What smells cats don’t like and why: list of smells

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Kira Stoletova

Cats are much more sensitive to odors than humans. Tangerines, grapefruits, lemons and oranges are unpleasant for cats due to their strong aroma.

Citrus scent for cats

Citrus scents

Most cats, when they smell citrus, run as far away from it as possible. The fact is that when cutting the fruit, aromatic substrates are released that irritate the pet.

Dislike of citrus smells is often used to train an animal. Essential oils are used for this - they are used to treat wires, furniture, etc.

Author: Elena Romanenko
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Do all cats hate the smell of citrus fruits in the house?

Despite the fact that cats are afraid of the smell of citrus fruits, among them there are those who not only calmly tolerate this smell, but are also not averse to enjoying a piece of fruit. It’s hard to say why this happens, and why some cats perceive citrus fruits normally, while others may suffer from the insidiousness of such a delicacy. If you are peeling, for example, a lemon, and your cat is sitting next to you and the juice splashes on it, as often happens, then be sure that your pet will no longer be present when cutting the fruit.

If you notice that when cutting citrus fruits, your cat does not react in any way to the strong smell, then this is a reason to be wary, because it may happen that the cat does not smell the smell. This problem can be associated with both a cold and other diseases. Therefore, at the first signs of lack of sensitivity, contact a specialist as soon as possible. Remember that scent for an animal is one of the most important senses, without which a pet cannot live fully.

Smells that don't attract cats' attention

What are the effects of citrus fruits?

Pets hate lime, orange, lemon and other foods in this group because they have a strong aroma. Owners can use the smell of citrus fruits for their own purposes. To prevent cats from pooping in inappropriate places, you can scare them away by creating a special barrier at home. To do this, lemon juice or fruit peels are placed in prohibited areas. To clean upholstered furniture, owners are advised to purchase lemon-scented washing powder.

Experts note that you can discourage a cat from pooping in the wrong place by using essential oils with a citrus scent.

Are cats attracted to perfume?

Perfume products that have a strong odor are irritants for animals.
Perfume is one of the most irritating to a pet's sense of smell. But owners should take into account that there are some perfumes that do not cause a negative reaction in cats, so spraying them on problem areas is not effective. More often, cats and dogs are afraid of ordinary, cheapest colognes that have a pungent odor. Each pet is individual in terms of perfume, so checking this and choosing the optimal product is possible only in practice. When choosing a cologne, take into account its durability and strong aroma, which cats do not like. When spraying, it is not recommended to spare the product and apply more of it to the required area.

Essential oils: how effective?

The most effective cat repellers, since pets cannot tolerate such odors. Most of all, the smell of esters such as lavender, rosemary, lemongrass and rue drives away the pet from different places. You can purchase such a liquid in a specialized store or pharmacy kiosk. Essential oils can be used in several ways:

It is recommended to add a few drops of the product to the salt, which is dissolved in water. The top area of furniture and other areas is sprayed with a spray bottle.
At home, prepare a polish using additional olive oil. The components are taken in equal quantities and mixed thoroughly.
If your upholstered furniture smells like a dog or a cat, you can use a soap solution with the addition of a few drops of essential oil.

Intolerance to rue oil will help to wean the animal from marking territory or pooping in the wrong place.
Cats also have a strong intolerance to rue oil, but it is possible to simply place a bush branch in an area where the cat likes to poop or mark territory. But owners should be careful, because if the solution is used excessively, a person may experience adverse reactions, such as dizziness, nausea, and others.

Smell of alcoholic drinks

Like the aroma of lavender, some plants and other unpleasant odors, cats do not tolerate the smell of alcohol. The pet is absolutely not attracted to such strong alcoholic drinks:

whiskey;
cognac;
vodka.

Alcohol is an effective remedy because cats are repelled by the smell on a physiological level. Therefore, if your pet is especially attracted to some corner or place of the house where he shits, then it is recommended to drop a few drops of alcohol there, and the problem will disappear.

Unpleasant Herbs and Plants

Sometimes even the most fragrant cat repellent is not able to attract the attention of a pet as much as folk products growing in the garden. A good plant for repelling pets is peppermint. If the owners live in a private house, then it is recommended to plant such grass on the site so that other representatives of the cat family do not walk and mark the territory.

Can cats tolerate vinegar?

Acetic acid is a handy remedy that repels cats by having a negative effect on the mucous membranes.
Cat repellent spray does not always do the job as well as acetic acid. Cats do not like this smell, but it is cheap and accessible to every owner. Vinegar has an attractive aroma that has a negative effect on the mucous membranes of your pet, preventing it from shitting in inappropriate areas of the house. To stop your cat from pooping on furniture or in corners, it is recommended to treat problem areas with a spray bottle or wipe the surface using a damp sponge soaked in acetic acid.

Using onions, garlic and spices

Such pungent odors repel cats, so you can choose some kind of folk remedy to stop your pet from crapping. Not only onions and garlic, but also other spices have a negative effect on the mucous membranes of the nasal passages of animals:

cinnamon;
black and cayenne pepper.

Vegetables don't smell as bad if they're in their skins, so it's a good idea to peel and grate them. The resulting mixture is placed in the necessary areas where the presence of a cat is undesirable. But it is possible to use the funds in another way:

To prevent your pet from scratching the furniture, they resort to using onions or garlic, which they rub on the desired areas.

They rub onion or garlic on furniture that the pet likes and he constantly scratches or marks it. After some time, vegetables do not smell to humans, but the pet still feels a sharp and unpleasant odor.
Grate the onions and fill them with water. Let it stand for several hours, after which it is filtered using a sieve and the necessary surfaces are treated.

Owners should first apply the folk remedy to less noticeable areas to make sure that it does not leave stains.

How can you use your cat's dislike of citrus fruits for beneficial purposes?

From the above, you have already understood that with the help of citrus essential oils you can wean your animal off unwanted things. Let's take a closer look at the options in which citrus fruits will help train your pet:

If your cat does not go to the litter box, but does it in another place. If you are faced with such a situation, then you can apply citrus essential oils to the places where the cat relieves itself, and be sure that it will not go there again;
If your cat often breaks furniture or chews wires. Many people think that this problem occurs only among those who have dogs. But, in fact, cat owners also face this problem. All you have to do is apply a few drops of essential oil on the furniture or wires and your problem will be solved;
If your cat is marking territory. Those pet owners who have a cat know that at a young age these little furry friends constantly mark their territory, for example, corners, things, etc. This is a serious problem, because this smell is extremely difficult to remove. Therefore, if you want to get rid of such a problem or avoid its occurrence, then take note of this simple method;

But this method has several nuances. Firstly, the essential oil will quickly dissipate and its smell will not be felt, so you will have to repeat this procedure often until the pet learns to behave as expected. Secondly, there is a more serious problem such as allergies. Many pets cannot tolerate citrus odors and may suffer from them, so consider whether the risks are worth it and consult with your veterinarian to make sure your cat is not allergic.

How to use citrus

Folk remedies for combating cat mischief involve the use of citrus fruits. It is suggested to scatter the crusts in the following cases:

when the pet goes to the toilet in a place other than the litter tray;
when he tears up furniture, he chews on wires;
when the male marks territory.

But these traditional methods are not effective and are unpleasant for the animal. The smell of essential oil quickly disappears, and the dried crusts no longer cause hostility in the pet. In addition, citrus fruits can cause allergies and damage your pet's smell glands.

Citrus fruits can cause allergies in cats

You should not use other strong-smelling substances: vinegar, pepper, mustard.

Animals should be raised using humane methods:

Buying toys, scratching posts. To make them attractive, they are lubricated with special substances (look for them in veterinary stores).
Cats are sterilized, and this solves the problem of territory marking.
Scold the cat, distract it when it tries to chew the wires.

If a cat refuses to go to the litter box, there are several reasons for this. Study the information and analyze errors. Often the reason for improper urination is not the pet at all. The shape of the tray, its location, or the filler may not suit him.

What dangers, besides allergies, do cats have to citrus fruits?

If a citrus product gets into an animal’s body, the pet may suffer from gastrointestinal problems, weakness, and other equally serious problems. If you overdo it and give your pet too many citrus fruits, then you risk creating greater health risks for your pet. The thing is that citrus fruits contain substances that affect the animal’s liver and can damage it. If we talk about serious situations, then such indiscretion can end sadly for the animal.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus has a repellent effect on many animals, including cats. The fact is that a pet smells several times stronger than a person.

If a cat gets into the habit of marking some place in the house, then an aqueous solution based on eucalyptus oil can scare it away. Mix a few drops of oil with water and spray the marked area with this solution.

What to do if your cat is poisoned by citrus fruits?

If an animal is poisoned by citrus fruits through the skin, then the first thing to do is wash the pet in warm water to completely eliminate the smell. Then dry it and go to the veterinarian as soon as possible to prescribe treatment. If your cat has eaten food that contains citrus fruits, then you need to immediately go to the veterinarian, because only he can prescribe the correct treatment.

It is worth remembering that when treating a cat for citrus poisoning, as a rule, the stomach is washed and special medications are administered. Also, body temperature is checked, and the condition of the whole body is carefully examined to identify any allergic reactions that have manifested themselves.

Educational moment

Everything that does not kill us makes us stronger, and in our case, more educated. This dislike of citrus fruits can be used to train a pet. How will this help? The pungent smell will repel the cat from visiting places forbidden to him, and will fill the room with a pleasant, fresh aroma.

For example, flower pots or furniture for sharpening claws. Place lemon, orange or tangerine peels in the right places to scare away the animal. If the cat marks the territory, this area must be thoroughly washed with detergents and treated with a scented substance. The peel of the fruit dries quickly and ceases to emit a pungent odor, so it is better to buy essential oil and drip it in the necessary places.

It is not recommended to put fruit slices, as some animals can eat them (there are also such unique cats). The eaten fruit can cause a severe allergic reaction, indigestion and lacrimation. In this case, it is better to consult a veterinarian for advice.

Brief conclusions

We all want to please our pets with something tasty, but we need to remember the consequences. Even if your cat is not allergic to citrus fruits, it is better not to risk it and not give him the treat at all, so as not to create health problems for your pet. But, if for some reason, it happened that the animal ate citrus fruits or inhaled their smell, and you began to notice allergy symptoms or malaise, then contact a veterinarian as soon as possible in order to provide timely medical assistance to your pet. Please note that before weaning your cat off dirty tricks using the smell of citrus fruits, be sure to consult with your veterinarian.