PetSafe SSSCAT Cat Spray Deterrent Review
Cats are natural climbers. They love hanging out at high places to observe the area. Cats also need to scratch, performing maintenance on their claws while marking territory. It’s their instinct and you shouldn’t stop them. But how can you prevent your cat from destroying your expensive furniture and keep them off the kitchen counters?
We have tried double sided tape, aluminum foil, and natural cat repellent sprays made with citrus without any luck. The only thing that worked and actually conditioned our cat to stop unwanted behavior was the SSSCAT Spray Deterrent for Cats and Dogs by PetSafe.
How it works
The SSSCAT Pet Spray Deterrent has 2 parts: the head (which contains the spray nozzle, motion sensor, AAA battery compartment and electronic parts) and the can (which contains non-toxic pressurized air).
The spray nozzle has 3 vertical positions that you can set: low, medium, or high. The motion sensor has 4 horizontal positions you can set, panning from left to right. This allows you to place your cat deterrent exactly how you want it. You can aim the motion detectable area at a 45 degree angle, but have the SSSCAT spray at 90 degrees, just above your cat's head.
Motion is detected by sensing a change in temperature. Since cats have a normal body temperature of at least 100.4º Fahrenheit, motion is “detected” when a cat enters into the detectable area. For this reason, it is important that you position your spray deterrent somewhere that isn’t hot, and away from direct sunlight.
Sometimes, your cat may be right in front of the spray without activating it. This is because the temperature difference wasn’t great enough. Also, if you turn on your SSSCAT with the sensor already pointing at your cat, the spray will not activate until the cat has left and re-entered the area. It can’t sense a temperature difference if the detectable area is already at cat temperature.
Why we like it
This cat spray deterrent works at stopping unwanted behavior. Our cat would chew and eat the double sided tape and natural spray repellents didn’t bother her too much. With anything spraying your pet, you want to make sure the burst contents are nontoxic. The manufacturer is PetSafe after all.
It also develops good habits for your pet without teaching them to fear you. If you are spraying your cat with a water spray bottle each time your cat scratches the furniture, your cat will continue their destructive behavior as soon as you are out of sight. Teach the cat to fear the SSSCAT, not you!
What we don't like
Remember where you put the motion activated spray and be careful where you walk! I can’t tell you how many times we forgot that the SSSCAT is on the kitchen counter and end up getting startled. There was a time period when we would get sprayed more than our cat 😂. What a great way to waste the pressurized air.
The SSSCAT replacement cans are not cheap. They cost about $14.95 a can, and only last about 80 sprays. That’s roughly 18 cents a spray! The good news is, there is a hack to refill your empty can for free.
Verdict
Skip all the other cat deterrents and repellents and just buy the SSSCAT Spray Deterrent. You will end up saving more money. We were hesitant to get ours due to the price and wanted to try cheaper solutions first. Time spent trying alternative solutions only led to frustration and further furniture damages since they don’t make a difference in your cat’s behavior. Knowing that you can refill the air for free makes it the best cat spray deterrent you can buy. That’s saving money in 3 ways!
