Does Cinnamon Keep Cats Away?

Regardless of whether or not you are a cat person, there are occasions when you would want to keep cats away from your garden or your porch – and sometimes, you may even want to keep your own pet cat away from certain spots in the house for its own safety.

And in such times, you may want to find a cat repellent that is very effective and at the same time safe for cats – because the goal is only to keep the cats away from certain places, not to harm their health in any way.

Did you know that there are many items that are easily accessible in most households and can act as really great cat repellents without harming the health of the cats?

A few such items are vinegar, orange peels, coffee, tea, and yes – even cinnamon!

In this article, we look at if we can make use of cinnamon to deter cats from gardens, porches, and any other surfaces and spots both inside and outside of the house – or if it is too toxic and unsafe to make a cat repellent?

Does Cinnamon Repel Cats?

In a word – yes. The sense of smell is one of the most sensitive senses that cats happen to have – their noses are much more sensitive than the human nose.

And, if you have ever handled a stick of cinnamon, you will know that cinnamon has a smell pungent and potent enough for even our relatively lesser sensitive human noses.

You can only imagine the impact that the smell of cinnamon will have on cats, who already hate the smell of anything strong, pungent, or potent.

However, while cinnamon has the potential to keep cats away, it could be unsafe for cats in many different ways.

So, it may not be the best choice to make a cat repellent – it has effectiveness, but it lacks harmlessness.

Is Cinnamon Toxic To Cats?

Yes, cinnamon can be toxic to cats if they ingest it or if their skin gets in contact with cinnamon.

Now, cinnamon is not exactly toxic per se, but it does have severe harmful impacts on the bowels of a cat when it is accidentally ingested.

Moreover, for sensitive cats, simple skin contact with cinnamon powder or stick can lead to allergic reactions.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Cinnamon Allergy In Cats?

Though cinnamon is officially regarded as non-toxic to cats, it can become poisonous in certain quantities, particularly if your cat is exposed to the higher amounts normally found in essential oils.

For a few reasons, cats are more likely than people to be poisoned from cinnamon.

If your pet is exposed to a high concentration of cinnamon compounds in a short amount of time or a lower quantity over a prolonged length of time, the compounds may build up because cats lack some of the liver enzymes that break them down.

Cats’ thin skin also makes it easy for them to absorb the components in cinnamon that are present in essential oils. They are more likely to get poisoned from cinnamon as a result.

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of cinnamon allergy in cats:

• Skin or oral cavity exposure that causes an allergic reaction:
  – Irritation
  – Rash
  – Redness
  – Burns
• Respiratory reaction to inhalation:
  – Coughing
  – Wheezing
  – Bronchospasm or difficulty breathing
• Cinnamon poisoning symptoms caused by consumption or ingestion of cinnamon components include:
  – Vomiting
  – Diarrhea
  – Low Blood Sugar
  – Change in Heart Rate
  – Thinning of Blood
  – Liver Disease and failure of other organs

Alternatives To Using Cinnamon For Making A Cat Repellent

There are many safer and more effective alternatives to cinnamon for keeping cats away. Some of them include:

• Lavender
• Coffee grounds
• Tea
• Vinegar
• Motion-activated sprinklers
• Citrus fruits

These alternatives have their own pros and cons but they are much safer than cinnamon to be used as cat repellents.

Moreover, they are equally, if not more, easily available like cinnamon in most households.

Interesting Read: Does Black Pepper Keep Cats Away?

Also, Read: Will Cayenne Pepper Keep Cats Away?

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

Cinnamon is an easily accessible household item that cats hate – but that does not necessarily mean that you can use it to make your own cat repellent.

Cinnamon can cause a lot of health problems to cats and thus should be avoided. Instead, you can opt for safe options like citrus fruits and vinegar to make a cat repellent.

Interesting Read: Do Fake Owls 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

References

• https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/how-keep-frustrating-felines-out-garden
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5790555/