What smells do cats dislike?

Do cats have a good sense of smell?

Cats have a strong sense of smell. It’s thought their noses have up to 200 million odour sensors, compared to about 5 million for humans – this makes their sense of smell about 40 times stronger than ours. In the wild, their sense of smell would have helped them hunt, stay safe, and find mates. Nowadays, our pets still rely on their noses, using smell to explore their surroundings, sniff out food, other cats, and danger. Their strong sense of smell also means they can notice tiny scents we can't, which is why some things smell fine to us but will often repel your cat.

What smells do cats dislike?

So, what smells do cats hate? Cats tend to hate strong, sharp, or bitter smells. These are usually natural things that would warn them of danger in the wild. Think of citrus, vinegar, and strong herbs. These smells may stop cats from scratching or peeing where they shouldn't. But be careful. Not all scents cats hate are safe for them. Essential oils, for example, can be harmful to cats.

What smells do cats dislike the most?

Like humans, each cat will have their own individual tolerance to certain smells. However, generally, most cats hate citrus smells. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit would probably be at the top of the list of smells most cats hate. Cats also dislike vinegar, peppermint, and menthol. Other odours cats hate include strong spices like chilli and mustard, which tend to be too sharp for their sensitive noses.

What smell will repel cats?

If you want to keep cats away from furniture or plants, there are several safe smells cats hate, like citrus peels or vinegar spray. One way of doing this is to soak cotton balls in lemon juice or place orange peels around an area. These smells won't harm them but should stop them from going near whatever it is you want to keep them away from. Just remember, never use essential oils as some are toxic to cats, even if they smell nice to us. 

If you’re looking for ways to keep cats out of your garden, there are some natural and effective ways to do this. For example, you can try using cat-repellent plants such as lavender and coleus canina (the ‘scaredy cat’ plant), which have strong scents cats tend to dislike. 

Cats’ sense of smell and their food

If you’ve ever put down a bowl of food only for your cat to turn up their nose, you’re not alone. Cats are incredibly picky when it comes to what they eat – and their powerful sense of smell is a big reason why.

Cats rely on their noses to judge whether food is fresh and safe to eat. This means they can detect even the tiniest changes in their food's freshness – far beyond what we can notice.

In the wild, this super-sensitive nose would have helped cats sniff out prey and avoid spoiled meat that could make them ill. Even though our pet cats don’t have to hunt for their dinner, those instincts are still strong, and many will refuse food that smells even slightly ‘off’ to them – even if it looks fine to us.

7 smells cats hate

Here’s a quick list of smells cats hate the most:

1. Citrus – Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.

2. Vinegar – Sharp and sour and disliked by most cats.

3. Peppermint – A strong, minty smell many cats can't stand.

4. Lavender – Although calming to us, it tends to be too strong for cats.

5. Chilli – Hot and spicy smells are a big no for cats.

6. Mustard – Bitter and sharp.

7. Banana – Over-ripe bananas are a particular turn-off.

From citrus to vinegar, these smells are great if you want to keep them off furniture or stop unwanted behaviour. Just remember to always use safe smells to avoid harming your furry friend. 

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