What are cat repellers for and how do they work?
Repellers allow you to correct unwanted pet behavior.
If a cat ignores the scratching post, having decided that the new sofa is better suited for keeping his manicure in order, it will be difficult to explain to him why the owner is categorically against it. It is useless to punish, you cannot beat, you can only act by cunning.
Cat repellers
Depending on the current situation, it is easy to choose the option that will be the most effective and safe for the animal.
Its use can solve the problem without losing the owner’s nerve cells or breaking the trusting relationship with the pet. Let's consider all the available options and situations where the use of each type is shown.
Repeller sprays
Liquids are suitable for daring a cat to tear up furniture, climb curtains, wander around the balcony, where he, carried away by the contemplation of birds, butterflies, and other noteworthy game flying by, can fall down, receive serious injury, and break.
The spray is sprayed onto prohibited objects from a distance of 20-40 cm. The composition of the drug includes a concentration of substances that is harmless to owners and animals and has an irritating effect on the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract.
Most drugs have an unpleasant, pungent odor that will be felt not only by a cat’s delicate sense of smell, but also by the human sense of smell. Application directly to plants is not recommended; it is better to treat pots, borders, and nearby pegs. There are individuals who are indifferent to the unpleasant aroma. In this case, you can try a similar product with a different main component or try to choose a different type of repeller.
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Ultrasonic repellers
These devices produce sounds that are beyond the range of perception of the human ear, but animals respond well to them: cats, dogs, birds, rodents. For them, signals with frequencies of 15-27 kHz cause panic, discomfort, a feeling of anxiety, and an approaching threat.
Ultrasonic repellers are ideal for use in the private sector. Suitable for residential use. The range of models allows you to choose a device that runs on mains power or batteries. Some manufacturers equip them with a built-in sensor that responds to movement. Can be supplemented with light and sound effects. You need to find out about this from the seller when ordering the product; it is also worth checking whether a guarantee is provided.
Range of action – from 100 sq.m. and more. Such devices are quite expensive, but as a universal means of preventing the appearance of rodents in the house and snakes on the property, they are liked by many people who do not keep animals in the yard and do not like strangers wandering onto their property. Online stores offer a huge number of devices, which are delivered to any region.
Repellers from improvised means
For those who like to walk around the table or window sill, foil placed on an attractive surface can help them get rid of the habit. Slippery, loudly rustling, cold, cats don’t like it. A similar effect has adhesive tape placed with the adhesive side on top. Having stuck once or twice, the animal will be careful not to climb again.
Placed peels of citrus fruits: oranges, lemons, grapefruits will save you from marks, puddles and piles under the bathroom, in corners, under the sofa. The volatile components contained in the zest are not liked by cats. A door washed with water and vinegar will discourage passing cats from leaving marks on it.
How to stop a kitten from tearing up furniture and wallpaper
Weaning a cat from damaging property involves replacing the favorite scratching object with a similar material. You won't be able to stop scratching forever. This procedure is vital for a cat.
Scratching posts and cat furniture
This method is universal and suitable for animals of any age. A scratching post is an object covered with fabric or sisal. It can be a flat board, cone, wave, column or other shapes. You can find a scratching post at any pet store.
The variety of shapes, materials and colors will help you choose a scratching post for any design and for any picky person with a mustache. There is a more interesting option - a play complex, which consists of houses with scratching posts connected to each other.
When buying a gaming complex for a cat, they provide it with a place to warm up, play, relax and sharpen its claws. Models are also multi-tiered, up to the ceiling. The happy owners of such houses do not worry about the safety of their furniture.
Spray repeller
Cats have a keen sense of smell and cannot tolerate strong odors. If you apply such a scent to a surface chosen by a cat, there is a chance that the cat will lose interest in it. The main thing is that the smell does not irritate a person and does not stain the upholstery.
You can buy the finished spray at a pet store or prepare it yourself. The latter option is made from an infusion of spices, as well as a mixture of water and citrus essential oil.
Another type of spray contains cat enzymes. This composition leaves an odor similar to the smell of secretions secreted by cats. Having felt this smell, the cat decides that it has already marked this place and, perhaps, will refuse to scratch it.
The spray can be purchased at any pet store
Traditional methods
A popular method is to scare the cat away from its favorite place. To do this, use any slippery, rustling and sticky materials. For example, attach foil or double-sided tape to the torn area. For these purposes, a sticky transparent film was invented, which is purchased at a pet store.
Another method is negative consequence. Its essence is to create a frightening noise during the scratching process. When the cat starts scratching, a bunch of keys or a baby rattle falls next to him. The main thing is that the cat does not see how the owner throws the thing.
You can attach clinging material to a torn wall
Another option for negative reinforcement is to spray water from a spray bottle or children's water pistol. Only this punishment must be carried out at the time of the offense, but not later.
The most interesting method
You can buy special claw covers at the pet store. These things are attached to the top of the claw with glue and fall off with it about once a month. False claws are harmless to cats and do not interfere with the ability to retract their claws freely. They usually have bright colors and special glue included.
Claw stickers
Which cat repeller should you choose?
There is no universal remedy designed for all cases. Essential oils and zest will cost pennies, but you shouldn’t expect unsurpassed results from them. Ultrasound is reliable, but it negatively affects the psyche of a pet, provokes fear at home, and a desire to run away outside.
Sprays are not suitable for all owners (asthmatics, allergy sufferers) and may not have the desired effect on a particular cat. It is better to start with the least expensive methods that are easy to use, taking a radical approach as necessary.
Grad Duos S
Two speakers produce ultrasound with an acoustic pressure level of up to 120 decibels. This can be compared to the volume of sound at a rock concert or during a severe thunderstorm. Acoustic signals from the device affect animals within a radius of 20 meters.
The frequency of the ultrasound changes so that the animals do not get used to it. The algorithm for such a restructuring sounds completely unpredictable for animals. The device has two speakers. They are located at a distance from each other and at a certain angle. This ensures the formation of a uniform ultrasonic field throughout the entire radius of action.
The motion sensor detects any activity. When it detects movement, it will start generating a series of knockback signals at full volume that will not stop until there is no movement in the radius.
The ultrasonic cat repeller is easy to install, the brackets rotate freely. Thanks to this, it can be installed both vertically and horizontally. It can also be mounted on an inclined surface: door slopes or eaves of a building facade. The device weighs 120 grams, there is no need for durable fasteners.
How to use a cat repeller correctly?
When installing an ultrasonic repeller, you need to understand that waves do not pass through dense obstacles or lose some of their power. Rooms with thick walls, a lot of furniture, and carpets on the walls weaken the impact of the repeller and reduce the radius of the protected space. In this case, it is more effective to purchase several devices of lower power, installing them in each room, than one designed to cover a wide area.
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Houses with several floors are equipped with at least one device on each floor. For small rooms, it is not recommended to buy a powerful ultrasound emitter; this can negatively affect the “legitimate” inhabitants and cause discomfort to people.
The device is installed on the wall at a height of 100-120 cm from the floor surface, directed towards the potential route of entry for strangers. It is recommended to take related measures: bury holes dug under the fence, patch holes in the fence, and limit access.
Parameters of electronic devices that instill fear in cats
The action of ultrasonic repellers to get rid of unwanted cats is aimed at the animal’s hearing organs. The device emits a sound that is not given to humans to hear by nature.
For an animal, such volume is unbearable. The cat will not want to test the ultrasound again and will avoid this place.
When purchasing a repeller, you should consider the following parameters:
- signal propagation range;
- method of electrifying the device (batteries, accumulator or mains);
- the presence of an alarm that triggers the device when a cat appears in the protected area;
- territory of use (room or street);
- operating modes and functionality.
Each buyer decides independently how much money he will allocate to fight cat vices.
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How to Make a DIY Cat Repeller: 5 Steps
A simple, absolutely safe, environmentally friendly, inexpensive repellent for scaring away cats inside the house or apartment is easy to make yourself:
- Buy a spray bottle, preferably glass. Water deteriorates in plastic, oils quickly lose their aromatic properties and disintegrate. The optimal volume is 0.5 l.
- Fill the container with water. It is not necessary to use purified water; ordinary tap water will do.
- Add any of the given set of aromatic components to it.
- Carefully move everything, shaking the container.
- Spray the solution all over the areas that you plan to protect from cat attacks.
Homemade spray options can be used in apartments where there are small children without fear:
- Buy essential oils of lemon, rosemary, and orange at a pharmacy or specialty store. Add 5-10 drops of oil to the bottle, shake thoroughly before spraying.
- Mix water with 1 chopped clove of garlic, add ½ teaspoon each of ground black pepper, mustard powder, cinnamon, add 5-8 drops of lemon oil.
- Take an equal amount of liquid soap and vinegar to 1 part water, spray the mixture or use it as a surface cleaner.
Before use on textile surfaces: upholstery of upholstered furniture, decorative pillows, floor coverings, it is necessary to carry out a test spraying in an inconspicuous place to see if the protection will leave stains or marks.
The cat itself cannot be sprayed. When treating street bushes, fences, foundations, etc., you will have to repeat the procedure every 4-5 days, after rain, fog, heavy dew, essential oils are volatile substances, the aroma loses its strength.
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Vladimir, 58 years old, shares his experience of raising a domestic cat
Our Ryzhik loves home flowers: he broke the small ones and settled down to sleep in the big ones, dragging the soil all over the house. On the advice of a professional, I purchased the spray.
We left two pots with plants, large and small, in a place accessible to Ryzhik and sprayed them every 12 hours.
The smell is not unpleasant: citrus with cinnamon. On the first day, the cat sniffed it and, offended, went to sleep on the sofa. In the evening I tried again and realized that it would take a long time.
Three days later, the flowers returned to their places, after being lightly sprayed. But Ryzhik has already lost interest in them.
Raising a pet is possible. Moreover, manufacturers felt the demand and filled the market with various products.
Why suffer yourself and create a stressful situation for your furry pet. It is impossible to know everything. But you can always find a specialist for all questions.
If folk remedies in the form of vinegar and orange peels do not scare the cat, use the recommendation of a pro and buy a modern repellent device. And then, as the famous cat Leopold says to everyone: “Guys, let’s live together!”
Where are cat repellers most often used?
The places where different repeller options are used depend on the purpose being pursued. Wanting to wean their pet from doing illegal things and going to the toilet past the litter box, owners use sprays in the apartment. The option of having ultrasonic equipment is popular in summer cottages and courtyards of private houses.
Allows you to avoid not only the visit of neighbor's cats, but also stray dogs, squirrels, and other living creatures. They are often installed in warehouses to prevent the appearance of rats and mice.
If the cat was walking on its own and came to a warehouse, store or office
An organization that is looking for a repeller to protect premises from unwanted animals will benefit from a universal, multifunctional device. It can switch to the necessary modes, for example against rats.
Such devices have additional options: a bright flash or a siren, which turn on only when an animal appears and greatly frighten it.
What is not allowed when using ultrasound for cats?
The use of ultrasonic emitters used for educational purposes has rules, violation of which will harm health and negate the desired result:
- You can't keep it on all the time. Cats with a strong nervous system will get used to the annoying sound and stop reacting to it. Animals with a fine mental organization, unable to withstand the constant state of anxiety and impending danger, will try to escape to a “quiet” zone, get lost, become victims of stray dogs, or get run over by a car.
- You cannot bring the device to the animal’s ears; this does not threaten hearing loss, but the cat will be very scared. The situation can provoke a persistent feeling of fear towards the owner, the person who performed the manipulation.
The device does not cause physical harm, but its effect on the animal’s psyche in some cases is strong, leading to loss of appetite, sleep disorders, and stress.
Reasonable use of repellers helps to solve behavioral nuances, get rid of the unpleasant smell of tags in an apartment, on a property, eliminate damage to plants, the appearance of heaps, puddles in inappropriate places.
When spraying secluded places suitable for an animal to use as a toilet, you should take a closer look to see if the tray is too small for the cat, try changing its location, try switching to a different type of litter, or increase (decrease) its quantity.
Have you used any types of repellers, did they help in solving the situation, which type was the most effective?
"Ecosniper LS-937CD"
The device will prevent dogs, cats and dogs from approaching within a distance of 200 square meters. This model of outdoor ultrasonic cat repeller can be used in the following places:
- At checkpoints. The device prevents animals from entering closed areas: indoor warehouses, food processing plants.
- In the area around the house. The device protects people from contact with aggressive and stray dogs, stray cats, which are often carriers of various infectious diseases.
- In the area of schools, kindergartens and hospitals. It is especially important here to protect children from stray animals, because not every child understands that a nice-looking cat can cause significant damage to its health.
The ultrasonic cat repeller is mounted on a wall, pole or any other support; its body is protected from the effects of precipitation. The power of the device is only 1.5 W, which allows it to be used around the clock.
