You love your cat, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get on your nerves sometimes. Cats are notorious for getting into or damaging items they shouldn’t, so it’s understandable if you’re looking for a way to keep your pet from chewing up your vegetable garden or clawing up your couch.

A repellent spray is one of the easiest and most effective ways to discourage undesirable feline behavior. The sprays can be applied directly to the area you want to protect, and they use strong odors or flavors to discourage your cat from interacting with them.

In the reviews below, we’ll take a closer look at our favorite repellents on the market today. Each brand below is safe and effective, so you won’t harm your cat while preventing them from damaging your belongings.

A Quick Glance at Our Favorites in 2024

The 9 Best Cat Repellent Sprays

1. Sentry Stop That! Noise & Pheromone Cat Spray – Best Overall

The Sentry Stop That Noise and Pheromone Cat Spray is our pick for the best overall cat deterrent. Unlike the other sprays we examined, it uses sound and pheromones to deter cats. When you see your cat scratch the couch or jump on the counters, you’ll use the Sentry spray’s sound to get their attention, and the pheromones it releases will relax them.
The pheromone has a lavender chamomile fragrance, and it’s safe for cats as long as you use the spray as directed. However, you cannot spray it on your cat. Most customers were happy with the spray’s performance and mentioned that it prevented their cats from scratching their furniture.
The only issue with the Sentry Spray is the ambiguous ingredients. The company claims that the lavender chamomile fragrance is synthetic but safe for cats, but it doesn’t display the proprietary formula.

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2. Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray – Best Value

Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray uses essential oils to deter your cat, and it’s our choice for the best deterrent spray for the money. Although the spray is designed for indoor use, Nature’s Miracle claims you can also use it on screen doors to deter stray cats.
You can spray Nature’s Miracle on leather furniture and other fabrics, but it is not safe to use on houseplants or directly on your cat. It contains cornmint oil, citronella oil, cinnamon, and rosemary oil to keep your cat off your furniture. Most cat parents were satisfied with Nature’s Miracle, but a few mentioned that it didn’t prevent their cats from scratching.

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3. Nature’s MACE Cat MACE 40oz Ready-to-use Spray Plus 40oz Concentrate — Premium Choice

If you need to deter indoor and outdoor felines, you can try Nature’s Mace Cat Mace. We listed it as our premium choice because it includes a 40-ounce refill and costs more than other brands. It’s ideal if you need to treat a large area in your yard to deter stray cats. When used correctly, it’s safe to use around kids, wildlife, pets, and plants.
It’s water-resistant and designed to work year-round, but it’s best to reapply it after a heavy rain. Cat Mace is an effective deterrent, but some users suggested that it’s better to use it indoors. The powerful scent may be too strong for cat parents with respiratory issues.

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4. Pet Your Pet No Pee No Poop Cat Potty Training Spray

Pet Your Pet’s No Pee No Poop Cat Potty Training Spray can be used indoors and outdoors, and it’s made with plant-based ingredients. It uses essential oils to keep cats away from furniture, plants, and outdoor areas.
Pet Your Pet doesn’t mention which essential oils are used, but the ingredient list is pretty small and includes purified water, preservatives, and emulsifiers. Although most cat parents were satisfied with the spray, some mentioned that it didn’t affect their cats. Also, several customers said that the bottle was damaged during shipping and leaked.

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5. Four Paws Keep Off! Outdoor & Indoor Cat Repellent Spray

Four Paws Keep Off! is another indoor/outdoor spray that’s safe to use on furniture, garden beds, countertops, and fabrics. However, the manufacturer suggests placing a cloth or small piece of fabric on the soil before spraying the garden beds. It should not be used directly on the plants.
Four Paws is effective for 24 hours, but it must be reapplied after heavy rain. Although it’s a cat spray, it can also be used to repel dogs. Users were generally happy with the spray, but some were concerned about the unknown ingredients.
It’s not uncommon, unfortunately, for companies to protect their proprietary formulas. However, after examining the safety precautions, we’re doubtful that the formula doesn’t contain harsh chemicals.

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6. PetSafe SSSCAT Motion-Activated Dog & Cat Spray

The PetSafe SSSCAT Motion-Activated Dog and Cat Spray is more advanced than the other products we reviewed. However, it’s also much more expensive. It’s a motion-activated device that emits a harmless, odorless spray when your cat comes within 3 feet of it. You can use it to deter cats and dogs, but it’s only designed for indoor use.
The SSSCAT device is effective, but although the bottle contains 80–100 sprays, it doesn’t last long, especially if you have several pets. Unlike similar plug-in diffusers, it requires four AAA batteries, which are not included.

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7. NaturVet Pet Organics No Mark!

The NaturVet Pet Organics No Mark! spray is much different than the other deterrents because it removes marking odors to prevent cats from spraying the same spot. It’s safe to use on nearly any surface, and you can even spray it near your Christmas tree and houseplants.
Only a few customers mentioned that it prevented their cats from scratching furniture, but the formula is designed only to prevent cats from spraying indoors. Most cat parents said it deterred their intact cats from marking, but several mentioned it was ineffective.

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8. Petlinks Scratch Stop Deterrent Training

Petlinks’ Scratch Stop Deterrent Training uses eucalyptus and lemon oils to prevent cats from scratching furniture and other surfaces. The formula is safe to use on most fabrics and surfaces, but the manufacturer suggests testing it on a small area first if the surface is painted. It’s only effective indoors, and it may require several applications to deter a cat.
It doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals and is safe to use around pets if it’s used as directed. Although some customers thought Petlinks worked well, several claimed that it did not affect their cats.

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9. Pet MasterMind Lion Tamer Scratching Deterrent Cat Spray

The Pet MasterMind Lion Tamer Scratching Deterrent Cat Spray uses a calendula-rosemary blend to prevent cats from scratching. It’s not formulated to prevent marking, but most users claimed it kept their cats from tearing up furniture. If you have several cats, Pet Mastermind isn’t very economical since it only contains 4 ounces of formula.
The biggest problem with the spray is the over-powering fragrance. Several customers mentioned that they disliked the odor and how long it lingered.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Deterrent

Most cat owners have no experience buying a repellent, so it’s only natural that they have several questions. In the guide below, we’ll walk you through common queries so you have a better idea of what to look for in a cat repellent.

How Do Cat Repellents Work?

The most common repellents use undesirable odors to keep cats away. Cats have much stronger senses of smell than we do, and a rank odor can be unbearable to them. The downside is that many of these repellents will also repel you, so you may not want to spray them inside.

Others use foul tastes to deter cats. They are used when you want to discourage biting rather than scratching. This limits their overall utility, and you run the risk of your cat developing a taste for the deterrent.

Others, such as the PetSafe SSSCAT device, use blasts of compressed air to make cats run away. They can be effective, but they’re also expensive and prone to malfunctioning. Plus, if your cat learns that the machine isn’t really a threat, they may just ignore it.

Ultimately, the best cat deterrent for you depends on which behavior you’re trying to discourage and what your cat will most likely be repelled by.

Are Cat Repellents Safe for My Cat?

Yes, most are safe. They use humane methods to change your cat’s behavior over time. Most repellents contain natural ingredients cats don’t like, such as citrus or cinnamon. They aren’t toxic to cats, but felines will go out of their way to avoid them.
Exposure to foul tastes or odors won’t harm your cat, but you’d never know it from the faces they’ll make. However, the products we reviewed are not designed to spray directly on your cat’s coat.

Are These Products Safe to Use Around My Family?

Although they’re safe for adults and kids, some formulas have potent fragrances. They’ll deter your cats, but you may not want the odor lingering around your home. If you have family members with allergies or respiratory issues, it’s best to use an odorless deterrent.

Do I Have to Keep Using These Products to See Results?

Each product has a different lifespan. Some last for a few hours, while others can repel cats for weeks. Ultimately, the goal is to wean yourself off of a repellent altogether. The idea is to continually discourage your cat from going to a certain area or interacting with a particular object until they stop trying.
We reviewed the best deterrents on the market, but even the top products may not work for your cat. Unfortunately, you may have to experiment with a few formulas before finding one your cat despises.

Conclusion

We reviewed several excellent deterrents, but we have a few favorites. Our top choice is the Sentry Stop That! Noise & Pheromone Cat Spray. It makes a loud noise when you depress the sprayer and release a calming pheromone. If you’re searching for a more affordable formula, we recommend the Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray. You can spray it indoors and on your screen doors to deter cats.
If you have a large outdoor area to treat, you can try the Nature’s MACE Cat MACE spray. The bottle and 40-ounce refill can cover up to 15,000 square feet. We hope our reviews help you find the ideal formula to keep your cat from damaging your furniture and carpets.

See also: 

• How to Keep Cats Away from Certain Areas (18 Proven Methods)
• 14 Smells That Cats Hate: A Comprehensive Guide

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Featured Image Credit: Nick Alias, Shutterstock