Lavender oil effectively repels cats, and it can also be used to deter other troublesome pests.
Although it may smell good to you, your cat will not like it. You might experience a few stray dots on your couch or carpet after spraying it on your curtains and carpets.
So, does lavender keep cats away? Many cat owners wonder whether lavender will keep cats away.
It does! In fact, lavender essential oil has several benefits.
Lavender oil has antimicrobial properties, so it keeps cats away by killing germs and bacteria on their fur and paws. It also has an antifungal and insecticidal effect, killing lice and fleas on cats.
However, it’s not the only essential oil that keeps cats away. Citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, and rosemary oil are all other essential oils that have the same effect.
Does Lavender Keep Cats Away?
Lavender plants have the added benefit of repelling rodents like mice as well.
Natural ways to keep cats out of your yard or garden include lavender plants and essential oils like rosemary oil and citronella oil, which keep cats and rodents away.
Cats dislike the fragrant scent of lavender. Thus, lavender will keep cats away because of its dislike.
Furthermore, lavender also has antibacterial properties and thus keeps away rodents such as mice.
This herb is harmless to cats as well as to people, but certain compounds in the lavender plant cause irritation to a cat’s sensitive skin.
Lavender plants can be added to your garden.
Cat owners should note that although plants repel cats, this may not be practical if you have a large garden because you’ll need several potted plants to keep the felines off your property.
Dried Lavender
Lavender may also be dried and kept in the house to keep cats and rodents at bay.
Dried lavender is less effective than fresh, and dried leaves may wilt after a few days. However, they still repel animals because of their strong scent and taste.
Cats and dogs will stay away from your home if you sprinkle dried lavender on your carpets or rugs.
The strong lavender scent emanating from these leaves will keep the animals away from your home for a long period of time.
Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is made by distilling the flowers and leaves of the aromatic plant to produce an oily substance with antiseptic properties.
Lavender oil provides effective protection against mosquitoes and other insects. It also prevents the growth of mold and mildew.
However, it also works to keep cats and dogs away from the house because of its odorous nature.
Cats don’t like the smell of lavender, so they won’t go near places that smell strongly of the herb.
Make a combination of lavender oil and water in a spray bottle and place it near the areas where you suspect your cats are hiding or entering.
Lavender Plants
Lavender plants are generally grown outdoors in the garden, but they are also suitable for indoor planting in pots.
Lavender bushes have a distinct purple color that makes them easy to identify at a distance. However, they come in different colors like white and pink as well.
Lavender, on the other hand, has violet flowers that bloom during the summer season and emit a strong smell when crushed.
They dislike the pungent aroma of this plant and will avoid areas with the plant growing in them as much as possible.
Is Lavender Oil Safe for Cats?
While looking for solutions to keep cats off your property, you may be tempted to use chemical-based repellents.
Cats may be repelled by the smell of these chemicals, but they can also harm their health in the long run.
They have the ability to defecate on the treated surfaces and may ingest the chemicals.
This is not to imply that you should avoid using chemical-based repellents; just be aware that they can be dangerous for your cat’s health.
When using lavender oil to repel a cat or rodent from your property, keep it in a cabinet or away from the reach of children or pets.
Because lavender essential oil is very concentrated, it may irritate the skin if directly applied to the skin of a human or animal.
Cats may get gastric problems if they consume large amounts of essential oil. Therefore, store the oil out of reach of your pets at all times.
Is Lavender Toxic to Cats?
Lavender in all its forms is toxic to cats.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the form of dried leaves, tea, oil, or supplements; all are harmful to cats.
The major components of the herb that are responsible for the toxicity are linalyl acetate and linalool.
These two components are harmful to cats and may lead to kidney damage, coma, and even death in some cases.
Do Cats Like the Smell of Lavender?
Lavender does not smell pleasant to humans; in fact, some people find it nauseating and repulsive.
Lavender has a pleasant fragrance that attracts bees to the flower. However, the same scent is not attractive to cats.
They are repulsed by the strong smell of this plant and can stay away from areas where it grows in numbers.
As a result, lavender plants should be kept away from the areas where cats tend to enter your home, such as windows, doors, and the garden.
How Do You Use Lavender Oil to Repel Cats?
Scent-Diffuser
A plastic bottle and some tea light candles are all you need to get rid of pests from your home.
Simply cut an aperture in the body of an empty plastic bottle that will hold a tea light candle snugly and fill it with water.
Then, add a few drops of lavender oil to the water and you will have your own diffuser that can be used to keep away dogs or rodents from your house.
Lavender Spray
Another technique to utilize lavender oil is to make your own spray.
The same combination we used to make cotton balls can be used to make spray, which makes the repellent effective over a long period of time.
It repels cats and rodents most effectively when used in the areas where these critters tend to hide.
How to Use Lavender Oil to Rid Your Yard of Cats or Rodents?
Cats dislike the strong aroma of the lavender plant and will avoid areas with the plant growing in them as much as possible.
Simply fill a bucket with a mixture of water and a few drops of the essential oil and place it in areas where you think the cats are hiding during the day.
To keep the mixture working, add fresh lemon peels to it every day. This will help the mixture work better.
Cotton Balls
The first thing you ought to know is that cotton balls are extremely absorbent. Therefore, they will soak up any liquid that is sprayed on them very quickly.
To make your mixture, use three tablespoons of water and four drops of essential oil for every two cups of dried lavender flowers.
You may soak cotton balls in the mixture and place them in places where you find the cats.
After that, you may scatter these soaked cotton balls around your yard where the cats usually hide to keep the animals away from your garden.
Also Read: Can Cats Eat Sage?
Final Words
Lavender can successfully repel cats if it is used in the appropriate way. However, it is not as effective against rats and other rodents as it is against cats.
Lavender plants exude a scent that is unappealing to felines but attracts insects such as bees. Consequently, the bees will feed on the flowers and spread the scent to the surrounding areas.
To keep cats away, you should keep these plants away from your house, garden, or any other place where they tend to hang out.
To keep cats away, spritz some essential oils in your surroundings that are likely to attract these animals or keep some cotton balls soaked in the mixture around your garden.
