Are certain smells driving your cat crazy? While we love our cats, we all agree they can be somewhat…finicky. Whether it’s their food preferences or their refusal to leave your bed, cats can be very particular about what they want. A cat’s olfactory glands are no different. Certain scents can drive your cat right up the wall! Show First of all, it’s important to remember just how sensitive your cat’s nose is. No, we don’t mean when you boop it. Cats’ sense of smell is 14 times more intense than a human’s. They have scent receptors throughout their entire head, which allows them to protect themselves as well as find food and mates. Mostly because of evolution, cats feel very strongly about the scents they like and dislike. Here are some scents your cat definitely dislikes: CitrusWhen life hands you lemons, keep them away from your cat. Cats hate the scent of lemons, limes, grapefruits, and oranges. It’s not the taste though. Some citrus fruits, especially lemon, can be mildly toxic to cats if ingested. No wonder they want to stay away! MintSome forms of mint are toxic if ingested by your cat, so they avoid it for good reason. Cats find the smell too pungent and will avoid it at all costs. That said, it’s still best to avoid keeping a mint plant in your home within your cat’s reach. You know what they say about curiosity and cats, after all. SpicesThough you might love a heavily seasoned meal, your cat will probably find it rather jarring. Cats perceive strong spice scents such as cinnamon or pepper as dangerous. Certain spices, like cayenne pepper, can cause a cat serious gastrointestinal distress if consumed. Cleaning ChemicalsIf you’re new to having a cat, you might be tempted to go even harder on the home scrub-downs now that a feline lives with you. Be warned though—many cats will find these scents too severe and downright offensive. A Dirty Litter BoxJust like you don’t prefer using a bad-smelling, messy bathroom, cats like their space to be clean before they go. If the litter box hasn’t been cleaned, a cat might refuse to use it altogether which can result in messes around your house or worse—a kidney infection in your kitty. Make sure to regularly clean their litter box and keep everyone happy. PineOften found in cleaning products, this smell is particularly bad to cats. You should make sure to avoid this scent if you’re using any products to clean the areas around your cat’s food or litter box. EucalyptusThis is another example of cats hating a smell because it indicates danger for them. The essential oil of the eucalyptus plant can be very toxic to cats, so cats tend to hate the smell of both the distilled oil and the plant itself. Some Other CatsCats are, at the end of the day, animals with instincts. They guard their territories with adorable ferocity. The smell of a new or foreign cat might annoy your kitty and cause them to act out. However, once a cat is accustomed to another cat’s smell, they generally don’t mind. If you’re bringing home a new cat roommate, try keeping them separated at first and only introducing them to each other’s scents via fabric. Soaps and PerfumesWhile cats don’t hate the idea of getting dolled up on principle, they are very sensitive to the scents of your grooming routine. Be wary of the scent notes contained in your soaps, perfumes, and lotions. Certain notes will turn a cat off and make them potentially act out towards you, or worse—ignore you! BananasA delicious source of potassium, the banana is no friend to most cats. They find even the scent of the outside of the peel quite awful, and they tend to avoid it. Bananas are not toxic to cats though, so some people prefer to use them to repel cats from furniture or gardens. Old FishOkay, no one likes this one. Some people might think that because cats are animals, they will eat just about anything, but cats are very picky consumers. Cats do love the taste of most fish, but they can keenly smell when something’s gone bad. This is another evolutionary trait designed to protect cats from eating something that can make them sick or potentially kill them. If you’re feeding your cat fresh fish, always be wary of the smell and the date you purchased it. Just like you, your cat is unique. Not all cats hate the same scents or react the same way to the ones they do dislike. Keep an eye on your cat to notice certain scent triggers. When it comes to cats, the nose knows! Does your cat immediately leave the room when you light your holiday cinnamon-scented candle? There’s a reason for that. Cats hate the smell of certain scents. To find out what smells cats don’t like and why they don’t like them, The Dodo spoke to some experts. Here are some scents your cat will definitely try to avoid: Citrus
Coffee
Caffeine is toxic to cats, so it’s a good thing that your cat stays away from it. Banana
Strong and spicy scents
“Strong, biting smells, like pepper and cinnamon (both spicy) and mint or wintergreen, are repulsive to cats,” Hudson said. Cats also hate vinegar because of the pungent smell. And cats don’t like strong artificial scents either. “They also aren’t big fans of scented litters, heavy soaps, detergents, body sprays or perfumes,” Dr. Sarah Wooten, a veterinary journalist and veterinarian with Pumpkin Pet Insurance, told The Dodo. So don’t be offended if your cat wants to stay away from you when you’re wearing perfume. Herbs and plants
Essential oils
“Cats usually avoid the smells of essential oils, which are also toxic for cats,” Dr. Brian Evans, clinical director of Dutch, told The Dodo. Dirty litter box
“They also love the smell of a clean litter box and detest dirty litter boxes, and they inform you of their dislike of dirty boxes by urinating or defecating somewhere else in the house,” Dr. Wooten said. So be sure to keep your cat’s litter box clean — for your cat’s benefit and yours. Why do cats hate some smells?
“There are some 200 million olfactory (smell) receptors in the nose of a cat, compared to 5 million in the nose of a human,” Dr. Wooten said. Because cats’ sense of smell is so strong, harsh, spicy and acidic scents are way too much for their noses to handle. A lot of these strong-smelling substances are also toxic to cats, so when they smell them, the scent is telling them to stay away. “Cats use their noses to inform themselves about potential danger (predators or things that are toxic to them) and food,” Dr. Wooten said. “If they don’t like the smell of something, there is something within their brain that is telling them that particular scent is associated with something dangerous or undesirable.” For example, capsaicin, the substance in peppers that makes them spicy, can cause mouth and skin irritation and stomach problems in cats, so cats want to stay away when they smell it. But keep in mind that some cats can be attracted to toxic substances, like beer, so just because your cat likes the smell of a food doesn’t mean it’s safe for him to eat. What smells do cats like?
“Cats love the smell of catnip, olives, non-citrus fruit for the most part and plants like honeysuckle,” Dr. Evans said. A lot of cats like the scent of valerian root, “which induces a similar euphoria to catnip,” Hudson said. Valerian root is also an alternative for cats who aren’t affected by catnip. Your cat may like the smell of your chamomile tea, too (and plain, non-caffeinated tea is safe for cats, so he can even have a sip). “Chamomile leaves also attract cats and calm them as well,” Hudson said. Chamomile has anti-anxiety properties for cats like it does for people, but ask your vet before giving your cat any because too much can be toxic. How to use smells as a cat deterrent
“You can utilize vinegar or citrus to deter cats from certain areas,” Dr. Evans said. For example, you can spray one of these scents on your couch to teach your cat not to scratch it. And you don’t have to worry about a gross smell either. “The good news is that these aromas, [like cinnamon], are pleasing to humans,” Hudson said. “So you can reroute your cats with, for example, potent cinnamon sticks that also act as a homey air freshener.” There are also sprays made specifically as deterrents that you can buy, like this one from Amazon for $16.99. So next time you’re wearing perfume or cologne, and your cat won’t come anywhere near you, you’ll know that it’s nothing personal! We independently pick all the products we recommend because we love them and think you will too. If you buy a product from a link on our site, we may earn a commission. Dodo Shows Dodo Heroes Woman Devotes Her Life To The Stray Dogs Of Bali |