My Mom Swears Cat Hair and Chili Powder Keep Away Rabbits—But Does It Actually Work?

Published on June 16, 2025

As a new homeowner, I was prepared for the typical plumbing problems and DIY woes that come with owning a house. Something I didn’t expect was my newfound animosity toward the gaggle of backyard rabbits that loves to munch on my brand new garden. 

Going from a small apartment patio to an entire backyard, I’ve been excited (and a bit overwhelmed, TBH) to start planting and landscaping. The first thing I planted was a small rose bush that was just starting to sprout buds of tiny pink flowers. Like the responsible plant parent I am, I watered and checked on the bush every morning for the next few days—until I woke up one day to find the bush gone, with only a few inches of stem remaining. 

After accusing my husband of accidentally pruning my roses, I realized the real culprit was likely the rabbits. (As it turns out, rabbit teeth leave a clean, diagonal cut, similar to what you’d get with pruning shears—who knew?)

Mom's Advice: Sprinkle Cat Hair in the Garden

In true millennial fashion, I decided the best way to solve this problem was to call my mom. Her advice: Leave cat fur and chili powder around the base of the plant. At first, this sounded like some witchy woo-woo concoction straight out of the movie Practical Magic—but I decided it couldn't hurt to try.

I grabbed my cat’s brush, gave her a quick grooming, then headed outside with a handful of cat fur and my spice jar of chili powder. I sprinkled the cat hair and spice in a circle around the roses, hoping the whole time that none of my neighbors were watching. I did this every few days for about 10 days, and shockingly, it appears to be working.

Do Cat Hair and Chili Powder Really Repel Rabbits?

If you're looking for a way to stop rabbits from eating your plants, this all-natural method is worth a try. There haven’t been any more bites taken off the rose bush since I started using this unlikely combo, and the plants around the bush have remained intact too—even though there are plenty of bite marks out of my hostas on the other end of the garden.

Rabbits naturally avoid the smell of predators, so while my cat is a strictly indoor gal, the scent of her fur is enough to ward off bunnies. They also tend to avoid strong fragrances and spices, so the chili powder packs a double punch.

If you're dealing with pesky squirrels, rodents, or rabbits, this pet hair and chili powder combination might just be the unlikely tactic that can help you protect your garden.