Why cats don’t like citrus fruits, are fruits harmful to purrs?

Gardening » Citrus

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Kira Stoletova

Cats are much more sensitive to odors than humans. Tangerines, grapefruits, lemons and oranges are unpleasant for cats due to their strong aroma.

Citrus scent for cats

The smell of other cats

When a cat is sexually active, she is interested in other cats. When the period of sexual arousal ends, the aroma of relatives begins to irritate the animal. An adult cat can become especially angry if another cat is placed on its territory. However, animals are more tolerant of kittens.

It's interesting that cats can communicate, make friends or fight without even seeing each other. They do this with their scents.

What to do if your cat is poisoned by citrus fruits?

If an animal is poisoned by citrus fruits through the skin, then the first thing to do is wash the pet in warm water to completely eliminate the smell. Then dry it and go to the veterinarian as soon as possible to prescribe treatment. If your cat has eaten food that contains citrus fruits, then you need to immediately go to the veterinarian, because only he can prescribe the correct treatment.

It is worth remembering that when treating a cat for citrus poisoning, as a rule, the stomach is washed and special medications are administered. Also, body temperature is checked, and the condition of the whole body is carefully examined to identify any allergic reactions that have manifested themselves.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus has a repellent effect on many animals, including cats. The fact is that a pet smells several times stronger than a person.

If a cat gets into the habit of marking some place in the house, then an aqueous solution based on eucalyptus oil can scare it away. Mix a few drops of oil with water and spray the marked area with this solution.

Do all cats hate the smell of citrus fruits in the house?

Despite the fact that cats are afraid of the smell of citrus fruits, among them there are those who not only calmly tolerate this smell, but are also not averse to enjoying a piece of fruit. It’s hard to say why this happens, and why some cats perceive citrus fruits normally, while others may suffer from the insidiousness of such a delicacy. If you are peeling, for example, a lemon, and your cat is sitting next to you and the juice splashes on it, as often happens, then be sure that your pet will no longer be present when cutting the fruit.

If you notice that when cutting citrus fruits, your cat does not react in any way to the strong smell, then this is a reason to be wary, because it may happen that the cat does not smell the smell. This problem can be associated with both a cold and other diseases. Therefore, at the first signs of lack of sensitivity, contact a specialist as soon as possible. Remember that scent for an animal is one of the most important senses, without which a pet cannot live fully.

Essential extracts and oils

People love the scents of essential oils, but furry pets don't like them. For this reason, many owners use oils to repel animals.

Thanks to its natural composition, the essential oil is safe for your pet. For example, to prevent your cat from eating your house plants, you can spray them with an aqueous solution based on essential oils. Capricious cats will not like oils containing notes of orange, lavender, cinnamon, and rosemary.

How can you use your cat's dislike of citrus fruits for beneficial purposes?

From the above, you have already understood that with the help of citrus essential oils you can wean your animal off unwanted things. Let's take a closer look at the options in which citrus fruits will help train your pet:

If your cat does not go to the litter box, but does it in another place. If you are faced with such a situation, then you can apply citrus essential oils to the places where the cat relieves itself, and be sure that it will not go there again;
If your cat often breaks furniture or chews wires. Many people think that this problem occurs only among those who have dogs. But, in fact, cat owners also face this problem. All you have to do is apply a few drops of essential oil on the furniture or wires and your problem will be solved;
If your cat is marking territory. Those pet owners who have a cat know that at a young age these little furry friends constantly mark their territory, for example, corners, things, etc. This is a serious problem, because this smell is extremely difficult to remove. Therefore, if you want to get rid of such a problem or avoid its occurrence, then take note of this simple method;

But this method has several nuances. Firstly, the essential oil will quickly dissipate and its smell will not be felt, so you will have to repeat this procedure often until the pet learns to behave as expected. Secondly, there is a more serious problem such as allergies. Many pets cannot tolerate citrus odors and may suffer from them, so consider whether the risks are worth it and consult with your veterinarian to make sure your cat is not allergic.

Citrus scents

Most cats, when they smell citrus, run as far away from it as possible. The fact is that when cutting the fruit, aromatic substrates are released that irritate the pet.

Dislike of citrus smells is often used to train an animal. Essential oils are used for this - they are used to treat wires, furniture, etc.

Author: Elena Romanenko
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Cats do not like certain scents

Many veterinarians agree that cats and citrus fruits cannot possibly be in the same place. Animals despise citrus fruits:

For their smell. Essential oils can harm animals.
For their appearance. Some animals are afraid of the appearance of fruit.

Owners should not once again traumatize the psyche of their pets and terrorize them through the use of essential oils and citrus fruits. If a cat goes to the toilet in the wrong place, then you should choose more gentle methods of control that cannot harm the animal’s sense of smell.

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We suggest you read: Why do cats fight with dogs?

To prevent unpleasant consequences caused by inappropriate behavior of indoor or outdoor cats, you can use their dislike for certain scents.

Like people, cats have several scents that they cannot tolerate.

Moreover, individual odors can have different effects on furry pets. The most common scents are:

cause a subconscious feeling of fear in the animal;
instills a feeling of disgust in pets;
cause feelings of anxiety and threat.

All this will allow you to achieve the main goal - protecting personal belongings and certain areas of the apartment or entrance from the interest of animals.

The surest way to convince your pet to avoid a favorite pot of flowers or a soft blanket is to treat things with substances with a repellent aroma. These include:

Perfume products with a strong odor. Perfume or toilet water is a strong irritant for almost any cat. That's why you can spritz your favorite blanket with a generous amount of your favorite perfume. True, it is not a fact that after this the owners will feel comfortable sleeping under a blanket that smells fragrant throughout the entire apartment. But it should be remembered that sooner or later the smell will disappear, and by that time the cat will have already developed a reflex to prohibit approaching this object.
Citrus aromas. The smells of lemon, tangerine or orange have a very strong effect on cats' sensitive sense of smell. To protect a separate corner that the cat has chosen for his toilet, it is enough to treat it with a small amount of lemon juice. You can also leave fresh lemon or orange peels there, which exude aroma.
Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar essence can keep your pet away from a flower pot or favorite chair for a long time. One drop of this liquid is enough, and the cat will stop jumping on the chair or using the wrong place for his toilet.

All these substances have a repellent effect on cats. You can use such products not only for treating home areas, but also for weaning street cats from your entrance, basement or attic.

Reasons for disgust

Pets do not like the fruit itself, but only its intense smell. At first acquaintance, he rather causes bewilderment and a little fear, which subsequently develops into a hostile state.

Lemons, oranges, tangerines and other fruits contain large amounts of essential oils in their juice. Thanks to it, these fruits acquire such a concentrated and pronounced smell. Cats have a well-developed sense of smell. For example, humans have only about 5 million olfactory receptors, and any member of the cat family has at least 50 million. These animals perceive the aroma of citrus fruits as extremely harsh and irritating to the receptors. According to the laws of wildlife, such a smell cannot be emitted by an edible object. This means that it poses a potential danger and should be avoided.

Reference! Some cats, due to the characteristics of the breed or the presence of diseases, have a reduced sense of smell. For them, such a smell is not an irritant and they can calmly try a slice of lemon or orange.

What dangers do citrus fruits pose?

A few drops of lemon or tangerine juice will not harm your pet. But if he eats two or three slices of these fruits, this can result in health problems:

indigestion;
exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases;
negative effects on the liver.

In severe overdoses, this product can be fatal.

Industrial production means

Industrial cat repellents are mainly presented in the form of chemical aerosols and sprays. Their functions are varied. For example, protecting shoes, furniture, walls, floors and even the most secret corners in the house from an unwanted place for a pet to defecate. Sprays are also used to eliminate the unpleasant odor of cat urine.

It is best to choose products with natural composition:

Water is the main component of a chemical spray or aerosol.
Eucalyptus (lemon, lavender, castor, rue) oil – gives the compound a characteristic pungent odor that repels pets.
Glycerin is an emulsifier - an auxiliary substance for mixing immiscible liquids. For example, water and essential oil.

The controversial component in the spray or aerosol is methylchloroisothiazolinone. This substance belongs to the group of synthetic preservatives that destroy bacteria, fungi and mold. It is a powerful allergen and toxic to cells of the immune system of animals and humans. The presence of this component in deterrents can cause severe allergic reactions and dermatitis.

Professional products are also used to repel cats at home. Sprays are used indoors. It is necessary to spray the washed areas chosen by the cat for marking - this way he will learn to go to the toilet only in the litter box. If your pet gets into the habit of relieving itself on the property, it is necessary to place granules around the perimeter of the garden.

What are the possible negative consequences of home “aromatherapy”?

It’s not enough to know what smell cats can’t stand. You need to check if your pet is allergic to it. You need to treat the surface with a small amount of the drug and observe the pet’s reaction. A slight increase in salivation and lacrimation is allowed, which disappears as soon as it leaves the area of action of the smell.

Surface treatment rules:

Cleaning the premises. It is necessary to remove traces and the smell of the cat’s vital activity from the marked areas so that the pet no longer associates them as places for the discharge of natural needs. Detergents with alcohol, homemade solutions with citric acid, soda and potassium permanganate remove odors well. After cleaning, the room must be ventilated.
Application of a substance with a repellent odor. You need to wipe the surface with a solution of essential oils, herbal decoction, etc., and then place pieces of cotton wool soaked in the same substances near it. It is necessary to periodically change the cotton wool, as the smell gradually disappears. It is necessary to treat only those areas that the cat has chosen, because a pet that is followed by an unpleasant odor everywhere becomes restless and irritable.

Next, you need to observe the cat’s behavior - this will allow you to determine why he is marking his territory. If, after the ban, he began to relieve himself in the owner’s favorite chair, the matter is most likely a desire to maintain his authority or resentment.

Smell repelling is not always a safe method of influencing cats that are marking their territory. Improper use of repellents leads to a deterioration in the cat's health, which manifests itself in the form of symptoms such as refusal to eat, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or, conversely, restless behavior.

How does a cat's sense of smell work?

Cats are very sensitive to odors, both repulsive and attractive. Usually, when owners call on smells to fight hooliganism, they only remember the first ones, but the second ones are also effective.

The sense of smell of various animal species is usually assessed by the number of olfactory receptors. According to this indicator, a cat’s sense of smell is 14-16 times better than ours, and a dog’s is 42-64 times better. Cats smell more than just their nose. They, like some other animals such as dogs and horses, have a vomeronasal organ, which provides a peripheral sense of smell. People don't have that.

If you open a cat's mouth, you will find a small round flat formation immediately behind the upper incisors. This is Jacobson's organ, or vomeronasal organ.

With its help, they smell pheromones - special volatile substances with an individual odor that animals secrete to mark the border of their territory and attract individuals of the opposite sex. In addition, pheromones can transmit both anxiety and a sense of security between members of the same species.

When a cat tries to “sniff out” pheromones, he opens his mouth slightly, breathes a little faster than usual, and breathes shallowly. The expression on his face is quite specific.

The smell cats don't like is their main ally

In order for odors that cats don’t like to help in the fight against the pet’s unwanted preferences, you should follow a fairly simple scheme, namely, get rid of the smell of cat coffee and apply a smell that he doesn’t like to the surface that attracts it.

So, for example, if a cat is inclined to mark territory, based on this recommendation, you should treat the marked corner with some cleaning agent, and then make it smell unpleasant to the animal, for example, put a grated clove of garlic in it. Believe me, for a couple of days the cat will avoid this place.

Other problems can be solved in a similar way - damage to furnishings, attempts to eat flowers from the windowsill, ignoring the tray. However, it should be remembered that smells that are unpleasant to a cat alone cannot correct the situation - be that as it may, you will have to make sure that the animal satisfies its needs in a different way.

Thus, if a cat scratches a chair, you need to treat its upholstery with lemon juice and purchase a scratching post for it. The cat must understand that “you can’t do this here, but you can do it there” - the “nowhere” system will not work in this case