Orange peels not only repel cats but also prevent them from touching their paws.
The citrus fragrance also prevents them from being attracted to your home and making it smell unpleasant. You can place peels on your porch, garden, or yard to keep cats away.
So, do orange peels keep cats away? Many people think that putting orange peels around the house will keep cats away.
However, this is only a myth. The truth is that this won’t keep cats away at all.
In fact, orange peels really aren’t that effective at deterring cats. This is because cats are very curious animals who enjoy sniffing around and investigating new things.
Even if orange peels do keep cats away, they shouldn’t be relied upon as a solution. Instead, it’s best to use a cat repellent spray or a cat repellent collar if your cat has been bothering you.
Do Orange Peels Keep Cats Away?
Cats loathe the strong fragrance of oranges, which gives them an unpleasant feeling in their bodies.
The same is the case with other types of citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, and grapefruit, as they contain the same scent in their peel and skin.
Do Cats Like Oranges?
Cats, like dogs, have very sensitive nostrils, and they react very strongly to smells that are unfamiliar to them.
As a result, oranges are claimed to smell like cat pee to cats, and they tend to avoid such places as they’re afraid they might catch a disease from them.
It’s worth mentioning that, although most cats loathe the scent of oranges, some may like it and even eat it when it’s available. In most cases, they won’t go near it because of their dislike for the smell of it.
It will be a matter of trial-and-error to find out your cat’s reaction to oranges. There are no two identical cats and they may respond differently to them, so you shouldn’t expect them to have the same reaction either.
Why Do Orange Peels Repel Cats?
Cats are said to hate the smell of citrus fruits such as oranges due to their strong aroma. So, when you place the peels in your house or yard to keep these pests out, the felines will stay away from these places as they can’t stand the smell.
Citrus fruits, on the other hand, contain a high amount of citric acid, which is a natural astringent that helps in keeping the fur of the cat moisturized and soft. It also acts as a mild antiseptic to keep the skin free from bacteria.
Because oranges are citrus fruits, they also have high levels of Vitamin C that act as a natural antioxidant in the body and help in protecting the body from infections and diseases by boosting the immune system.
Cats’ hatred of citrus fruits, particularly oranges, is the main reason why they are considered safe to have around children and pregnant women, as well as those who are allergic to citruses. They can benefit from the nutrients found in these fruits.
Citrus fruits also smell nice to humans due to their refreshing fragrance, and they add a touch of freshness to the house.
Cats’ noses are highly sensitive and their sense of smell is five times stronger than humans’, so they can easily detect the smell of citrus even if they’re placed far away.
As a result, the intense smell of oranges and other citrus fruits will repel them away from your house and prevent them from entering your property or harming your plants, as they won’t be able to stand the strong smell coming from these fruits.
As a result, the fragrance of citrus will repel cats away and keep the pests away as well, so they don’t enter your home and cause trouble.
Does Orange Peel Stop Cats?
Yes, orange peel can repel cats and keep them away from your property or garden area. Most felines don’t like the scent of citrus fruits like oranges.
Because orange peels have a high content of citric and other acids, they can keep pests like mice and rats away from your home. They’re extremely acidic in nature and help in keeping away rodents that can easily chew through wood.
Cats’ noses are very sensitive and they can smell the aroma of citrus fruits like oranges from a long distance away, which is why they keep away from such places as the pungent smell will irritate their sensitive noses and make them leave that place immediately.
They can smell practically everything and can easily distinguish from the scents of substances around them, which helps them stay alert at all times and prevent themselves from getting hurt by staying away from them.
Cats will flee a location immediately if they feel threatened in any way by the smells around it. So they’ll avoid places where strong odors are dominant and avoid getting into areas where they can be harmed easily.
Oranges and other citrus fruits have other important nutrients that help keep the body healthy and boost the immune system so it can fight off diseases and infections.
As a result, orange peel can keep your cat healthy as it contains many vital nutrients that can help in preventing diseases and keep your pet active and strong for a longer time.
What Does Orange Peel Do to Cats?
Cats dislike the scent of the peel of citrus fruits like oranges and will stay away from your house if they can detect the aroma of the peel of an orange or any other citrus fruit.
In general, the scent of citrus fruits like orange is very strong and can repel most felines from a place or a room due to the pungent odor that they give off.
This has no physical effect on your cat, but it might keep them away from a place where there’s such a strong scent, which will result in them leaving your house and not coming back.
Cats merely detest the aroma of the peel of an orange or any other citrus fruit and will avoid smelling it at all costs, as they are highly sensitive to smells and can be easily irritated by strong scents around them.
However, consuming citrus in the diet is not harmful for cats and won’t cause any harm. Keep in mind that consuming too much citrus in the diet can cause digestive issues.
Citrus is found all over the world and is widely used for its aromatic properties and for its many health benefits.
It may produce some side effects in some cats, but the symptoms might be mild or severe depending on several factors, such as the amount of the fruit consumed in the diet.
How to Deter Cats With Orange Peels
It is really rather easy to deter cats from eating orange peels, as you can easily use a combination of a few items to keep those naughty cats away from eating orange peels.
Keep the peels from your oranges, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits in a closed container or a sealed bag and place them in a location where your cat can’t get access to them.
If you want to keep them out of reach, then you can simply hang the bag or the container from the roof or anywhere high up where your pet won’t be able to reach it.
Otherwise, if there is a specific spot where you usually keep all your citrus peels, then simply place the container there.
It will repel the animals, plus orange peels are mostly bitter-tasting, and your feline friend will not like the smell of them at all.
Are Orange Peels Safe for Cats?
When employing any deterrent, you must be extra careful to make sure that they don’t pose any danger to the cat when ingested.
If cats eat these peels without being careful and without taking precautions, they could get citrus poisoning.
This oil is also responsible for causing vomiting in cats, and it can cause diarrhea as well if consumed in large amounts.
Citrus poisoning may pose some danger to the pet if immediate medical attention is not sought, so it’s advisable that you seek the assistance of a vet in such cases.
Also Read: Does Lavender Keep Cats Away?
Final Words
Orange peels may discourage cats from eating them as the scent and taste are too strong for them to tolerate, but feeding your pets with citrus fruits in their diet can be very beneficial for them.
Aphids and slugs are dangerous to the plants in your garden. If a cat is munching on too many of them, then he may develop tummy troubles.
Orange peels may be hazardous to cats, so make sure that you take the necessary precautions to keep your pet away from them.
