The 411 on Cat Repellents

If you’ve got unwanted cat visitors, you’re putting your kids or pets at risk. Feral cats can easily lash out at playful kids or spread nasty diseases to your pets. Cat repellents can keep feral cats from entering your yard.

Not only are feral cats dangerous, they are also destructive. They’ll dig up your garden, using it as their own personal litter box. They’ll go after the birds at your birdfeeder. And they’ll rummage through your trash in search of food, leaving behind a mess for you to clean up.

Which Kind of Cat Repellent Works?

There are plenty of cat repellents on the market today … but, how do you know which ones work? The most effective cat repellents:

• Repel by taste, scent and touch
• Are pepper-based
• Contain all-natural ingredients
• Last up to 30 days before needing a reapplication
• Are compliant for use in organic gardening – they should display the OMRI-listed seal
• Are safe to use around children and pets
• Ideally repel several common animal pests, and also work as chipmunk, squirrel and skunk repellent

Granular or Liquid Cat Repellents: What’s the Difference?

Some cat repellents can be used both indoors and out. Typically they are granular in form. They should be sprinkled in non-living areas, such as basements and cellars, garages or sheds.

This kind of cat repellent can also be sprinkled around the yard, creating barriers around treated areas, such as gardens or birdfeeders. Granular repellents are perfect for perimeter treatment. They last as long as you can see the pellets, making it easier to know when reapplication is needed.

Another benefit of granular cat repellents is year-round use. While liquid cat repellents can’t be used in temperatures below 40 degrees, granular repellents can be, offering effective protection long through the winter months.

Other cat repellents, typically in spray form, are for outdoor use only. They can be sprayed around your garden or yard, on your birdfeeder or on your trashcans. The spray dries odorless to humans, but is strong smelling to the animals.

One major benefit of liquid cat repellents is easy application over large areas. They are available in spray bottle form or can be used with a motorized sprayer.

Cat Repellents that Contain Capsaicin

Cat repellents containing the ingredient capsaicin are highly effective. Made from chili peppers, capsaicin is a powerful taste deterrent. It creates a burning sensation when any tissue comes in contact with it.

Cat repellents containing capsaicin can be sprayed on bird feeders because birds don’t have the receptors that bind to the capsaicin.

After reading about cat repellents, you’re probably interested in learning more about cat traps. Guest post written by Michelle Anderson.

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