As we all know, curiosity killed the cat. That curiosity may not be lethal to humans, but it certainly can wear on one’s nerves on occasion. If you kitty insists on perching where you don’t want him/her, here are some suggestions to keep them away from and off the “untouchables.”
A cat’s sense of smell is 9 to 15 times greater than ours. In fact, cats actually have two sense of smell organs. One has scent receptors in their noses like humans and also have a vomeronasal organ on the roof or their mouths that are more attuned to pheromones. For this reason, we cat lovers go out of our way to make sure to keep the homes our fur children share with us smelling good. On the other hand, if Miss Prissy is attracted to your favorite house plant, this can create friction, not to mention the stress of trying to decide which one has to go! Never fear, there is a solution.
If your cat likes to sharpen her claws on your furniture or other places where you wish they wouldn’t, try spraying them with natural cat repellant scents instead of using cat-repellant products that may contain harmful chemicals. There are quite a few plant smells that deter cats. They are rue, lavender, rosemary, mint, geranium, pennyroyal, coleus, and lemon thyme. Citrus fruit fragrances like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are also high on the list. Believe it or not, bananas are another smell cats hate because their senses detect it as dangerous because bananas produce ethene as they ripen. It is harmless and non-toxic to cats, but I’m not telling! Pepper, curry, mustard and cinnamon will produce the same repelling results. Other natural repellants are pine, cedar, wintergreen and menthol, but a word of caution here. These can be toxic to cats, causing vomiting and diarrhea.
If you enjoy essential oils or burning incense, your cat will definitely find a hiding place away from the smell. Though these are usually not harmful, some cats will cough, drool or have trouble breathing. Eucalyptus should NEVER be used around cats. If ingested it also causes vomiting, weakness and diarrhea. Onions and tomatoes are also hated by cats. This is because tomatoes, especially unripe ones, are toxic to cats. Once again, this is their survival skills kicking in . . . no wonder they have nine lives!
The one thing I can’t understand about cats is the smell they love. Have you ever noticed how your cat rubs against you and purrs after you’ve come in after working in the yard or home from the gym? And there’s nothing they love more than to curl up with a sweaty sock or underwear. This tells me that my cats love me even when I can’t stand to smell myself. Oh, well. Go figure?!!
