What odors do cats dislike, and why should you care? Understanding which smells cats hate can have practical applications in the real world. For instance, if you’re trying to keep cats out of your garden, you’ll want to know which odiferous plants might ward them off. And if your cat is bothering your furniture (or even your Christmas tree), you might try spritzing the problem area with an odor that is unpleasant to him.

Do cats have a good sense of smell?

You might be surprised to learn just how powerful your cat’s sense of smell is—14 to 40 times stronger than a human’s, by some estimates. Because cats often experience odors more intensely than people do, they don’t perceive scents (good or bad) the same way. Let’s learn more about which smells cats hate.

Surprising smells cats hate

Not all cats will dislike these scents, but many of them do. Although some of these odors can be dispensed as essential oils, we don’t recommend using this method to deter your cat from certain rooms. Why? Because many essential oils are known to be toxic to cats.

Citrus: orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit

Citrus smells are widely reported as being repugnant to cats. You can use this to your advantage by throwing orange peels around your garden to keep cats away or spritzing a citrus scent on indoor fabric that you don’t want your cat scratching up. Citrus fruits are considered edible for cats (although most of them probably won’t be interested), but the skins and plant material may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or dermatitis.

Lavender, geranium, and eucalyptus

Some gardeners use lavender plants to deter deer, but you can also try this as a deterrent for felines. Likewise, geranium and eucalyptus plants give off an odor that cats dislike. Keep in mind that lavender, geranium, and eucalyptus are all somewhat toxic to cats; if ingested, they can cause excess salivation, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, depression, or dermatitis.

Rosemary, thyme, and rue

Cats certainly turn their noses up at certain common herbs, including rosemary, rue, and thyme. Rosemary and thyme are typically harmless to cats, while rue may cause a negative reaction (as it can in humans, as well).

Banana and mustard

While cats can eat banana and mustard (a winning combination, no?), they probably won’t want to. These common kitchen finds give off distinct odors that cats don’t particularly care for.

Pepper, curry, and cinnamon

Strong spicy aromas like pepper, curry, and cinnamon also tend to ward off cats. However, we do not recommend using cayenne pepper or other pepper flakes to keep cats out of the garden, as this could potentially harm them. Cinnamon is non-toxic to cats.