The 6 Best Cat Repellents
Updated by · How we research
Motion sprinklers, spray units, spike mats, ultrasonic repellers and scent sprays compared for yards and homes. The Orbit Yard Enforcer leads for gardens. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
No cat repellent works on every cat, and the small studies that exist show visits dropping, not stopping. Water and physical barriers have the best record, while scents fade fast and need reapplying. This page is for gardeners fighting a neighbor's cat in the flower beds and for owners keeping their own cat off counters, plants and furniture.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
A burst of hose water is the yard deterrent that cat groups and garden writers back most often, so the Orbit Yard Enforcer takes the top spot. The Amtek Scraminal and Sofa Scram, which many readers still look for, have vanished from sale, along with the Tattle Tale Alarm, the PetSafe Indoor Radio Fence and the Petbroo Ultrasonic. We dropped the Zipcase Outdoor Mat because the Homarden Spike Mats do the same job.
The PetSafe SSSCAT stays in its redesigned white body, and Nature's Mace Cat Repellent stays for people who prefer a scent. New picks are the Broox Solar Repeller for yards without a hose and the Nature's Miracle Scratch Deterrent for clawed furniture.
Evidence in this category is thin. The best of it is two small university studies of ultrasonic units, a city animal-care guide on keeping cats out of yards, and a horticulturist's review of garden deterrents. Nobody has published a controlled test of any named spray or mat.
Earlier notes
August 20, 2020, by Brett Dvoretz:
Whether for an indoor pet our an outdoor animal, there are many reasons you may want to keep felines out of certain areas, and these cat repellents are just the way to do it. Since not all kitties respond to corrective measures the same, we made sure to include a variety of deterrents that rely on different methods.
For those who are dealing with animals that are sensitive to sound, a noise-based or ultrasonic option should work well. In this category, we have the Amtek Scraminal, Sofa Scram, Tattle Tale Alarm for indoor use, all of which create a loud beep that is also audible to human ears. For outdoor use, we have the Petbroo Ultrasonic, which, as the name implies, should be essentially noiseless to humans, but not so to felines. It also utilizes flashing lights, which can be great for startling animals at night.
The PetSafe Indoor Radio Fence utilizes a combination of sound and static feedback to stop animals in their tracks, though it does require the separate purchase of a compatible collar from the same company, as it doesn't produce any corrections by itself.
A scent-based option like Nature's Mace Cat can be useful for felines that don't respond to high-pitched tones, and it can safely be used in the home or outside around the property. Since its active ingredients are just peppermint, lemongrass, and citronella oils, it isn't harmful to the animal or children.
If neither scent nor sound has proven effective for you, it may be best to resort something that is physically uncomfortable for a cat. There is no chance that Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer, which is a motion-activated sprinkler, won't be annoying enough to send them off your property, or at least out of its range. Of course, if you need something for inside a home, it won't be a suitable option. In this case, we recommend the PetSafe Ssscat, which is essentially just a small spray bottle, but it, too, is motion-activated, so you won't have to be around to manually squeeze the trigger. The Homarden Garden Scat Mat and Zipcase Outdoor Mat are spiked floor or wall coverings that kitties will find uncomfortable to walk on, and they can be used inside or outside the home.
April 22, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
Anybody who has ever owned a cat, or even simply spent some time at someone's house who does, knows how stubborn they can be, which is why it is so hard to keep them away from areas they choose to frequent. Luckily, these feline repellents can help. If you need something for outdoor use to keep stray cats away from your yard, take a look at the Royalsell Stake, PredatorGuard PestAway, Hoont Motion Activated, Nature's Mace, Natural Armor Spray, or Homarden Garden Cat Scat Mat. The first three are all ultrasonic models that emit a sound cats find rather unpleasant, but is generally inaudible to humans. Nature's Mace and Natural Armor Spray are both scent-based options that you simply squirt on plants, around doorways, or any other areas, while the Homarden Garden Cat Scat Mat is literally a physical barrier the felines find uncomfortable to walk on. For indoor use, we have included the Amtek Scraminal, Sofa Scram, Tattle Tale Sonic Pet Training Alarm, and PetSafe Ssscat.
Special Honors
Alley Cat Allies Alley Cat Allies is a U.S. nonprofit that works with community and stray cats. Its free online advice form helps neighbors with cat problems find humane fixes, which is useful when the cat in your garden belongs to nobody. alleycat.org
Yard Or House: Match The Deterrent To The Spot
A motion-triggered spray unit works there because it reacts every time, even when you're out.
Start with where the cat is causing trouble. In a garden, the goal is to make one bed or one entry point unpleasant. A motion-activated sprinkler such as the Orbit Yard Enforcer does that with water, and horticulturist Robert Pavlis rates water and physical barriers as the methods most likely to work, with the warning that cats learn a sprinkler that never moves (Garden Myths). Spike mats laid flat on soil, chicken wire just under the surface or a layer of rough stones keep cats from digging, and none of them freeze in winter.
Indoors, the job is usually a counter, a plant stand or one piece of furniture. A motion-triggered spray unit works there because it reacts every time, even when you're out. PetSafe rates the SSSCAT for indoor use only and says it senses about 3 feet out (PetSafe). If it seems to miss, PetSafe's own advice is to set it where the cat has to walk straight toward the sensor and to check the batteries and can (PetSafe support). For scratching, a spray on the sofa works best paired with a scratching post placed right next to it.
Do Ultrasonic And Scent Repellents Work?
Ultrasonic repellers have more research behind them than most people expect, and the results are modest. A 2018 study in Perth, Australia, found ultrasonic deterrents cut nuisance cat incursions by 46 percent, not to zero (Murdoch University). An earlier British trial of the CATwatch device found about a third fewer intrusions (Wikipedia summary). Cats can also get used to the sound. Treat a solar unit like the Broox as one layer at the gap where cats come in, not a fence around the whole yard. Dogs and wildlife can hear it too.
Scent sprays have the least evidence. Garden Myths found little objective support for plant-oil repellents, and every scent fades with sun and rain, so the maker's directions call for daily spraying at first. Consumer group Which? has compared cat repellents, though its full results sit behind a membership (Which?). If you use a scent, think of it as a short training aid, not a permanent fix.
Humane Limits: What Not To Use
Every pick on this list startles a cat without injuring it, and that line matters. Mothballs are pesticides labeled for clothes moths in sealed containers, so scattering them in a garden breaks the label, and they are toxic to pets (Garden Myths). Cayenne and chili powder can irritate a cat's eyes and stomach. Loud motion alarms built for shops can frighten cats badly; if you use one, keep the volume low.
Essential oils need care around your own pets. Concentrated peppermint, citrus and eucalyptus oils can harm cats that lick or breathe them in a closed room. Nature's MACE says its formulas are safe when used as directed and suggests a patch test first (Nature's MACE). Never spray a cat directly, or its bedding or food area.
When the cat belongs to a neighbor, talk to them first. Rules on roaming cats vary: in England, pet cats may legally roam, while some U.S. towns have nuisance rules for roaming cats. Humane deterrents are legal almost everywhere; trapping or harming a cat often is not.
How we researched this
We compared 20 cat repellents, from motion sprinklers and indoor spray units to spike mats, ultrasonic repellers, scent sprays, alarms and granules, and screened six in depth. We read makers' spec and support pages, two peer-reviewed or published studies of ultrasonic deterrents, a horticulturist's review of garden methods and a city animal-care guide, studied patterns in owner feedback, and checked each brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Sources (8)
- PetSafe: SSSCAT Automatic Spray Pet Deterrent
- PetSafe support: SSSCAT does not spray every time
- Garden Myths: how to keep cats out of the garden
- Murdoch University: ultrasonic deterrents reduce nuisance cat incursions (2018)
- Wikipedia: Cat repeller
- Nature's MACE: is it safe around pets and people
- Which?: cat repellents compared
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scraminal still sold?
No. The Amtek Scraminal, a motion-sensing alarm that sounded when a cat came near, is no longer sold, and neither is the Tattle Tale. For a counter or doorway, the PetSafe SSSCAT does a similar startle job with a puff of spray. Outdoors, a motion sprinkler is the closest match.
Do ultrasonic cat repellents really work?
Partly. Two small studies found they cut cat visits by roughly a third to a half, but none stopped every cat, and some cats get used to the sound. They work best aimed at the spot where cats enter.
What is a good alternative to the SSSCAT?
Spike mats are the cheapest swap and need no batteries or refills. Outdoors, a motion sprinkler such as the Orbit Yard Enforcer does the same job with water.
What smells keep cats away?
Cats tend to dislike citrus, peppermint and other strong plant oils, which is what scent sprays use. The effect fades in a day or two, and concentrated oils can harm cats, so use ready-made sprays as directed.
Is it legal to keep a neighbor's cat out of my yard?
Yes, with humane methods such as water, mats and fences. Harming, poisoning or trapping a cat is illegal in many places. Rules on roaming cats differ by town, so check local animal-control rules if talks with the owner fail.
