MythBusters · Video summary

Can You Really Deter Snakes Using Household Items? | MythBusters

The MythBusters tackle a series of viewer-suggested animal deterrents, testing their effectiveness against cats, snakes, and even a grizzly bear. They explore whether common household items and natural remedies can truly keep unwanted wildlife at bay.

MythBusters · September 5, 2026 · 26-min episode · 2-min read

Can You Really Deter Snakes Using Household Items? | MythBusters

Key takeaways

💧Water bottles, despite popular belief, do not deter cats from planter boxes; they showed no hesitation in crossing the barrier.04:14
🐾Aluminum foil is ineffective as a cat deterrent; the cats freely walked over it and visited the planter box.05:10
💩Lion poop, while disgusting to humans, does not deter cats from entering a garden area; they eventually crossed the perimeter marked with scat.06:33
🐍Hemp rope is not a barrier for snakes; they easily crawled over it to reach their desired dark hiding spots.13:43
🪱A mixture of kitty litter and mothballs, despite its strong smell and texture, does not effectively deter snakes; they were initially agitated but still crossed the barrier.15:54
🌶️Cayenne pepper, while causing initial hesitation, does not ultimately prevent snakes from crossing a barrier to reach a dark hiding spot.17:02

Chapters

0:00Introduction to Animal Deterrents
0:58Cat Deterrents: Water Bottles & Lion Poop
5:11Testing Water Bottles on Cats
7:08Testing Aluminum Foil on Cats
8:40Testing Lion Poop on Cats
11:55Introduction to Snake Deterrents
21:36Testing Hemp Rope on Snakes
23:39Testing Kitty Litter & Mothballs on Snakes
27:06Testing Cayenne Pepper on Snakes
30:04Introduction to Bear Deterrents
32:34Bear Control Test
36:35Testing Ammonia-Soaked Rags on Bears
40:02Testing Cayenne Pepper on Bears

The digest

Animals, while often cherished, can sometimes be a nuisance, especially when they encroach on our personal spaces. The MythBusters team, known for their scientific rigor and penchant for explosive experiments, took on the challenge of testing various viewer-suggested animal deterrents. From feline flowerbed invaders to slithering serpents and formidable bears, the team put popular home remedies to the test.

The Feline Fiasco: Cats vs. Water Bottles & Lion Poop

The first challenge involved deterring cats from digging and defecating in flowerbeds. Two popular internet remedies were on the chopping block: clear plastic water bottles and lion poop. The theory behind water bottles is that sunlight refracting through the water creates a disorienting light show that cats dislike. Lion poop, on the other hand, is believed to scare away smaller felines due to the presence of a larger predator's scent.

To test these theories, the team created a cat-friendly environment, complete with a cat tower and a designated planter box. After an initial control test revealed that seven out of eight cats readily used the planter box, the deterrents were introduced. Water bottles were liberally placed in and around the planter box and cat tower. The cats, however, showed little to no hesitation, with all but one entering the box within 15 minutes, and some even doing their business. The water bottle method was quickly busted.

Next up was the lion poop. Despite its vile and disgusting nature (as described by the team), the theory was that the scent of a large predator would keep the cats away. The team carefully placed pieces of real lion scat around the perimeter of the planter box. Initially, the cats showed some caution, sniffing around the perimeter and avoiding crossing the poop line. However, this hesitation was short-lived. Soon, the cats were entering the planter box, seemingly unfazed by the lion's droppings. The lion poop deterrent was also busted, proving that even the most unpleasant remedies might not be effective.