You can't teach cats to respect humans' personal property, but electronic deterrents and some plants and herbs can keep them away from off-limits areas without harming them. However, while mothballs work as a cat repellent, they're toxic to cats, other animals and birds.

Can you use mothballs to repel cats?

While mothballs can be extremely toxic to both cats and dogs, they can be safely used as a cat repellent to keep stray cats out of your yard. You can place several mothballs in a glass container, poking holes in the lid, and place in areas that you want to keep cats out.

What does moth balls do to cats?

Ingestion of naphthalene mothballs can cause gastrointestinal upset and less frequently, anemia, neurologic signs and kidney or liver damage. Modern PDB mothballs are less toxic but can still cause illness, especially when ingested.