Smells cats hate (and why)

We can all agree that there are some odours that are downright disgusting (we don’t need to name any names here), but there are a few smells that our furry felines kick up a particularly big stink about. So, what smells do cats hate? Before testing whether your puss prefers your expensive lavender candle or a new pine-scented cat litter, take a look at our list of some of the smells cats hate and the science behind why cats find some smells ickier than we do.

Cats’ sense of smell

Whether it’s sniffing out marked territory, following the scent of treats, or catching a whiff of something toxic, a cat’s sense of smell is 9-16 times more powerful than that of humans. They’ve got super strong scent receptors in their noses, but it’s the sensitive vomeronasal organ located on the roof of their mouth that makes their sense of smell stand out from the crowd. Kitties use this special “taste-smell” organ along with their clever noses to understand the environment around them and gather information about people, objects, and other furry felines.

What smells do cats hate?

Citrus and fruits

The citrus scents of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit are enough to have your poor puss running for the hills. The peel of these fruits has a particularly strong odour which can give mogs an upset tum, perhaps explaining their otherwise irrational distaste for citrus fruits. Cats also have something in for bananas and tomatoes, both of which give off a strong scent as they ripen. 

Herbs and spices

Herbs such as lavender, rosemary and lemon thyme may smell lovely to you but your furry feline will be the first to disagree. Geranium, mint and eucalyptus are toxic to cats and can cause vomiting, depression, and dermatitis, so that explains why they want to steer clear of the herbs. Our furry friends also associate spicy foods with toxicity, so they will do their best to avoid strong smells like pepper, mustard and curry. While we’re at it, kitties hate the smell of onions too, which is probably why your cat dislikes your cooking! 

Strong perfumes and fragrances

While some of our feline friends may have a penchant for expensive perfumes, most of the time, strong fragrances will give them the ick. Essential oils such as eucalyptus, tea tree and peppermint are toxic for cats, and pine and cedar scents are not as pleasant for our feline friends as you might think. 

Vinegar and household cleaners

Vinegar and household cleaners are high on the list of scents cats hate and are likely to have your furry feline backing out of any recently cleaned rooms. 

Coffee

There’s nothing like waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee… but our kitties disagree. Caffeine can actually be poisonous for cats and dogs, so don’t try offering them a morning brew any time soon. Check out our blog post for more info on what foods cats can and can’t eat.

Dirty litter box

Unsurprisingly, our feline friends will usually turn their noses up at a dirty litter box (we don’t blame them!). This is one to look out for, as one sniff is all it takes for your feline friend to take their “business” elsewhere. 

Other furry felines

Whether they can smell another feline on their favorite human or they’ve noticed the scent in their preferred garden spot, mogs dislike the smell of other mogs. I mean, how would you feel if someone else had been on your turf without asking?!

Why cats hate these smells

Ok, we’ve established that our furry felines have got a pretty superior sense of smell which perhaps explains why they find so many odors overwhelmingly gag-worthy. But domesticated cats have also mastered the art of sniffing out odors that could be toxic to them, meaning they’ve got their clever sense of smell to thank for keeping them safe. But that doesn’t mean they’re always spot on - take lilies for example, which are highly toxic but smell great to our furry felines.  

Using this information

In general, you and your cat sitter should avoid exposing your furry feline to any of the smells cats hate. But how do you deal with strong odors if you’ve got a cat in the house, and can some of these items be used as a safe way to deter cats?

Avoid strong fragrances

Have you noticed furry felines steering clear of you? You might think you smell great, but most cats hate the smell of strong fragrances. 

Use essential oils with caution 

Remember that many essential oils can be toxic to cats if ingested, so make sure you don’t leave them lying around the house.

Use natural cleaning products 

Lots of household cleaners contain items on the list of smells cats hate, so you may want to switch up your cleaning products if your kitty seems wary of recently cleaned spaces.

Use smells cats hate as a deterrent 

Some puss parents use their furry feline’s loathing for certain smells to their advantage. As cats dislike citrus smells, placing orange peel or another non-toxic cat deterrent is an easy, safe way to make an area “out of bounds”. Does vinegar keep cats away? Yes, it's a smell cats hate, so using a vinegar-based cleaning product may stop adventurous kitties from jumping onto countertops. Be sure to do this with caution, as stinky odors travel and can end up making your home smell very unwelcoming for your poor puss.

Why are cats so cute?

Next up, we explore another of life's Big Questions: why are cats so cute to humans? Get in the know here.