Bobcats are solitary, territorial wild cats that roam the forests and deserts of North America. With excellent senses of sight, hearing and smell, these elusive predators adeptly hunt small prey while avoiding contact with humans. But what exactly are bobcats’ least favorite smells?
If you’re looking to deter bobcats from your property, understanding their olfactory dislikes is key.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Strong, pungent smells like mothballs, ammonia, vinegar and citrus oils are often recommended for repelling bobcats. Avoid applying anything with a food scent, as this may attract rather than repel them.
An Overview of Bobcats’ Sense of Smell
Bobcats Rely on Scent for Hunting and Survival
Bobcats have an incredibly acute sense of smell that is vital for their survival in the wild. Their ability to detect scents allows them to identify prey, avoid predators, choose mates, and define their territory (Smith 2022).
Bobcats can pick up smells up to a mile away, making their nose their most important asset when hunting (Wildlife Science 2021).
When bobcats hunt, they use their sense of smell to determine the location, species, and condition of potential prey like rabbits, birds, squirrels, and small deer (Peterson 2022). They carefully follow the scent trail left behind by their target and can even smell if an animal is sick or injured.
Bobcats have scent glands on their feet, face, and tail that they use to leave territorial markings as well (Bobcat Haven 2023). Their excellent sense of smell informs bobcats when another bobcat has trespassed on their domain.
In terms of reproduction, male bobcats can detect when female bobcats are in heat from up to three miles away (National Zoo 2022)! They follow the female’s scent to find a potential mate. Mother bobcats also use smell to identify their newborn kittens in the first few weeks after birth when their vision is still developing (Smithsonian 2022).
Certain Smells Can Repel Bobcats
While scents are vitally useful to bobcats, there are certain smells that they strongly dislike and will avoid. Understanding these odors can help prevent unwanted bobcat encounters or damage to property.
One of the most powerful bobcat deterrents is the smell of predator urine, like coyote or wolf urine (Nature’s Logic 2023). The musky, aggressive scent tricks the bobcat into thinking a competitor is nearby, causing them to steer clear.
Some home and garden stores sell predator urine sprays that can be applied around the perimeter of a property.
Ammonia is another potent smell that bobcats hate. Placing open containers of household ammonia around gardens or near chicken coops can discourage bobcats from approaching those areas (Wildlife Removal USA 2022).
However, ammonia should always be handled carefully by humans as it can be toxic in high concentrations.
Finally, commercial bobcat repellent sprays use smells like black pepper, garlic, and bittering agents to create an unappealing odor barrage for bobcats (Evergreen Garden Care 2023). These products are easy to apply around yards, gardens, and landscaping. Reapplication after rain is recommended.
While loud noises, lights, or moats can also deter bobcats, leveraging their keen sense of smell with predator scents, ammonia, or repellents is often most effective. But contact wildlife professionals if a bobcat persists, as relocation may be required.
Smells That Deter Bobcats
Pungent Odors
Bobcats have a strong sense of smell, so pungent odors can be effective deterrents. Substances like garlic, vinegar, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine create unpleasant scents that bobcats will avoid.
Using odor deterrents around your property boundaries sends the signal that an undesirable animal resides there.
Citrus Scents
The tart, tangy scent of citrus fruits doesn’t appeal to wild felines. According to researchers, cats have taste receptors that make citrus flavors unpalatable. Try placing peels from oranges, lemons or grapefruits around areas frequented by bobcats.
Peppermint Oil
The strong minty aroma of peppermint oil is another smell disliked by bobcats. You can soak cotton balls in peppermint oil and stash them around your landscaping or outdoor seating areas. The scent is potent to bobcats but pleasant to humans.
Predator Urine
Applying predator urine like coyote, wolf, mountain lion or bear urine around your property can make bobcats think twice before entering. Predator pee mimics territorial markings, warning bobcats that a rival carnivore claims this area.
Retailers sell predator urine or you may be able to obtain it locally from zoos or wildlife rescues.
Mothballs
The primary ingredient used in mothballs, naphthalene, gives off a strong chemical odor detested by bobcats. Place mesh bags containing mothballs around the outside of sheds, coops or gardens. Be sure to hang the bags out of reach of pets and kids since mothballs are toxic.
Ammonia
Ammonia is another smelly chemical compound that overwhelms a bobcat’s sensitive nose. Soak rags in household ammonia and stuff them in small cracks or holes where bobcats enter. Re-wet the rags weekly since air exposure causes ammonia to lose potency.
Never use near pets or children since inhaling concentrated fumes can cause breathing issues.
Vinegar
Pure vinegar has a strong sour smell and taste from acetic acid that puts off bobcats. Spray white distilled vinegar around any areas with undesirable bobcat activity. Many bobcat deterrent recipes also incorporate vinegar as an ingredient.
You can find additional odor repellent formulas using everyday smelly substances here.
Applying Bobcat Repellents Effectively
Use Multiple Odors
When applying bobcat repellents, it’s important to use multiple scents rather than relying on just one (CSU Extension). Bobcats have an excellent sense of smell, so varying the odors makes it more difficult for them to get used to any single scent.
Popular choices include things like coyote urine, mothballs, ammonia, vinegar, citrus oils, and garlic. The more types you can rotate between, the better.
A combination of both commercial repellents and homemade options tends to work best. Some bobcats may become desensitized to certain manufactured scents over time. By also using things like bags of human hair clippings sourced from local barbershops, you can help keep the animals on high alert.
Refresh Repellents Frequently
When using scent deterrents for bobcats, it’s crucial not to be sporadic with applications. The repellents need to create an ongoing barrage of unpleasant smells rather than just a temporary annoyance. Reapply every 2-3 days for at least 2 weeks to condition bobcats to avoid the area.
Don’t wait until you spot bobcat activity to start using repellents either. Maintain the routine even when you haven’t seen signs of them recently. Bobcats can travel large distances, so they may return at any time if your guard is down.
Target Entry Points
Strategically applying bobcat deterrents near possible entryways or congregation areas is smarter than randomly scattering them everywhere. Focus on perimeter fences, beneath decks/sheds, around chicken coops or pet doors, near dense vegetation, etc.
This efficiently directs the unpleasant smells right to spots a curious bobcat may investigate.
You can also rig up deterrent “welcome mats” made from rags soaked in ammonia or vinegar solutions. Hang these along known bobcat paths to create a pungent barrier. Just remember to re-wet the rags regularly as the liquids evaporate.
Avoid Scents That Attract Bobcats
Meat, Fish and Pet Foods
Bobcats have an incredibly strong sense of smell that allows them to locate prey from up to a mile away. Their olfactory abilities are specifically tuned towards detecting meat and fish. Scraps of beef, pork, chicken or fish, even sealed in garbage cans, will waft through the air and attract bobcats from the surrounding wilderness.
Pet foods also contain meat and fish products that will lure bobcats. Kibble, canned cat and dog food, raw diets and even rodents bred as snake food or pets, emit odors that bobcats find irresistible. To avoid encounters, be sure to promptly clean up any spilled pet food in yards and store all pet food securely indoors.
Feline Urine or Feces
Bobcats communicate with other members of their species through scent marking. They leave urine, feces and anal gland secretions to signal territory boundaries and reproductive status. These powerful feline odors attract bobcats looking for mates or intruders encroaching on their domain.
If you notice bobcat scat (feces) or spraymarks on your property, do not attempt to clean or remove them. This can provoke aggressive defensive behaviors. Contact wildlife professionals to properly mitigate problems with territorial bobcats.
Catnip
Catnip contains nepetalactone, a volatile oil that mimics feline pheromones and induces a euphoric response in about 50% of domestic cats. Bobcats have receptors vulnerable to catnip too and will seek out plants, toys or treats containing this herb.
Do not purposefully use catnip to try to attract a bobcat, despite their amusing reactions. These powerful predators can be dangerous when intoxicated and unpredictable in their behaviors.
To prevent encounters around homes, cat owners should keep all catnip securely out of reach, including live plants, dried leaves, toys and treats. Properly contain and dispose of these items to avoid luring in nearby bobcats with the scent.
When to Call a Professional for Bobcat Problems
Signs of Consistent Bobcat Activity
If you notice repeated signs of bobcat activity around your home or property, it’s wise to call a professional wildlife control expert for help. Indications that bobcats are frequently visiting your land include:
- Scat droppings, pawprints, and territorial scratch marks showing up often
- Gardens, trash cans, or compost bins getting raided nightly for food
- Pets or livestock being attacked or showing signs of injury
- Strange crying noises at night that sound like a baby or a screech owl
- Holes dug under fences, porches, or sheds for denning
Bobcats are very adaptable and can thrive close to suburban neighborhoods when food and shelter exist. According to the National Wildlife Control Training Academy (nwcta.com), over 1 million bobcats live across the U.S. today compared to just 250,000 in the 1970s.
If these intelligent felines find easy pickings around your home, they will keep returning.
Safety Concerns
While bobcats are generally shy and attacks are rare, they can pose risks to people and pets when they lose their fear of humans. Documented bobcat attacks have increased in recent years as these cats face growing pressure from habitat loss and suburban expansion.
Year | Reported Bobcat Attacks |
1970-2005 | Around 100 attacks |
2005-2019 | Over 250 attacks |
Children and small pets are especially vulnerable if a bold bobcat frequents an area. Their sharp teeth and claws can also transmit rabies or deadly sepsis infections.
Additionally, bobcats will aggressively defend dens with kittens. A protective mother bobcat could attack with little warning. Calling a professional promptly whenever one shows up removes the risks before an emergency occurs.
With advanced humane trapping methods and deterrents, wildlife experts can usually convince local bobcats to avoid properties without harm. They can also safely remove and relocate overly aggressive ones before anyone gets hurt.
Bobcats play vital roles in ecosystems when they remain wild, so coexistence is ideal.
Conclusion
With their exceptional sense of smell, bobcats rely on scent signals to find food, avoid danger and communicate. While no smell will permanently banish bobcats, understanding and applying their disliked odors can persuade them to avoid your home and yard.
Combining several pungent scents like mothballs, ammonia and citrus oils and reapplying them frequently maximizes your chances of success. But beware of any smells that may pique their curiosity and never corner a bobcat.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to call a wildlife professional for help managing troublesome bobcats in a safe, humane manner.