Random neighborhood cats lounging on your porch or doing their business in your yard can be more than just a little annoying, even if you’re a cat person.
If you have dogs, they likely go insane, shattering the silence with their barking whenever cats are on your porch. Sometimes, it seems like our feline friends live to drive dogs crazy.
But even if you don’t have dogs, you may just want the cats to stay off your property. Whether they are stray cats, feral cats, or they belong to a neighbor, you can enact several easy solutions today.
Here are the top 3 most effective cat repellents you should get:
How to Keep Stray Cats off Your Porch
Before you resort to extreme measures like trapping or expulsion, there are some humane methods you can try first to keep stray cats away.
Gather Information
Whenever you have a cat problem, it’s a good idea to find out whether the cats are feral cats or they belong to someone.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. If the cats have collars, chances are they belong to a neighbor. But finding out which neighbor can be difficult.
If you happen to know who the cats belong to, consider discussing the issue with them. They may be willing to keep the cat indoors (which is much safer for the cat). If not, as cat lovers, they probably know what will be the best deterrent to keep the cat off your porch.
If the cats are strays, consider finding a shelter or non-profit that offers Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) services. This can help keep the stray cat population in your area under control. If you do call an animal control service, realize that a lot of the cats that go to shelters will end up being euthanized unless the shelter is express “no-kill.” This is why contacting a TNR program or a no-kill shelter is important.
Wash Your Porch
Before you decide to use any of the options below, washing your porch off is well worth it. Using bleach and water or an enzymatic cleaner, like Nature’s Miracle, should do the trick.
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One of the reasons cats keep coming onto your porch is that they’ve marked the territory as their own with their urine. Once you’ve cleaned off their markings, it will be easier to deter them with any of the tactics below.
Deter With Water
It’s a well-known fact that cats hate water, so it’s an easy, low-cost way to deter them. You can do this in any number of ways. A regular spray bottle works, as does a garden hose or even a cup of water if you’re quick enough.
If you have kids, arm them with water guns and give them a mission to spray any cats they see on your porch. Enough of this; the cats will learn that your porch = wetness. They’ll find somewhere else to congregate.
Repel With Smell
The smell is another useful way to keep stray cats off your porch. Cats hate many scents, so spreading them around your yard and porch can be an effective method. Here are some natural repellents you can use.
- Citrus – Cats are not fond of the smell of citrus, so sprinkle citrus juice around and place fruit rinds (such as lemon peels or orange peels) around your porch. You’ll have to repeat this process every few days as the smell fades until the cats stop coming back. Non-toxic citrus spray can also work for this.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Cats hate the smell of vinegar. Mix it with equal parts water and spray it around your porch. If you don’t have Apple Cider Vinegar, you can try using white vinegar instead.
- Mint – That minty mouthwash in your medicine cabinet can be mixed with a bit of water and used as a cat deterrent, too!
Deter With Plants
Plants are also a good natural cat repellent. You can place these plants around your front yard or directly on your porch in planters or flower beds. They have a smell that is pleasing to humans but can be unpleasant for cats.
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Citronella
- Holly
- Blackthorn
- Rue
- Lemon balm
Use Repellent Spray
Specially-made commercial cat repellents can also be an effective method to keep cats off your porch. This one, from Nature’s Mace, has some good reviews.
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The overall reviews for this product are positive, and the few bad reviews may stem from improper use of the product. So make sure you follow the directions to the letter if you purchase a commercially-made spray.
Use an Ultrasonic Repellent Device
There are a ton of ultrasonic-repellent devices on the market. They are solar-powered and have a motion sensor that activates high-frequency sounds that only animals can hear. This, combined with the flashing light that many of them have, sends cats running.
The best one on Amazon seems to be from Broox.
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It has a 110-degree zone and works anywhere within 30 feet. So you can place it in front of your porch to scare cats away. It has a solar panel and can be charged with a USB cord.
If you decide to shop for one of these on Amazon, make sure to read the reviews carefully. There seem to be some shady practices with many of these product sellers. The vast majority of the reviews are for different products, which is disconcerting.
The one from Broox mentioned above is legit, according to my research. It has a lot of positive reviews that are actually for the product.
Try an Automatic Sprinkler
Similar to the ultrasonic unit, this one hooks up to your garden hose and uses a spray of water to deter cats (and other animals) from coming onto your porch, garden, yard, etc.
It has an adjustable motion sensor, so you can change the sensitivity if you have plants nearby that move in the wind. You can also adjust the arc of the spray.
The stray cats will soon associate your yard with a spray of water and steer clear. It’s powered by batteries (included) and shoots short but effective sprays, so it’s not wasting water and running up your bill.
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Block Off Openings and Create Physical Barriers
It’s always possible that the cats are drawn to your porch (or under it) for shelter or food. Keeping hungry cats away will be hard if you have mice or another food source under or around your house.
But you can make sure to block off any openings that allow access underneath your house or porch. If the cats can’t get to the food or shelter they’ve found at your house, they’ll move on eventually. Chicken wire can create an inexpensive and effective barrier to cats.
Create a Sanctuary Nearby
Sometimes, the easiest way to keep cats off your porch is to give them some other place to hang out. If they like your porch for shelter or food, it’s worth asking around to find out who, if anyone, in your neighborhood is feeding them.
You can then ask that person or persons to move their food source to a different location and/or build the cats a small shelter where they can spend their time instead of wreaking havoc on your porch.
This is a more involved approach, but it may be necessary if none of the other options work.
How To Keep Cats Off Your Porch Furniture
Sometimes, cats are attracted to porches because of the comfortable or scratch-worthy furniture there. If you think this is one of the reasons cats are congregating on your porch, there are some porch furniture-specific solutions you can try.
Double-Sided Pads: These are sticky on both sides to keep cats from scratching items up.
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Furniture Protectors: These are sticky on one side and slick on the other, making it impossible for the cat’s claws to find purchase.
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Aluminum Foil: Cats don’t like the feel of foil under their paws, so sticking some of this on your porch or furniture may work.
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What Can I Spray on My Porch to Keep Cats Away?
One of the most effective ways to keep cats away from your porch is by spraying straight or diluted vinegar around the area. Cats dislike the smell and taste of vinegar, so it’s a good way to keep them from coming back.
Lemon juice also has a strong scent that cats don’t like, so you can also try spraying straight or diluted lemon juice around your porch.
What Not to Use to Keep Stray Cats Off Your Porch?
Several suggestions online can cause injury or death to cats and other animals alike. All of the solutions above are humane, and I would like to take a moment to share some solutions that you shouldn’t use.
Mothballs: It’s true that mothballs can keep cats away, but they can also cause health problems for small animals. The chemicals in mothballs are considered carcinogens by several health agencies and should only be used as directed on the packaging.
Essential Oils: Cats don’t like the smell of essential oils, but if they get some on their skin, lungs, or stomach, it can cause serious health problems and even death. If you have indoor cats, it’s also a good idea to keep essential oils out of reach and avoid using the new potpourri sprays that use them.
Pepper: While sprinkling cayenne pepper around your porch or garden is common advice to keep cats away, recall a time when you were handling peppers and accidentally touched your eye. That’s essentially what you would be doing to cats, which is no fun.
Stick to the humane treatments above. After all, cats aren’t irritating you on purpose, although it may sometimes seem like they are.
Frequently Asked Questions
What scent keeps stray cats away?
There are several scents that are known to keep cats away, including citrus, vinegar, coffee grounds, garlic, ammonia, vinegar, and mustard oil. These scents can be used alone or in combination to create an unpleasant environment for stray cats.
What loud sounds do cats hate?
Loud noises such as whistles or air horns can scare cats away. Additionally, the sound of running water can also be effective at deterring cats from returning to your porch. Some ultrasonic repellent devices can also be effective.
Are there any humane ways to keep strays away?
Yes! Motion-activated sprinklers are a great way to humanely keep cats off your porch. These devices detect movement and emit short bursts of water to startle the cats and deter them from returning.
What plants repel cats?
Several plants are known to repel cats, including lavender, lemon thyme, citronella grass, and rue. Planting these herbs around your porch can help to deter cats from entering the area.
You can also try hanging citrus peels or pieces of garlic near your porch or entryway to keep cats away.
Are there any foul odors that will repel cats?
Foul odors such as ammonia and vinegar are known to be unpleasant for cats and can be used to keep them away from your porch.
How to keep cats out of my yard without harming my dog?
Getting rid of any potential sources of food keeps cats out of your yard without harming your dog. Make sure that your trash cans are secure, and don’t leave pet food out in the open.
Before You Go…
If you’re struggling with another cat-related problem, check out these articles as well: