Does Chilli Powder Deter Cats? Cats and dogs have been household pets for thousands of years, but over the past few decades, cat ownership has increased drastically across the world.
Although cats are adorable, sometimes their frequent visits to your garden can become annoying as they may attack and kill your plants, tear up the furniture and even damage your paintwork with their claws.
Some people resort to using toxic chemicals or traps to deter cats from entering their property; however, natural remedies such as chilli powder are ideal for keeping cats at bay without causing them harm or suffering.
Below we discuss how to use chilli powder to deter cats from your garden or neighbourhood.
Will Chilli Powder Hurt Cats?
Cats love to eat and explore anything they can get their paws on. Unfortunately, cats will often find their way into areas that are off-limits for them.
Therefore, it is important to know about the dangers of cats eating things that are not good for them, such as chilli powder.
Cats have a sensitive digestive system and when they consume something spicy, it is likely to cause vomiting and sometimes diarrhoea. These symptoms can last up to two days or until the cat has fully recovered from the spiciness in its stomach.
The most dangerous aspect of chilli powder is that it can cause a cat’s red blood cells to burst; this ultimately leads to kidney failure which can result in death.
How to Use Chilli Powder to Deter Cats
- Sprinkle Chilli Powder
Cats can be destructive and even dangerous, especially if they have access to the outdoors. One way to deter cats is to sprinkle a small amount of chilli powder around the perimeter of your home.
Chillies contain capsaicin, which is a chemical that irritates their nasal passages, eyes, mouth and skin. The tiny granules will not harm them but will cause them discomfort and make them hesitant about entering your property.
You can also try hanging some rags soaked in chilli oil or sprinkling cayenne pepper on things that you don’t want them to explore.
- Make a Cat Repellent Spray
The following recipe will make a cat repellent spray that is one hundred per cent natural. You can make it at home with the ingredients listed below:
- one cup of white vinegar
- ten drops of lemon juice or citric acid
- two tablespoons of liquid soap or dish detergent
- ten drops of eucalyptus oil or tea tree oil (optional)
Add all the ingredients together in a spray bottle and mix them well. Spray on any surface you want to keep cats away from, like your garden.
Keep in mind that this mixture can also be dangerous for animals so spray away from them too!
What Other Spices Will Deter Cats?
There are many other spices that can deter cats from eating your food or spoiling your garden. Garlic, pepper, and onions all have a strong smell that will make your food unappetizing to any animal. Here are some of the species that will deter cats.
- Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a natural herb that can be used to keep cats away from certain areas. Sprinkle cayenne pepper on top of your furniture, near the door or window you want to keep cats out of, and in gardens where cats tend to play.
You can also make your own cat repellent spray by boiling cayenne pepper with water and spraying it around your home. The smell of the cayenne pepper will deter cats from coming back to these areas.
Be aware that this may have an adverse effect on some humans as well; if you have sensitive skin or allergies, so, it’s not the best idea to deter cats from using cayenne pepper.
- Mustard Powder
Another way is to sprinkle some mustard powder on the ground near your plants or bushes. This will make them think that you are growing hot peppers, which they don’t like to eat. You can also mix a little bit of cayenne pepper in with the mustard powder for more effect.
In a recent study, the researchers found that cats may experience some discomfort after coming into contact with mustard powder. According to WebMD, dogs typically avoid areas where they feel uncomfortable and may become agitated when they are exposed to mustard powder.
This can cause them to stop chasing mice or other prey animals. For this reason, many people use mustard powder as an animal repellant for their yards. Since cats have similar reactions to dogs, it is plausible that the same would happen with cat repellants.
- Cinnamon
Cats have a very keen sense of smell and can be deterred by the use of spicy smells. Cinnamon is an excellent deterrent to cats because it smells strong and is not appealing to them. Although they don’t like it, there are other, more effective methods that you could try if cinnamon isn’t enough.
An outdoor ultrasonic cat repeller will keep them away from your porch or garden while emitting annoying sound waves that cats hate.
There are also motion-activated sprinklers that spray water when anything moves in their range, which will scare any cats away within seconds.
- Black Pepper
If you have a cat and have tried everything to keep it from scratching up your furniture, maybe it’s time to take matters into your own hands. A popular deterrent is a pepper, but how much do you need to use to scare off your feline friend?
It’s easy as sprinkling some on the couch or carpet because cats don’t like the smell of pepper. To really make them think twice about their next scratch, try this recipe: Mix two tablespoons of black pepper with two tablespoons of water in a spray bottle and shake well.
Spray liberally on areas where cats are known to scratches, such as couch cushions, carpeting near drapes, and the edges of furniture near the floor or you can also try this remedy in your garden.
- Paprika
This can be a great deterrent to deter cats from scratching furniture, digging in gardens and fouling outdoor areas.
Sprinkle the powder liberally around any area where you would like to keep cats out. The taste of the chilli causes their paws to feel itchy and uncomfortable when they touch it.
They also associate the smell with unpleasant sensations so will avoid coming near to it again. It is more effective if you use whole dried chillies rather than flakes or powder. Simply scatter them across the surfaces that are at risk of being damaged by the cat.
Read this also – Does Chicken Wire Deter Cats?
Summary about Does Chilli Powder Deter Cats
Cats are notorious for their curiosity, but they can be territorial and aggressive if they feel threatened. The jury’s still out on whether chilli powder actually deters cats.
The idea that it does is based on a single study conducted in the 19s. In this study, cats were given food with a mix of chilli and non-chilli powder. The result was that the cats ate more of the non-chilli powder than they did of the chilli powder
One of the best ways to discourage a cat from coming into your yard or jumping on your car is to keep it away with the help of chilli powder. This doesn’t mean that you should go out and buy a bottle of chilli powder just yet.
You can just sprinkle it I your garden or nearby areas which you want to keep safe from the terror of cats or if you do have no chilli powder then, you can use other ways to deter cats that we have mentioned in the article above.
We hope that you like our article. If yes, then do share with your friends or comment down below how’s your experience after applying these remedies.
Good Luck!
Meet Tomas Clayton, a seasoned plant gardener who has been passionate about horticulture since he was a child. Tomas John developed a love for the natural world and a strong appreciation for the beauty of plants while growing up on a farm.
