If you’re here, chances are that you are not a cat person and you are worried about cats being a nuisance for your vegetable garden or flowerbeds on your lawn. You may be seeking a way to discourage cats from entering your areas.
It is a well-known fact that all kinds of spices and pungent smells keep cats away. So, it is only fair to ask if black pepper has the same effects. After all, even black pepper is a spice – one of the more common and easily available ones, indeed!
The short answer is yes. Black pepper, along with other kinds of peppers such as cayenne pepper and white pepper work as an effective repellant for cats.
Read along as we figure out how effective is black pepper, how to make your own DIY black pepper cat repellant, and what are some good alternatives to black pepper in order to keep unwelcome cats away?
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How To Make A Black Pepper Spray To Keep Cats Away?
Cats, not unlike human beings, cannot tolerate the smell of black pepper. Black pepper makes the best of us sneeze – so, imagine the effects it must be having on cats, who tend to have much more sensitive noses and senses of smell when compared to us, humans.
In order to make a DIY black pepper spray:
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add two tablespoons of black pepper to the saucepan.
- Let the mixture boil for another 5 minutes.
- Take it off the stove and let it cool down to room temperature.
- Put the mixture in a bottle with a spray nozzle.
And voila! Your DIY black pepper spray is ready. Now you simply need to go outside and spray it in the areas where you have observed cats come and go.
It is very important to note that you should not use any sprays or mixtures infused with any kinds of peppers directly on the cats. It can harm their eyes or hurt their paws.
Also, check out Will Cayenne Pepper Keep Cats Away?
Will Black Pepper Be Harmful To Cats?
In a word, yes.
While it may be a very effective DIY repellant for nosy and unwanted neighborhood cats from entering your lawns and damaging your veggies, fruits, and flowerbeds growing in the lawns, you should try and avoid using this method for driving cats away.
Black pepper, even when inhaled in smaller quantities, can cause the cats to feel itchy in their nose and be uncomfortable. Imagine a cat inhaling large quantities of black pepper – it will be very harmful and uncomfortable for them.
Some cats may even end up with severe respiratory problems – and the cats who already have respiratory problems may end up in some fatal conditions requiring urgent medical attention.
How Does Black Pepper Affect Cats?
When inhaled, the black pepper can cause cats to have an itchy nose, make them sneeze, and in the worst-case scenario, it can even cause severe respiratory problems.
On the other hand, if a cat accidentally consumes black pepper, it can cause various health problems.
Consuming an excess amount of black pepper can cause gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, vomiting, and even severe kidney problems in cats. This happens because black peppers contain terpenes and essential oils, which are both harmful to cats.
You might also like to read about Can Cats Eat Pepper? Are Cats Allergic To Pepper?
Alternative Natural Home Remedies To Make DIY Cat Repellants
Black pepper is surely a very effective ingredient to make a natural homemade cat repellant. However, its harms to the cats outweigh the simpler benefits of keeping them away from your yard.
There are much easier, equally effective, and much kinder and milder ways of keeping the furry little beasts out of your lawns, yards, and flowerbeds.
Here are 5 different natural ingredients that you can find in your local grocery stores easily and make your own DIY cat repellant:
Rosemary
Cats hate the pungent smell of the herb as well as the texture of its leaves. Rosemary is not toxic to the cats either. It makes for a very mild and cruelty-free cat repellant.
What’s more? Rosemary is fairly easy to grow, and it makes for a great ingredient for many dishes as well! Not only will you be keeping furry neighborly beasts away, but you may also even be able to enjoy the health benefits of an aromatic herb!
Also, check out Does Ammonia Keep Cats Away?
Lavender
Lavender is one of the most common choices for many people who want to keep their cats away. The cats do not like the smell of lavender, so it keeps the furry beasts away in a cruelty-free manner.
Moreover, it fills your garden with a pleasant aesthetic appeal and a calming aroma. Lavender grows all year round.
Not only will it help solve your garden and lawn invasion problems, but it might just add the vibrant purple shade that enhances the beauty of your garden!
Check out more details: Does Lavender Keep Cats Away?
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has a very pungent smell and it is non-toxic to cats. It makes for another perfect natural ingredient to make the DIY cat repellant you’re looking for.
More details: Does Cinnamon Keep Cats Away?
Eucalyptus
Note that you should only use very diluted eucalyptus spray in your gardens and lawns for repelling cats. Do not use plant-dried or fresh eucalyptus in your garden.
Eucalyptus keeps mosquitoes and a whole host of cats away – including cats.
However, upon consumption of dried or fresh eucalyptus plants, a cat may experience severe health issues – some symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, salivation, and even seizures.
Lemon and other Citrus Fruits
Citrus smells are not enjoyed by cats. You can make a spray with lemon or citrus fruit juice mixed in equal parts of water, or you can simply leave some pieces of lime or lemon in your garden.
Also, check out Does Vinegar Keep Cats Away?
Frequently Asked Questions
What spices do cats hate the most?
The smells of rosemary, cayenne pepper, dried mustard, and lavender, among other components, are repulsive to cats. Cats won’t access the garden if fruit peels, such as lemon and orange rinds, are placed on the borders. To improve the scent, the peels or spices can also be placed within the house, perhaps near cupboards and plants.
Final Words
Black pepper is an effective deterrent for cats but it can be potentially harmful to them as well. A better way to keep unwanted cat invasions away is to use milder and cruelty-free deterrents like lavender and rosemary.
Citrus smells also work well. Other than that, very diluted sprays of apple cider vinegar also work very well.
Check out more details about Do Moth Balls Keep Cats Away?
You might also like to read about Does Bleach Keep Cats Away?
Also, check out: Does Irish Spring Soap Keep Cats Away?
Must Read: 5 Natural & Safe DIY Home Remedies to Keep Cats Away
