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• Method 1 of 2: Using cat repellants
• Method 2 of 2: Prevent scratches from cats on your car

Cats love to find warm places to lie down, and it seems that they feel nowhere better than on the hood of your car. Whether the culprit is your own cat, someone else's or a stray cat, paw prints or even scratches on your car are annoying and frustrating. Using an electronic or natural cat repellent can keep the cats away without hurting them, while preventing scratches in your car's paint can limit damage from cats slipping past your defenses.

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Method 1 of 2: Using cat repellants

1. Use a repellent spray. Look for all-natural aerosols that won't damage your car's paint. Try spraying the soil around your car first. If the cat stays on your car, spray the car every night before going to sleep.
2. Sprinkle cat repellent powder on your car. Find a powder that is organic, chemical-free, and safe to use around children, plants, and pets. Powders are cheap, but can be blown off your car by the wind or rain.
   • Powdered cat repellants are available at pet stores and online.
3. Use dry herbs to repel the cat. Sprinkle an herb such as rue, rosemary or lavender on the hood of your car or other places where the cat likes to sit. You can switch between the herbs to see what works best, or try a mix. Start with a small amount of the herb and make it stronger if the cat stays on your car.
   • Herbs are also cheap and easy to use, but can be blown away by the wind.
4. Make your own repellent. Mix an essential oil such as lavender, peppermint or orange with three parts water in a spray bottle and spray around your car, or dip cotton balls in the water and place them around the car. You can also spray with a mixture of one part citronella oil and four parts water.
   • There are many different DIY cat repellants you can try. All cats are different, so what keeps one cat away may not work on another. Just keep trying different methods until you find one that works!
5. Place an ultrasonic animal repellant near your car. When these electronic repellents sense movement, they emit a high-pitched sound that is inaudible to the human ear, but annoying to cats. The cat will run away without harming the animal or your car.
   • You can order an ultrasonic device online or find one at your pet store.
6. Install a motion controlled sprinkler. These nozzles are purpose-built to discourage cat pests. Connect a sprinkler to your hose and aim it at your car. When it detects movement, it will spray the car with water in a wide arc to deter the cat. The downside is that your car will likely get wet in the process. Make sure to close your car windows beforehand and avoid running in front of the washer, otherwise you might get sprayed instead of the cat!
   • Look for these specialty sprinklers online and in pet stores.

Method 2 of 2: Prevent scratches from cats on your car

1. Use a car cover to protect your car. If you don't mind the cat itself, but are tired of the paw prints on your hood or scratches on your paint, protect your car by putting a protective cover over it every night before going to sleep. While this can be quite an investment, it will protect your car from cats and bad weather.
2. Remove all food sources from around your car. Clean up your driveway and yard to make sure the cat isn't attracted to food scraps falling from your trash. Watch for mice or other natural prey that the cat may be hunting. If the cat is only on your car because it is near food or prey, getting rid of that food will solve your cat problem!
3. Ask the cat's owner for it cutting the cat's nails. If the cat's scratches are the main problem and the owner lives nearby, ask them if clipping the nails is an option. Say something like, "I know it's not your fault your cat likes to sit on my car, but the scratches she leaves get pretty annoying. Would you be open to cutting her nails? "
4. Ask the cat's owner to keep it indoors. If a stubborn neighborhood cat just doesn't want to leave your car alone, talk to the owner about keeping the cat indoors or in your own yard. Be polite and calmly explain the problem. Let them know that you are open to other solutions, but this may be the only way to keep their cat away from your car.
   • Say something like, "Your cat has been on my car a lot lately. I know you can't control exactly where he's going, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to keep him in your backyard or indoors. He damaged the paint and left feces around my car. If you know of any other solutions, I am willing to discuss them as well. "