Each mat measures 16.5 x 13.4 inches and has 1-inch plastic spikes. These mats will cover up to 15 square feet. Unlike sprays, their effectiveness is consistent and there is no detectable scent.

_{Type: Scat mat | Size: 16.5 x 13.4 inches | Active Repellent: 1-inch plastic spikes}

Best for Kittens

Bodhi Dog 3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid

$18 At Amazon View On Thebodhidog.com

For pet owners looking for a natural deterrent or a safe product with kittens, the Bodhi Dog 3-in-1 Cat and Kitten Training Aid spray is your best bet. This cat repellent uses essential oils and botanical essences, like rosemary, cinnamon, and lemongrass, to create an unpleasant smell your cat will likely want to avoid. It’s safe to use directly on plants and most surfaces, though it may stain fabrics, so it’s best to do a test patch before applying. This formula also contains bitters to deter cats from chewing sprayed surfaces as well. The rub is that, as with some natural products, it’s not as effective as products with synthetic or chemical deterrents. It also contains lemongrass oil, which can be toxic to cats, though that’s usually when it is ingested directly or diffused. If it works, you’ll have to reapply as the smell wanes, and it helps if you like the smell of lemongrass and rosemary yourself.

_{Type: Spray | Size:  8 and 32 ounces; 1 gallon | Active repellent: Natural botanicals, essential oils, and bitters}

Best DIY

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil, 200 Square Feet

$11 At Amazon $12 At Target

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}