As much we love our kitties, sometimes they do things we’re not so fond of, like scratching the furniture or chewing on the rug. Cat deterrent sprays can help you teach your cat not to engage in these activities. Another reason you might need a cat repellent spray is if you have stray cats coming into your yard to use your grass as a litter box or otherwise cause mischief.
We have looked at over a dozen cat deterrent and cat repellent sprays so we could show you some of the best. We looked at safety, effectiveness, and how Amazon customers rated them.
Our top pick goes to SmartyKat Scratch Not Training Spray. This is a safe spray will help to prevent your kitty from scratching the furniture. It has a pleasant scent to humans, but cats tend not to like it and will avoid the area.
The 5 Top-Rated Cat Deterrent Sprays
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Cat Deterrent Spray Overall | SmartyKat Scratch Not Training Spray | 4.0 |
| Best Outdoor Cat Repellent Spray | Nature’s Miracle No More Spraying, Stain And Odor Remover for Cats | 4.1 |
| Best Budget Cat Deterrent Spray | SENTRY Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray for Cats | 4.0 |
| Best Natural Cat Deterrent Spray | Pet MasterMind Cat Spray | 3.5 |
| Best Cat Deterrent Spray for Travel | Feliway Classic Cat Calming Pheromone Travel Spray | 4.0 |
*Ratings are from Amazon and may change over time.
Best Cat Deterrent Spray Overall: SmartyKat Scratch Not Training Spray
The best cat deterrent spray that we found is SmartyKat Scratch Not Training Spray. This is a safe spray that is made from non-toxic ingredients that cats don’t like. In fact, it only contains a total of four ingredients: water, emulsifiers, lemon oil, and eucalyptus oil. It is safe to use on most fabrics, but you should test a small area to be sure.
The great thing about this spray is that you can reapply it as much as necessary. As the days go by, your cat will begin to stay away from those areas out of habit and you can reduce the number of times you spray. The manufacturers are so sure you’ll be satisfied with this product that they offer a satisfaction guarantee to all customers.
SmartyKat Scratch Not Training Spray Key Features:
- 13.5 ounces
- Natural, safe ingredients
- Is safe to use on most fabrics
- Pleasant scent for humans
- Can reapply as much as necessary
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Best Outdoor Cat Repellent: Nature’s Miracle No More Spraying, Stain And Odor Remover for Cats
If you are looking for an outdoor cat repellent, we recommend Nature’s Miracle No More Spraying, Stain And Odor Remover for Cats. This spray is made exclusively for cats in mind, so you can have the peace of mind that it’s safe for your kitty. While it’s not specifically made for outdoor use, it can be used anywhere you want to deter your cat from revisiting and doing their business.
As an added bonus, this spray removes existing stains and odors too. Talk about a multipurpose product! If you’re still not convinced, Nature’s Miracle offers a satisfaction guarantee.
Nature’s Miracle No More Spraying, Stain And Odor Remover for Cats Key Features:
- Ready to use spray
- 24 ounce bottle
- Prevents revisitin
- Removes existing stains and odors
- Made specifically for cats
Best Budget Cat Deterrent Spray: SENTRY Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray for Cats
If you want to stop your cat marking the house but don’t want to spend a lot making it happen, check out SENTRY Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray for Cats. This spray is scientifically proven to discourage undesirable behavior from you cat such as destroying furniture, walls, carpeting, and other household surfaces. It uses a combination of noise and pheromones to not only prevent scratching, but also reduce aggression. This formula is as simple to use as it gets; just spray it and watch your cat transform their behavior!
Before use, you might consider trying a cat urine odor remover, because that will also help discourage marking. Here’s our list of the best ones.
SENTRY Stop That! Behavior Correction Spray for Cats Key Features:
- 1 ounce bottle
- Scientifically-proven formula
- Contains pheromones
- Easy to use
- Can prevent scratching and aggression
- Doesn’t have long-term side effects for your cat
Best Natural Cat Marking Spray: Pet MasterMind Cat Spray
Pet MasterMind Cat Spray is a cat marking spray that contains natural herbal ingredients that cats don’t like. Simply spray it on your furniture, carpets, or wherever else your cat is scratching, and she will decide not to scratch there anymore.
When you use this spray on your furniture, it helps if you also set up an area where your cat can scratch, such as a scratching post. That way, she will naturally go over to that post rather than find another piece of furniture that she can relieve her urge to scratch on. You can find the right product on our Best Cat Scratching Posts list.
Pet MasterMind Cat Spray Key Features:
- 2.4 ounce bottle
- Made of natural herbs
- Safe and effective
- Can be used on furniture, flooring, and more
- Best if used with a scratching post
Best Cat Deterrent Spray for Travel: Feliway Classic Cat Calming Pheromone Travel Spray
Are you planning to go away with your cat? Or maybe you need to take them to the vet? It may be a good idea to bring along a bottle of Feliway Classic Cat Calming Pheromone Travel Spray. This product is perfect for anyone who needs a way to keep their cat calm when they’re away from home. Of course, you can also use it in your house, but its compact size makes it particularly ideal for travel.
It’s manufactured by a veterinarian-recommended brand, so you can feel confident about the quality of this option. Plus, it’s been clinically proven to reduce scratching and urine spraying in 9 out of 10 cats! Anxiety can cause cats to act out, so this drug-free spray helps to calm them by mimicking their natural pheromones.
Feliway Classic Cat Calming Pheromone Travel Spray Key Features:
- Travel size
- 1.06 ounce bottle
- Clinically proven to educe scratching and urine spraying
- Mimics cats’ natural pheromones.
- Veterinarian-recommended brand
Who Should Cat Repellent or Cat Deterrent Spray
If you have a cat who has any annoying habits, purchasing a cat repellent or cat deterrent spray might be a good idea. Cats are intelligent, clever animals, and they will often find ways around your rules. A deterrent spray can keep kitty from scratching, marking, jumping on the counter, or engaging in other annoying or destructive habits.
You might also choose to get a cat repellent spray for outdoors if cats (or other neighborhood mammals) are getting into your garbage can, digging in your garden, or otherwise making a nuisance of themselves. Those sprays have ingredients that mammals find annoying, so they’ll simply steer clear of the areas where you spray it.
Important Features to Consider
There are a few features you should look for when it comes time to choose a cat repellent or cat deterrent spray. Here are some of them:
- Safety. Always choose a product that is safe and nontoxic to your pet or to neighborhood animals. Ingredients might be annoying or unpleasant to the cat, but you don’t want to cause any harm or illness.
- Scent. If you’ll be using the product inside of your home, you will want to be sure that it doesn’t smell bad to you. Most indoor products have no scent or smell like herbs that cats don’t like, such as citronella or lavender. Check the labels.
- Uses. A cat who is marking might need a different type of ingredients than a cat who is simply walking on the kitchen table. Be sure you buy a product that is formulated for the problem that you’re trying to solve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cat deterrent spray and how does it work?
Cat deterrent spray will prevent your cat from scratching or marking in the house. Most work by coating a surface with a thin layer of a substance that your cat will find objectionable and won’t want on her feet. Sprays that are meant for deterring marking might have enzymes that cats won’t want to mark over. Another way that some deterrent sprays work is by creating a startling sound. This depends more on the mechanism of the spray can and less on the ingredients (which are generally just compressed air or something similar).
What smell will repel cats?
Cats usually don’t like lemongrass, rosemary, orange, lavender, peppermint, or citronella. These scents are nontoxic to cats, but they often find them annoying or unpleasant.
Is vinegar a good cat repellent?
You can use vinegar (diluted with water) to repel your cat. The main issue is that the smell will dissipate quickly. Also, many people do not like the smell of vinegar, so be aware that it might annoy you as much as it annoys kitty.
How do you keep cats from peeing on things and scratching things?
Training your cat to eliminate in the litter box (or outside) and to scratch only on a scratching post can be difficult. Most cats will litter box train easily if you get them as kittens, but it can be more of a challenge to teach an adult cat who has never lived indoors. If you are having trouble training your cat to use the litter box, talk to your vet. Also, contact your vet right away if your litter box-trained cat suddenly starts eliminating in other areas; she might have a bladder infection or some other health issue. A cat deterrent spray can help if you use it in areas where your cat is marking. If you’re finding it difficult to make your cat’s pee smell disappear, follow our expert tips for getting rid of cat pee smell.
For scratching, a deterrent spray can help here, as well. You should also set up a scratching post for your cat so she has a place to stretch and scratch her claws. You could rub catnip on the post or leave a few cat treats in the area so she gets the idea that she should be using that and not your sofa.
