14 Smells Our Pets Love or Hate — and How It Can Help

Coffee, wet earth, talcum powder… if someone asks you to list your favorite scents, you don’t even think about answering. But what about pets? Do you know what your cat’s favorite smells are, or those your dog can’t stand? Many people live with their pets daily and have no idea of ​​the smells that bother them or that calm and stimulate them.

But don’t worry, we awesome.club We’ve prepared a list of the smells that pets hate and love the most, as well as giving tips on how to use it to your advantage — and for their own good too!

And who doesn’t? In 2018, a study was done at a dog shelter, and scents were applied to cloths to see if their behavior changed. The result observed in the puppies that were exposed to the vanilla scent was a considerable reduction in reactions that indicate stress. That is, they were calmer, moved less and barked less, compared to before the scent was applied. It’s a good tip for your pinscher!

That’s because peppers contain in their seeds a chemical compound called capsaicin, which is precisely what gives them their characteristic sting — but activates pain sensors, especially in mammals. Most animals, including humans, can experience coughing, eye and mouth irritation, and even temporary blindness. Capsaicin is even used in the formulation of repellents for dogs and wild animals such as bears.

On the other hand, birds are immune to the heat of chili peppers as they do not feel the taste or effects of capsaicin. The explanation is that this is advantageous for the reproduction of peppers. Mammals often chew their food, which destroys the seeds, ending the chances of reproduction. Birds, on the other hand, ingest the seeds whole, and so they come out in the feces, when the bird has already flown away. It is a chance for peppers to “conquer” new territories. You can give pepper to your cockatiel.

They are also called catnip or catnip, and cats love to lie down and roll around in it. But why? Quite simply, the smell of catnip acts directly on the cat’s brain causing overwhelming feelings of joy and euphoria. In addition, it reduces anxiety and brings calm and relaxation, so they are usually applied to toys and scratching posts. There are foods based on catnip, but if you give it too much it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Take it easy, mate!

First, let’s make it clear that the problem is in the banana skin, not the fruit itself. In fact, cats can love to eat bananas — even though they prefer meat — and they don’t harm them. What’s the problem with the shell then? Banana peels contain ethyl acetate, a smell reminiscent of nail polish or glue, which is repulsive to small felines.

Some people rub banana peels on furniture they prefer to keep away from cats, but too much can make pets dizzy and even affect their kidneys and liver. Also, the shape of the banana, which can resemble that of a snake, and its texture can scare the poor little ones, so be careful, ok? If you are going to serve bananas to your kitten, cut them into small pieces without exaggeration.

The same experiment that looked at the effect of vanilla scent on dogs also tested coconut scented essential oils. The results were even better than vanilla, as in addition to reducing movement and barking, coconut helped the puppies spend more time sleeping. To help, coconut oil is a bactericidal and fungicidal potential and protects paws from burns on very hot days.

As for fresh coconut, you can feed them to your dog too! Coconuts are great for dogs’ health, benefits include reducing inflammation and boosting immunity. But it is good to consult a veterinarian beforehand, because, as they contain a lot of fat, they should not be ingested in excess to avoid gastrointestinal problems.

If your dog loves to destroy your garden, try planting mint in strategic spots. Most, not all, dogs hate this smell as it is too strong for their very sensitive sense of smell. If you notice that yours is one of them, mint or rosemary can serve to drive it away from your garden. An important caution: pepper mint can be toxic to puppies, so if yours is not repelled by it, transfer it to a vase out of reach.

Your kitty can literally roll over in delight when she smells olives. Olives contain nepetalactones, which are very similar in composition to cattail herbs. However, they tend to prefer the smell to the taste of the olive, so it is likely that they will just play with them. But beware: the pit can cause suffocation and the high sodium concentration of the preserve can also harm your kitten, so prefer to give natural olives and not too often.

The strong smell of mustard can repel cats, but we all know how curious they are, right? So keep mustard foods away from your cat. Mustard seed is already toxic to cats. Combined with vinegar, salt and garlic, common ingredients in market mustard sauce, it can cause gastroenteritis in them. A lick probably won’t hurt, but if he ingests more, take him to a vet.

Toys are widely used for the environmental enrichment of dogs, that is, to make the environment where they live less stressful or depressing. A 2020 study showed how beneficial it can be to add the scent of lavender to dog toys. Scented toys encouraged the puppies to play a lot more. In addition to this, another aroma was used in the experiment: that of rabbit! But please, if you are going to scent a dog toy, just use lavender.

What is your reaction to the smell of garbage? Your dog is likely to have the same perception when he smells citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and tangerines. But, just as you might know a Smudge that likes garbage, some dogs even prefer a citrus touch to their food. Few, but they do exist. As for the majority who do not like it, it is not known why, but it is likely that it is an odor that is just too strong for their sensitive sense of smell.

You can do the test with yours, squeezing juice from the zest of an orange in your hands and bringing them close to his snout. If he walks away, bingo! You can even use this to your advantage by mixing lemon juice with water and putting it in a spray to delimit places or objects your dog needs to stay away from. Plus, now you know he’s going to hate it if you use incense sticks, candles, or lemon room fresheners. Think about it!

Environmental enrichment is also important for cats, and it keeps them de-stressed and at their ideal weight. Some cats may not respond to the effects of catnip or catnip, so the alternative is valerian root! It’s been used for centuries to reduce stress in humans, but it’s also a natural stimulant for kittens. There are toys with this scent, but you can also give the dried root in small pieces so you don’t choke.

When exposed to valerian root, cats usually spend about half an hour jumping, playing, rolling and even drooling! Some tend to get a little aggressive. The scent is appealing to them, but to humans it may not be, so don’t keep it in your pantry. After the effect wears off, cats can experience deep tranquility. That is, it can be a solution to calm him down before a trip or a trip to the vet.

Once again we must be careful with the curiosity of cats, especially with lavender. Yes, the same lavender that dogs love can be highly toxic to cats. Some of them even like to sit near lavender plants, but if ingested, it can cause gastrointestinal problems and vomiting. Especially when it comes to essential oils, because in them lavender is in greater concentration.

The worst thing a dog can do by far is roll over on some dead animal or even in droppings. As much as we find it absolutely disgusting and repulsive, doguinhos love it! And since they can’t explain why, some researchers have come up with two possible answers. The first and most acceptable is that this is a behavior inherited from wolves, who roll on carrion to disguise their own scent from potential predators. Foxes and coyotes do this too, as well as your little dog.

The other possibility is to brag to other dogs about the big “discovery” he’s made—yes, as if finding something dead is important. Ever notice how dogs smell each other’s bodies when they meet? Well, this is an investigation, because the smells tell the story about where the “amicão” walked. Thus, by showing the smell of carrion on his own body he is telling the good news or even claiming ownership over the delicacy found.

If dogs and cats disagree about the smell of lavender, they are united by their hatred of the smell of vinegar. The effect for dogs is similar to that of citrus fruits: too strong for them. Even though cats don’t have as keen a sense of smell as most dogs, they also hate the smell of vinegar. In this way, spraying white vinegar can be a solution to keep both dogs and cats away from places you don’t want them. At least on that they agree.

Now we want to know about your pet, what smells do they like or hate the most? If you want, send a photo, we’d love to meet you!