Some cats hate citrus scents.
If your cat seems irritated by a lemon-scented spray, this may be why. However, this isn’t a cause for concern.
Natural lemon scent can both repel and authenticate the fragrance of your best-smelling candles. So, does lemon scent bother cats?
Cats can be picky, especially about scents. Cats can smell up to 100 times better than humans, and they don’t like scents that aren’t pleasing to them.
Some scents that cats don’t like are lemon, lavender, and citrus. However, cats also hate strong smells like ammonia, cigarette smoke, and perfume.
Does Lemon Scent Bother Cats?
Most people are familiar with the citrus scent of lemons.
But can cats actually get offended by this smell? The answer is yes, they can!
Cats have an amazing sense of smell, and lemon is one of the scents that they dislike. This is why lemon-scented products must be avoided when cats are in the house (or in any room where your cat spends time).
Cats may also get offended by other citrus scents, but lemon is the top offender.
The mucous membranes in the eyes swell when the scent of lemon is inhaled.If you rub a lemon on your cat’s fur, it will start licking at the fur to get rid of the sour taste.
This can cause skin irritation on the cat’s skin, which may lead to other health issues.
Inhaling the lemon scent can also cause stomach irritation. The citric acid in the lemon can cause the acids in the stomach to become unbalanced. This can irritate the stomach lining.
If you rub lemon on your cat’s skin, it can burn the fur and cause some skin irritation. Cats also have sensitive skin, and this may cause some itching and scratching.
This can cause some hair loss, which can also cause some skin infections.
Cats also have sensitive eyes, and lemon juice can irritate them. The citric acid in the lemon can cause the eyes to swell, which can make the cat rub its eyes more often.
Why Does Lemon Scent Bother Cats?
Have you ever noticed that the smell of lemons makes your cat act a little weird? Well, it’s not your imagination. But why does lemon scent bother cats? And what can you do about it?
Cats have a keen sense of smell and dislike strong scents, so the smell of lemons might make them uneasy. The smell of lemons can also cause their eyes to water and their noses to itch.
Cats hate strong odors because they remind them of things that smell bad—like dead animals or urine. Lemon smells so similar to ammonia that your cat may associate the two together.
Avoid using cleaning products that have a strong scent, like ammonia and bleach. When cleaning your cat’s litter box, use a scent-free or mildly scented litter. Avoid using scented candles and air fresheners at home.
If you must clean with something with a strong scent, apply it to your cat’s paws instead of its fur. This will help neutralize strong odors.
Is Lemon Scent Toxic to Cats?
The lemon scent is toxic to cats. The citrus fragrance of lemons is poisonous for cats, so even though you love the smell of lemons, avoid putting them in your cat’s reach or spraying them around your home.
If you plan on putting lemon scent in your cat’s food or water, dilute it with a cup of water first.
How to Use Lemon Scent to Deter Cats
Lemon-scented products are often used to deter cats from urinating or scratching on objects such as furniture, chairs, and walls.
Cats have a keen sense of smell, and they can detect the smell of citrus a mile away.
If you have a cat that pees on your possessions, then using lemon-scented products may be an effective solution. However, cats have sensitive noses and can smell lemon, even from diluted solutions.
This means that you should not use strong lemon juice to deter cats. You should instead dilute it with water.
To deter cats with lemon scent, follow these steps:
Buy Some Lemon-scented Dish Soap
You can buy lemon-scented dish soap at your local grocery store. Make sure that the dish soap you choose is made with lemon oil and is non-toxic.
If the dish soap contains bleach, then use it sparingly because bleach irritates cats’ eyes, noses, and throats.
Dilute the Dish Soap With Water
Use 1 cup of lemon-scented dish soap for every gallon of water. Then, dilute the dish soap with water.
The dish soap must be diluted with water and you cannot just spray the surface of the object with it.
The dish soap must be sprayed directly onto the object and rubbed in gently with the cloth.
Use Lemon-scented Oils
You can also make your own lemon-scented oils to deter cats from urinating on objects. Mix 1/2 cup of lemon oil or vinegar with 1 gallon of water and spray the mixture onto an object. Use a soft cloth to gently rub in the mixture.
Do Cats Hate Lemon Oil?
Cats hate it when lemon oil gets on their fur. If your cat has a habit of getting stuck on the couch, and you can’t pull him out, use lemon oil.
Sprinkle a few drops of lemon oil on your cat’s fur and he’ll find your couch irresistible. Lemon oil is a fantastic option for domestic cats as well as wild ones.
Just be careful when handling lemon oil because you don’t want to get any on your skin or in your eyes.
Are Scented Candles Bad for Cats?
Most scented candles aren’t dangerous for cats, and they can be very helpful when there’s a storm or your pets are scared at night.
They may generate a soothing and celebratory atmosphere in your home as well as keep insects away.
However, cheaper paraffin-based candles may release fumes that are toxic to pets.
Also Read: Is Lemongrass Safe For Cats?
Final Words
The lemon scent can be a great air freshener, but not if your cat is in the room.
Cats have very sensitive noses, and the lemon scent can bother them. Cats may scratch at furniture or walls to rid themselves of the scent.
However, lemon scent can also have health benefits for cats, so it may be a good idea to place some lemon-scented items near your cat’s food dish or litter box.
