What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing? (5 Natural Ways)

People often want to know what smells deter cats from peeing in inappropriate spots. The people who want to know what smells deter cats from peeing in inappropriate spaces fall in several categories. Some turn out to be cat owners who are getting exasperated with their felines’ spraying habits. Others turn out to be folks whose neighbors cats have made a habit of peeing in their homes. So they want to know what smells deter cats from peeing in inappropriate spaces.

What smells deter cats from peeing? Several scents that repel cats from peeing in inappropriate spots include scents of essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus and cinnamon. Other substances with cat pee deterrent abilities apart from essential oils to stop cats from spraying include citrus fruit extracts (lemon, orange and grapefruit), vinegar and pepper.

What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing?

There are numerous smells that can deter cats from peeing.

Smells of citrus fruits (or, better still, smells of citrus fruit extracts) can be effective at keeping cats from peeing. There we are looking at the smells of oranges, lemons, grapefruits and their extracts. These should be easy to obtain. But many people don’t know about their efficacy. Most people won’t mention them when asked the question on what smells deter cats from peeing.

Natural acids like vinegar also have scents that deter cats from urinating. The efficacy of vinegar is quite well known. Most of the people to whom the question on what smells deter cats from peeing are likely to mention vinegar.

Then there are the scents of essential oils cats don’t like, and which can deter them from peeing. There we are looking at the likes of peppermint, cinnamon and eucalyptus.

All you have to do is inundate the area you want the cat to stop peeing with those scents. So you basically spray to stop cat from peeing. With such scents, the cat will be disinclined to step into (much less pee within) the area.

Does Vinegar Deter Cats From Peeing?

Yes, vinegar does have some efficacy at deterring cats from peeing. This is mainly on account of its smell, which the cats strongly dislike. Vinegar is also capable of neutralizing the smell in cat pee.

Thus if a cat has been peeing at a spot you’d rather not have him pee, vinegar can be helpful. With it, you can kill two birds using the same stone. First, you apply it to get rid of the cat pee smell that is already there. Besides neutralizing the cat pee smell, its presence there would also keep the cat from venturing them/peeing there again.

What Can You Spray to Stop Cats From Peeing?

One of the options open to you is that of spraying the essential oils cats hate. That could be anything from cinnamon to peppermint and on to eucalyptus.

Another option to you is that of spraying citrus fruit juice. So you spray lemon juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice… and so on.

Yet another option would be that of spraying vinegar.

There is even the option of spraying pepper or curry

So the question on what smells deter cats from peeing is one that has very many possible answers.

Does Peppermint Oil Stop Cats From Peeing?

Yes, peppermint oil is capable of stopping cats from peeing within the specific spots you apply it. It is remarkably effective. Its application is within the broader context of using essential oils to stop cats from spraying. Not only will the peppermint oil stop your cat from peeing in a certain area, it will go further. It will also possibly deter the cat from venturing into that area altogether.

What Scents Do Cats Hate The Most?

Among the scents that cats hate the most are those of essential oils. Cats just can’t stand the scent of oils like peppermint, cinnamon, lavender and eucalyptus. Other smells that cats can’t withstand include those of citrus fruits and those of substances like vinegar.

How Do You Discipline a Cat for Peeing Outside the Litter Box?

First of all, you need to understand why the cat is peeing outside the litter box. Could it be that you have let the litter box become too dirty for him to use? Or could the dog be suffering from medical conditions that make it hard for him to use the litter box?

If you do find the cat peeing outside of the litter box, the best you can do is show disapproval. But don’t hit the cat or otherwise try to make him ‘pay for it’. The cat’s mind won’t see the connection between what he has done and the ‘punishment’ he is receiving. So by attempting to ‘punish’ a cat for peeing outside the litter box, you would only be tiring yourself.

Your main focus should be on getting the cat to stop peeing outside the litter box. It should be a two-pronged approach. First where you make the litter box more attractive for the cat to pee in. And secondly where you make it unattractive for the cat to pee outside the litter box.

How Do I Get My Cat to Stop Peeing Everywhere?

First, make it more attractive for the cat to pee in the litter box. Keep the litter box clean, and in a ‘private’ place (because cats prefer to do their business in privacy). Also ensure that the litter box is easily accessible to the cat. This approach usually works perfectly whenever I want to figure out how to stop my cat from peeing everywhere. Often, this approach by itself is adequate.

Second, address any medical issues that could be causing your cat to pee everywhere. He could be having a urinary tract infection. Or he could be having kidney or liver problems. Or he could be developing diabetes or some other such condition. Have the issue checked out by the vet. It is not normal for cats to pee everywhere.

Third, consider applying cat repellents in the areas you’d rather not have your cat pee. You can use an essential oil like cinnamon or peppermint. Or you could use citrus fruit extracts. Or you could use a substance like vinegar… Once you venture to find what smells deter cats from peeing, you will find that there are so many options.

What to Put On Carpet to Stop Cat From Peeing?

Often, a cat owner will pose this question: how do I get my cat to stop urinating on the carpet? Or more precisely, what should I put on carpet to stop cat from peeing there?

Your focus should be on eliminating the cat’s urine smell from the carpet. As long as the cat’s urine smell remains on the carpet, you will have a problem. The feline will continue to view the carpet as a litter box: an ideal place to pee. So what you need is some sort of disinfectant. It should get rid of the cat pee smell from the carpet completely.

What if the cat peeing on the carpet isn’t yours, and you want him to stop coming around? In that case, you can go beyond using the disinfectant. You can apply a strong cat repellant. In that regard, essential oils can be very useful.

Essential Oils to Stop Cats Peeing

Cats generally dislike the smell of essential oils. This means it is possible to use essential oils to deter cats from venturing into/peeing within certain areas. Indeed, when you pose the question on what smells deter cats from peeing, essential oils will always be among suggestions. A similar situation obtains when you pose the question on what smell do cats hate to pee on. Essential oils smells are likely to be mentioned among the list of smells cats hate to pee on.

The specific essential oils for cat pee problem include cinnamon, peppermint, rosemary and eucalyptus.

Using Essential Oil to Stop Cats Peeing In a Wrong Place

The process of using essential oil to stop cats peeing in a wrong place is simple. The first step is to identify the specific place you want to deter cats from peeing. The second step is to select the specific essential oil you will be using. The third step is to acquire the essential oil. And the final step is to apply the essential oil in the place you want to deter cats from peeing. You need to apply it in adequate quantities, to ensure that it scent is easily picked by the cats.

Once the cats pick the smell of the essential oil, they won’t venture into the space where it is applied. Inasmuch as the cats don’t dare to venture there, there obviously won’t be a chance for them to pee there.

So it is not that the essential oil stops the cats from having the urge to pee. What essential oil does is repel the cats from the space where it is applied. Because the cats don’t go there, they don’t have a chance to pee there. So they have to find somewhere else to pee.

Benefits and Risks of Using Essential Oils to Correct Cat Behavior

Starting with the benefits, first we see that the essential oils tend to be very effective at correcting cat behavior. Suppose that you want to stop cats from venturing into a certain closet within your home. You then just need to apply peppermint, cinnamon, lavender or any other essential oil there. You will thereafter have an almost 100% guarantee that the cats won’t dare venture there.

The second benefit is in the fact that the essential oils tend to be quite affordable.

The third benefit is in the fact that the essential oils tend to be quite easy to get.

Turning to the risks, first we find that the essential oils can be toxic to cats. Thus in your bid to correct cat behavior, you could actually end up poisoning the felines.

Secondly, applying the essential oils can have the effect of chasing the cats away for good. Suppose it is neighbors cats messing around in your space, and you want them gone for good. In that case, this wouldn’t be a problem (especially if you don’t own/like cats). But what if it is your own cats’ behavior you wish to control? So you want to control it while retaining the cats/not chasing them away for good? In that case, the essential oils’ potential to chase the cats away for good can be a problem.

When you pose the question on what smells deter cats from peeing, essential oils will always get a mention. But you need to understand that using essential oils for this purpose has both an upside and a downside. It has benefits and risks.

Common Cat Pee Deterring Essential Oils

One of the commonest cat pee deterrent essential oils is cinnamon. So, really, does cinnamon stop cats from peeing? Well, what cinnamon does is stop cats from venturing into areas where it is applied. An inasmuch as the cats can’t venture there, they obviously also can’t pee there. That is because of simple logic. Simple logic dictates that cats first have to venture into a space before they can pee within it.

Thus, whenever you pose the question on what smells deter cats from peeing, cinnamon is likely to be mentioned.

Another highly effective essential oil cat pee deterrent is peppermint. Many of the people keen on using essential oils to deter cats from peeing turn to peppermint. That is mainly because peppermint is devastatingly effective and quite cheap.

Further down in the list of essential oils for cat pee problem is eucalyptus oil. This may be harder to obtain. But once you apply it within a certain space, you can be sure that no cat will dare urinate there.

FAQ

What Smells Do Cats Hate To Pee On?

Another way of putting this question is ‘what smells deter cats from peeing’? And the first answer is that of essential oils smells. Cats just can’t stand the smell of essential oils. It is therefore unlikely that a cat would pee within a space where any essential oil has been applied.

Another set of cat pee deterrent smells is that of citrus fruits. For instance, if you extract fresh orange juice and apply it within a space, cats won’t dare to pee there. The same would apply for lemon juice or grapefruit juice. Cats just can’t stand the smell of such juices.

Substances like vinegar also have scents that cats hate to pee on.

What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing On Furniture?

Among the smells that deter cats from peeing on furniture are those of citrus fruit extracts and essential oils. Smells of vinegar and substances like pepper can also deter cats from peeing on furniture.

How Do I Stop My Cat From Peeing In The House?

The first step is to set up a litter box for the cat. Then ensure that you keep the litter box clean at all times. This way, it will always be attractive for the cat to pee in. Also put the litter box in a private place. That way, you make it even more attractive for the cat to pee in.

Disinfect the spaces within the house where the cat has been peeing. This is to remove the pee scent. Otherwise if you leave the pee scent within the house, the cat will continue to pee there. That is because guided by scents, cats tend to pee where they have peed previously.

What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing Outside?

As mentioned earlier, smells of citrus fruit extracts are very good at deterring cats from peeing outside. Smells of essential oils are also good at deterring cats from peeing outside. So are smells of substances like vinegar and pepper.

Final Verdict On What Smells Deter Cats From Peeing

If you have a problem of cats peeing in inappropriate spaces, you can use scents to address the issue. There are actually many scents you can use to deter cats from peeing.

From essential oils scents to citrus fruit extract scents and onto scents of substances like vinegar, the options are many. What you decide to use to deter cats from peeing will depend on what is easily available to you.

It will also depend on whether the cats you want to deter from peeing are yours or not. That is because some scents not only deter cats from peeing, but could also chase the cats away for good.

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Rajkumar Ravichandran

Welcome to Learn About Pet. My name is Rajkumar Ravichandran and I love all pets, travel, and amazing food. I write about my passion and personal experience caring for multiple pets in this blog! ❤️