What smells really work to keep kittens away from certain areas?

I would try this spray, it isa natural repellent from chewing or licking http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=1098 Safe, effective way to stop destructive chewing, licking, and gnawing behavior. Spray Fooey on any surface to protect. Gentle enough to use on plants, furniture, wood, and leather. Also spray on pet bandages to keep dogs from licking and chewing on them. Alcohol-free. 8 oz. Over time this will help keep Abaza from the couch due to association with the taste and smell.

Unfortunately if you are planning on keeping him indoor / outdoor, it is very difficult to keep him away from other stray cats. I would recommend ensuring his vaccinations (Feline Leukemia, Rabies and FVRCP) are all up to date to prevent transmission of these diseases. There are motion activated sprinklers you can get that will startle cats and keep them away from your property and you can find these online quite easily. Really, keeping him indoors is the only 100% way to keep him away from stray cats. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

They do make things like bitter apple sprays, lemon juice...etc that most pets don't like but some of them may not be deterred (and they may be sticky). Some cats dislike the smell of citrus, lemon thyme and lavender and you could try apply this to the wires but once again, some cats may not be deterred. The most reliable option is to put the ear buds in a location like a box where the cats cannot reach them. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I would stop spraying the mint oil. Garden mint can cause GI upset if ingested, and mint oil is made from that. There are humane traps you can get to catch the mice so you can release them elsewhere. I recommend that method. I hope this helps!

Thanks for the info about the litter boxes. Yes, it does matter! The rule is to have one litter box for each cat, plus one extra. So ideally, you should have 11 litter boxes. Anyway, as for a product, I recommend Skout's Honor. I use it when my cats have accidents, and it's amazing. I hope this helps!

Cayenne pepper won't hurt, it's what I use on soil to keep my dogs from getting into my potted plants! Trust me, their sense of smell is very strong and it only takes one time for them to find out that it tastes bad. It's uncomfortable, and cats often foam at the mouth when they taste something bad, but it won't last. Alternatively, you could get a bitter apple spray or similar at a pet store to spray on the cords. These work with variable success. The best option is to cover the cords or put them behind furniture.

As long as you don't spray it on the cats and you don't spray it while the cats are in the room it should be OK. Cats are EXTREMELY sensitive to essential oils and they can be toxic to them so be very careful. Likely this will work to deter them however, they may just pick another spot to pee on instead...... Hope this helps. Best wishes.