One of the most frustrating things a cat can do when you bring home a new piece of furniture or put new carpeting in your home is to head over and test out their claws on it. But while it’s frustrating for a person, it’s perfectly normal and healthy behavior for a cat.
But just because it’s normal doesn’t mean you need to accept it, and no-scratch sprays for cats are among the most effective solutions you can use. But not every product works like it promises it will, which is why it’s important to find the right product the first time.
We understand, and that’s why we took the time to track down nine of the best products on the market today and came up with comprehensive reviews for each one!
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A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024
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Best Overall | Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control |
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Best Value | Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent |
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Premium Choice | Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Scratch Max |
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Petlinks Scratch Stop Deterrent |
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Pet MasterMind Claw Withdrawal Scratch Deterrent |
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The 9 Best No Scratch Sprays for Cats
1. Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control – Best Overall
Sizes: | 2 or 4 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Analogue of feline pheromone (15%) |
Life stage: | Kittens or adults |
If you’re looking for the best overall no-scratch spray for cats, look no further than Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control. It uses natural feline pheromones to keep cats from scratching any surface they like to frequent, and it works fast.
Not only does it work fast and help prevent scratching, but it actually helps calm your cat, too. It’s safe to use on fabric, upholstery, and wood, but you should always test it on a small spot before spraying it over a larger area.
Still, our chief complaint is that you can only get in a smaller size, meaning you can’t purchase in bulk if your cat is scratching all over the place.
- Available in multiple sizes
- Very effective formula
- Helps prevent scratching and calms your cat
- Safe to use on fabric, upholstery, and wood
- It only comes in smaller sizes
2. Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent – Best Value
Sizes: | 8 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Citric acid, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate |
Life stage: | Kittens and adults |
If you’re on a tighter budget but need a spray to keep your cat from scratching, Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent might be just what you’re looking for. It’s available for an affordable price, which is especially true when considering that it comes in a larger bottle size.
It’s safe to use on furniture, fabrics, and floors, and it works great for cats and kittens at any life stage! Still, it is a budget choice for a reason, and it all starts with the fact that it doesn’t work for every cat. Not only that, but you need to reapply it quite a bit.
Still, when you factor everything in with the price, it’s our best no-scratch spray for cats for the money.
- Affordably priced
- Comes in a larger size
- Safe to use on furniture, fabrics, and floors
- Great for all life stages
- Not the most effective
- Need to reapply it more often
3. Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Scratch Max – Premium Choice
Sizes: | 8 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Coconut-derived surfactant blend, rosemary oil, and polysorbate-20 |
Life stage: | Adult |
If your cat is scratching up your furniture or fabrics, you don’t want to sit back and wait until you find a product that works. You want the best of the best to stop scratching right away, and that’s exactly what you get with Emmy’s Best Pet Products Stop the Scratch Max.
It’s a super effective scratch stopper that comes in a larger bottle, and it has a rosemary scent that’s calming for you and your cat! It works great on any surface, which means you won’t need separate products for different areas of your home.
However, while there’s no doubt that this is a great product, it also costs a bit more than the other options on our list.
- Comes in a larger bottle
- Very effective formula
- Has a calming rosemary scent
- Safe to use on all surfaces
- More expensive option
4. Petlinks Scratch Stop Deterrent
Sizes: | 13.5 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | PEG-glyceryl cocoate, PEG 30-50 hydrogenated castor oil, and PEG 30-50 castor oil |
Life stage: | Kittens and adults |
Kittens need gentler products than full-grown cats, which is why you need to be especially careful when selecting a scratch deterrent spray for them. If your kitten is scratching up your furniture or fabrics, Petlinks Scratch Stop Deterrent is an outstanding choice.
It works great for kittens, and if your cat still needs something as they get older, this product will grow with them, too. It comes in a larger bottle size, so it should last, and it uses all-natural ingredients that are safe around cats and kids.
It’s also easy to use on any surface, but the primary drawback is that it doesn’t work for every cat. Some cats simply don’t mind the stuff, and if that ends up as your cat, you’ll be right back where you started looking for something that works.
- Very affordable
- Larger bottle size
- Very easy to use and safe on all surfaces
- Made with all-natural ingredients
- It doesn’t work for all cats
5. Pet MasterMind Claw Withdrawal Scratch Deterrent
Sizes: | 4 and 8 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Astragalus-rosemary herbal blend and a paraben-free preservative |
Life stage: | Adult |
While Pet MasterMind Claw Withdrawal Scratch Deterrent doesn’t get a special accolade like the first four products on our list, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great choice. It comes in multiple sizes, uses an all-natural formula, and smells great, so you don’t mind using it!
It also works great on all surfaces, meaning it doesn’t stain, and it keeps your cat from heading over to scratch. However, it is a more expensive option, and perhaps more importantly, it doesn’t last very long.
This means you’ll need to keep spraying, adding more work to your plate and making you spend more to replace it when it runs out!
- It comes in multiple sizes
- All-natural formula
- It smells great
- Great on all surfaces
- More expensive option
- It doesn’t last very long
6. TriNova Anti-Scratch Rosemary Cat Deterrent Spray
Sizes: | 8.5 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Rosemary |
Life stage: | Adult |
TriNova Anti-Scratch Rosemary Cat Deterrent Spray is another spray deterrent you can use on all types of surfaces without worrying about discoloration or other types of damage. It’s super simple to use; you just point and spray. And since it comes in a larger bottle size, you shouldn’t run out quickly.
It’s a relatively effective option, but compared to many of the other options on our list, it’s just a smidge behind. It’ll work for most cats, but you can’t expect foolproof results for every feline in your life.
Still, the main reason this product falls so far down our list has everything to do with the price. When you spend this much on a cat scratch deterrent, you want it to work every time, and the simple fact is that this one only works most of the time.
- Larger bottle size
- It works on all types of surfaces
- Super simple to use
- More expensive option
- It doesn’t always work the best
7. Pet MasterMind Lion Tamer Scratching Deterrent Cat Spray
Sizes: | 4 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Calendula-rosemary blend and natural preservative |
Life stage: | Adult |
The Pet MasterMind Lion Tamer Scratching Deterrent Cat Spray is another non-toxic cat scratch deterrent that’s safe to use on all types of surfaces. It also gives off a pleasant scent, so you’ll enjoy using it.
However, while it smells great and is safe to use, it is a bit more expensive, and it only comes in a smaller size, which means you’ll need to replace it more often. Another concern is that while it’s usually safe to use on different surfaces, you should always test it on smaller areas since it can lead to some discoloration if you’re not careful.
- It leaves a pleasant scent
- Typically safe on all surface types
- Non-toxic spray
- More expensive option
- It only comes in a smaller size
- It can end up removing colors from fabrics
8. SmartyKat Scratch Not Scratch Deterrent Spray
Sizes: | 13.5 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Lemon and eucalyptus oils |
Life stage: | Kittens and adults |
SmartyKat is a well-known brand in the world of cat scratching products, and they also make this scratch deterrent spray called Scratch Not. Unlike some of the other products that use chemicals to keep your cats away, this one uses natural lemon and eucalyptus oils, which are scents that cats are known to not like.
You also get a lot of product for the money with this spray, and it’s very affordable but comes with 13.5 ounces of spray. You can use it on walls, furniture, and floors, but you should not spray it directly on cats. However, this spray may not repel all cats from scratching on surfaces, and it’s important that you don’t let your cat come in contact with this spray, as most essential oils can be dangerous to cats if ingested.
- Affordable
- Made with natural ingredients
- A lot of product for the money
- May not deter all cats
- Can be dangerous to cats if ingested
9. Bodhi Dog Cat No More Scratching! Spray
Sizes: | 8 ounces |
Primary ingredients: | Essential oils |
Life stage: | Kittens and adults |
Finally, we have the Bodhi Dog Cat No More Scratching! Spray. This spray uses natural essential oils to deter your cat from scratching, but it’s not clear what those essential oils are. So, you have to be extremely careful when using this spray around your cats. However, it can be used on a wide variety of surfaces, including the usual walls, furniture, and floors, but also leather, suede, cork, indoor trees, and others!
It is a little pricey for only 8 ounces of spray, but we like the versatility. It can be used in households with kittens and adult cats that are 12 weeks old or older. The company advises that you should open a window when using this spray, so keep that in mind so your cat doesn’t escape outside.
- Natural ingredients
- Can be used a variety of surfaces
- Pricey
- Ingredients aren’t clear
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best No-Scratch Spray for Cats
With so many great scratch deterrent sprays out there, it can be challenging to try and narrow it down to just one to get. We understand, and that’s why we took the time to break down everything you need to know before and after you get a scratch deterrent spray for your cat.
Going With Natural Ingredients
All the sprays on our list use ingredients that are completely safe to use around your family and cats, which is a huge deal since you don’t want to harm your cats to get them to stop scratching something.
Natural ingredients mean they won’t harm your cat if they rub up against it, scratch it, or even lick it. Not only is it safe for your cats, but it’s also safe for you, your kids, and any other pets in your home. You don’t want to introduce toxic chemicals to your environment, and with the cat scratch deterrents on our list, you don’t have to!
How Long Should You Need a Scratch Deterrent?
One of the first mistakes people make when using a scratch deterrent is that they don’t give it enough time to start working and they don’t use enough of it. This is particularly true when using pheromone deterrents, as it can take a little while for the scents to permeate to your cat to get the results you want.
However, keep in mind that not every scent works for every cat, so you might need to try a different option if your cat doesn’t seem to mind your first choice.
Finally, once your cat stops scratching the area, you should keep using the product on the area for at least two weeks to ensure they don’t go right back after you stop.
Other Tips to Get Your Cat to Stop Scratching
If you want to get your cat to stop scratching your furniture and other areas around your home, you need to give them somewhere they can scratch. Try scratchers of different materials and place them in areas around your home your cat likes to visit.
We're quite fond of cardboard as a material in cat scratchers, which is why we love the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. Encased within a well-constructed, modern birch plywood frame, this scratcher is designed with both cats and their owners in mind. It offers three versatile configurations to keep your feline friend active and entertained while enticing them to fulfill their natural scratching instincts (and away from scratching things they shouldn't). For more details, click here! At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Your cat needs somewhere to scratch, and giving them a healthy outlet for it will go a long way in protecting your furniture. You can also use a pheromone spray your cat likes on the scratch post to try and get them to use it for the first few times.
You can also try wrapping the areas they keep scratching and shouldn’t in products like aluminum foil since cats don’t like the feeling of these products.
How We Selected Our List of No Scratch Sprays for Cats
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat sprays. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat sprays. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Conclusion
If you’re still trying to figure out which scratch deterrent is best for your cat after reading through the reviews and the buyer’s guide, don’t overthink it. While there’s no guarantee that any product will work right away with your cat, there’s a reason the Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control is our top choice.
Of course, if you’re on a tighter budget and want to try a lower-cost option first, the Nature’s Miracle Advanced Platinum Cat Scratch Deterrent is a great choice too. Just don’t wait too long to get something on order. That way, you can put your cat’s scratching problems behind you once and for all!
Featured Image Credit: Alina Kuptsova, Pixabay