You and your cat need to have a serious discussion. The side of your favorite couch has been scratched…again. You have tried several options: scratching posts, scolding them, and maybe even gently spritzing them with some water as a deterrent. Nothing has worked.
If this is a repetitive scenario with your cat, something to consider is a cat repellent spray that will deter them from using your furniture as their personal toy. There are many types of sprays on the market, but it might be hard to select the right one for your cat. This article reviews the top 10 best cat repellent sprays for furniture that you can choose as the best fit for your feline and your home.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Inscape Data Pets Deterrent Spray |
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Best Value
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Nature's Miracle Cat Repellent |
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Premium Choice
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Comfort Zone Calming Cat Spray |
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3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Bitter Training Spray |
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Paws Keep Off! Cat Repellent Spray |
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The 10 Best Cat Repellent Sprays for Furniture
1. Inscape Data Pets Deterrent Spray – Best Overall
| Active ingredients: | Rosemary oil, citrus extract (orange) |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | Yes |
Many cat repellents are on the market, but our recommendation for the best overall cat repellent spray for furniture is Inscape Data Pets Deterrent Spray. It contains natural ingredients that will keep cats from using your furniture as their personal scratching toy and prevent them from chewing on things. The bitter element is a citrus extract, which cats do not like. But the scent is still pleasant for most people in the house. You can also use this spray to deter pets from coming into certain rooms as well as it is effective on carpets and doorways.
Some users of this repellent do find the orange scent to be a bit powerful, so people who are sensitive to scented products might find this cat repellent spray slightly overwhelming.
2. Nature’s Miracle Pet Block Cat Repellent – Best Value
| Active ingredients: | Sodium lauryl sulfate, cinnamon oil, lemongrass oil |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | No |
Nature’s Miracle creates many pet stain and odor products, so cat owners will be pleased to know that Nature’s Miracle Pet Block Cat Repellent is our recommendation for the best cat repellent spray for furniture for the money. This repellent uses cinnamon and lemongrass oil, which is a combination that most cats do not like. While many cat owners have successfully used this repellent to keep their cats from scratching, some have stated that their cats are not deterred by it.
Most cat repellents take a few extra sprays before you start seeing them take effect. This repellent does need to be reapplied a bit more than some other brands, so it would not be best for use on outdoor furniture.
3. Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Calming Cat Spray – Premium Choice
| Active ingredients: | Analogue of feline pheromone, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether |
| Plant-based: | No |
| Contains bitters: | No |
One of our other favorite products is the Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch Control Calming Spray. This one gets a special mention because the formula for this repellent tries to mimic feline pheromones that indicate safety and comfort. Many cats scratch or spray urine due to stress or anxiety. The pheromone-like scent lets cats know this is a safe environment, thus reducing their urge to scratch. Comfort Zone Spray & Scratch takes on a different approach to keeping cats from scratching the furniture by creating a calming atmosphere instead of deterring them away due to odors they do not like. Since the active ingredients are not scented oils, this repellent is excellent for people who have sensitive sinuses.
One thing to consider with this product is that it only comes in small sizes: 2 ounces or 4 ounces. It can be costly to restock the repellent.
4. 3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid with Bitter Spray
| Active ingredients: | Rosemary oil, lemongrass oil, cinnamon oil, and bitters |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | Yes |
If your cat scratches as well as chews on your furniture, another recommendation for a cat repellent spray is the 3-in-1 Cat & Kitten Training Aid and Bitter Spray. You can use this formula for three different purposes. The first purpose is as a general repellent to spray on your furniture. The blend of the ingredients allows this formula to be sprayed on all materials. Next, this repellent contains bitters which will help keep your cat chewing on things around the house. Thirdly, you can use this formula outside because it can withstand the weather and not wash away quickly.
Some buyers of this product say that this is not as effective on things that are not furniture, like plants and rugs.
5. Paws Keep Off! Cat Repellent Spray
| Active ingredients: | Methyl nonyl ketone |
| Plant-based: | No |
| Contains bitters: | No |
Another good choice for a cat repellent spray is Four Paws Keep Off! This cat repellent spray can be used both indoors and outdoors, though some users of this product have stated they need to reapply the spray more often in outdoor settings. The Four Paws Keep Off formula uses a chemical blend rather than a scented oil blend.
Some people do not like the chemical smell; however, people have also had positive results with this product in terms of how well the cats are kept away from furniture or drapes. The directions on the bottle suggest that the spray be tested on a small patch of fabric to check for staining before applying the spray to a large area.
6. PetSafe SSSCAT Motion-Activated Cat Spray
| Active ingredients: | HFO-1234ze gas |
| Plant-based: | No |
| Contains bitters: | No |
For people who do not want to use scented sprays to keep their cats away from their furniture or specific rooms, we recommend the PetSafe SSSCAT Motion-Activated Cat Spray. This spray emits an odorless gas whenever your cat gets into a place that it should not: on the sofa, the kitchen countertop, or even in certain rooms. This is also a good option for people who are not at home for most of the day and cannot keep a constant eye on their scratching feline friend. If you have a few places in your home that you want to stay scratch-free, buying a few of these sprays to cover all areas can get expensive. In addition, some people have noted that they get sprayed even if they are not very close to the can.
7. Petsvv Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray
| Active ingredients: | Rosemary oil, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | No |
One of our top choices for plant-based cat repellent spray is Petsvv’s Cat Scratch Deterrent Spray. The combination of rosemary, peppermint, and lemongrass oils as the active ingredients in the plant-based formula creates a pleasant scent for the cat owners but helps keep the feline away. You can use this spray on all types of furniture, curtains, wires, and rugs. However, because this formula has scented oils as the active ingredients, some people with sensitive sinuses have found the smell overwhelming.
8. Nature’s Mace Cat Spray
| Active ingredients: | Cinnamon oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, garlic oil, putrescent egg, lemongrass oil |
| Plant-based: | No |
| Contains bitters: | Yes |
Some cats love scratching on both indoor and outdoor furniture. Some cats will even go so far as to chew on some garden plants while they have the chance as well! If that is the case, our recommendation for an outdoor furniture cat repellent spray is Nature’s Mace Cat Repellent. While this repellent can be used indoors, the formula makes it able to withstand various weather conditions, hence why it is best used as an outdoor spray.
Although it is an outdoor spray, it cannot be applied directly to plant leaves or flowers. Rather, spray this near the base of the plants or around the perimeter of your lawn. However, some users of this spray say that the bottle ran empty before they covered most of their lawn.
9. Cat Guard Pro Pet Safe Furniture
| Active ingredients: | Water, emulsifier, and fragrance oil |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | No |
Most of the cat repellent sprays only come in one scent. For cat owners who want to have some choice in their cat repellent sprays, we recommend Cat Guard Pro Pet Safe Furniture. This repellent can be purchased in four different scents: original, eucalyptus, lavender, or lemon. People with sensitive sinuses will appreciate having a choice on what they spray on their furniture. No matter which scent you choose, all four formulas are made with plant-based ingredients.
People who have used this product have stated it effectively keeps their cat away from their favorite scratching zones; however, this product can leave an oily residue. Use this product lightly to see how it affects your furniture.
10. Pet MasterMind Cat Spray
| Active ingredients: | Distilled water, proprietary cat pheromone, passion and jasmine flower medley |
| Plant-based: | Yes |
| Contains bitters: | No |
Sometimes, cats scratch furniture, carpets, or curtains due to anxiety or stress. The cause of the stress can be for a variety of reasons, so using a calming aid can help reduce their need to stress-scratch. Our recommendation for a calming aid is Pet MasterMind Cat Spray. Instead of using scents that deter cats, this formula uses pheromones and a flower medley to help create a calm environment for your feline. Spray this in places where your cat is prone to scratching to reduce their feeling of stress or anxiety. Since this formula is not designed to repel cats entirely, there have been mixed reviews on the overall effectiveness, as some cats enjoy scratching furniture to stretch their muscles.
Related Read: How to Cat Proof Furniture: 5 Tips and Tricks
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Repellent Furniture Spray
It can be stressful when your cat scratches on your furniture, especially if your favorite couch looks like it has been put into a blender. Some cat owners think that repellents are going to be a miracle cure for cats who scratch furniture. However, besides declawing, there is no single universal solution that will stop every cat from scratching. Plus, declawing will have many negative effects on your cat, and it is not something that many vets recommend as a furniture scratching solution.
Something that some cat owners have tried is using a scratching post in addition to using cat repellent. Cats scratch on things to keep their claws maintained and to help them to stretch their muscles. Spraying your choice of repellent on the furniture you want to keep scratch-free, as well as giving them a scratching post, will help encourage them to use the right things.
Things to Consider When Buying Cat Repellent Spray
This list covers our top picks for varied cat repellent sprays, from plant-based to mimic-pheromone-infused formula. However, it can still be a bit hard to know which one to try. Before you buy a cat repellent spray, here are some things to consider:
Final Thoughts
Cat repellent spray can be quite effective for many cats. However, not all cats will respond to the spray right away. It is important to let some time go by after you initially start to spray. Do not expect the cat to leave your furniture undisturbed immediately. Usually, it is best to spray the area more so the cat will start to sense the odor. Give the spray some time before you make a final decision on its effectiveness.
Here is a quick recap of our favorites: we suggest Inscape Data Pets Deterrent Spray as our best overall pick thanks to its list of natural ingredients and high efficacy at keeping your felines away. If you want to try a repellant spray but are on a budget, try out Nature’s Miracle Pet Block Cat Repellent.
- Next on your reading list: 10 Best Cat Repellents and Deterrents in the UK – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: sklyareek, Shutterstock
