Do you know that cats have smells that they hate? Surprisingly, yes they do! Cats have very sensitive noses, and that’s why a slightly unpleasant smell can irritate them.
Cats also hate the smell that humans love, so if you plan to have a very expensive perfume that smells really good, then your cat may not be pleased with it.
There are around 45 to 200 million odor-sensitive cells in cats’ noses that are greater than humans’ which only have around 5 million. As an owner, it is very important to know what smells cats hate, so you could have happy felines. Let’s get to know more 10 smells that cats really hate!
- Strong Citrus Scents, Such as Orange Peels and Grapefruit
Strong citrus scent is one of the smells that cats hate so much! This can be a great idea for you to keep your cats away from certain places. You just simply spray a citrus spray around the area to discourage their presence! Citrus scents can come from oranges, lemons and limes.
Citrus is also listed as one of the forbidden fruits for your dogs.
- Pepper, Curry, Mustard and Cinnamon
Spicy smells like curry, pepper, mustard and cinnamon are the smells that cats have. The spicy smells associate them with potential toxicity. Peppers in fresh and ground form are avoided by cats. However, cats are able to consume sweeter variety of peppers, such as bell peppers instead.
- Banana
Banana is rich in potassium and cats are able to detect it. Unfortunately, they hate it! They believe that the smell of potassium in banana is similar to the smell of medications made of potassium chloride.
If you wish to keep your cats away from certain furniture, you can try rubbing the banana peels on it and they will be away for sure! If your cat happens to pee on the furniture, go check the ways on how to train your cat not to pee on furniture.
- Litter Box
Litter box, especially the dirty one, will surely be hated by the cats. If you haven’t cleaned up your litter box in a while, then your cat will surely rebel and start using the restroom or other places that is less favored. If you wish to have your cat using the litter box properly, then make sure you clean it regularly!
Are you trying to find some ideas to make homemade litter box for your cats? Then you can follow the steps in how to make a homemade cat litter box.
- Other Cats
Cats don’t have problems with the smell of other cats that they are familiar with. However, it won’t be the same if they smell the new comers. The smell of a new cat in your house may irritate them, your cats will turn into a tizzy. Worse than that, the smell of a new cat can cause your cat to spray the house.
If the old and new cats happen to fight, then find out the reasons why cats fight and perhaps you can find the best solution too!
- Household Cleaners
Cats do not like the odor from certain household cleaning chemicals. Beside from most being toxic if ingested, the chemicals in household cleaners are too much for your cats’ sensitive nose. As a result, they will try to avoid the areas those cleaners have been sprayed. Make sure to use gentle cleaners for your cat’s litter box.
- Essential Oils
Cats really love the scents of flowers and plants and they are fond to interact with them. However, when it comes to essential oils, they are not happy with them.
Essential oils have strong smells and they are too empowering. They may get severe reaction too! Smelling won’t create much harm, but ingesting them can be a big problem!
- Old Fish
Cats and human beings are similar. They love the taste of fish, but they hate the smell of the old fish, especially when it is out of date. Never ever give or feed your cats a spoiled fish. They won’t surely like it, and even though you force them to eat it, it might make them sick!
Random facts! Find out these rarely known reasons of why cats love fish.
- Pine
Though cats are pleasant to the sense of natural sands, but you are not supposed to abuse it with the intensity of the smell. Doing this would bring the opposite effect on the cat, and as a result your cats might hate the sand and reject it.
Try to use neutral-scented sand so your cat will feel more comfortable with his litter box and uses it instead of using other unfavorable places.
- Mint
Mint contains menthol and it is the smell that your cats hate. Cats can find this scent very irritating to their noses. Surprisingly, mint can also be toxic to cats though your cats should eat it a lot to feel sick!