Contech StayAway Automatic Pet Deterrent Refill Canister

This was easy set up, works as promised, and even acts as a deterrent when it's not turned on. I first set it for the spray and the beep. All it took was one spray and they steered clear. I reduced it to beep and only had it go off once or twice - both times they ran as fast as they could. I now have it turned off and the mere sight of the white can is enough to make them avoid the area.To make it even better, any white aerosol can placed around the house has the same cat-deterring effect. I don't know how long this will last but I can always put the "real" can out to remind them.It's been nearly two weeks and there have been no "accidents" around the house. This product was well worth the money.I can't think of any negative things about this product other than perhaps the cost of refills. Although I ordered an extra refill with my original order, it will be a long time before I need it.

We have a cat that we needed to keep off of a sofa (just try to train a cat!). We tried turning an office mat upside down so that the pokey side was up, she simply used it as a scratch pad and laid down on it for a nap. Out of desperation we then tried an electric pad; it kept her off of the sofa but it also kept us off as well. Between shocking ourselves and it being a pain to take off and put back on it was just a hassle.Then we found the Mini Scare Crow - can I get a hallelujah! This worked like a charm, it kept the cat off the couch and was turned off with a flip of the switch. We used it for about a month and then, voila, trained cat.It works with dogs as well (at least our very large and goofy dog).

I have a lot of cats and not much control over them. This product is the only product that ever gave me the appearance of control. They used to get up on my counters in the kitchen and I hated that, although I seemed not to be able to train them not to do it. Stay Away took care of that problem immediately! One hiss and squirt from this product and all the cats ran down the cellar and didn't reappear for quite some time! And now, there are only a couple who will even think about getting up there and always with great caution. When they hear the hiss and the spray, they again all run and we have no more trouble with cats on the counter! Of course, I borrow the can whenever there are other areas I want to keep cat free. It always works! I love this stuff! It is expensive,(about $40 initially, refills are much less expensive) but I can be sure it will do the job! My husband and I forget that the can is there and set it off more than the cats do now.

Purchased this product approx. a year ago and, as others had stated, it worked well when it worked. In other words, the motion sensor did not always detect motion and spray. But since my cat got the hint, when just the beep no longer worked (I ran out of spray a long time ago), I opted to get the refill. I thought it would work about the same (whenever the sensor wanted to detect motion). However, I just wasted my money because the refill canister, upon putting the top on the can, just releases the air in a constant hiss, which it isn't supposed to do, and it can't be returned. So, it is just a waste of money. Others have run into this problem with the refill also. I guess since it is not returnable they just send out defective canisters. No quality control. My recommendation is do not buy the refills. No use buying something you can't even use.

It's nice to be able to order a refill, but be aware that Amazon won't let you return it, if it arrives damaged like mine did. They can ship it to us, but we're not allowed to ship it back! My refill canister leaks and is totally unusable. I have contacted the manufacturer, but what an incredible time consuming option for a $12 item. I want my money back! Especially after reading that any compressed air canister will work - and for a lot less $$$

Benefits: very entertaining to be relaxing in a part of the house well away from the kitchen where the StayAway resides, listening to the tone -- psssst -- thump of cats being trained to stay off the counter. No more shouting, lurking, scolding, spraying water, etc. to train the cats. The compressed air, apparently with just a bit of water seems safe. The product is easier to set up and maintain than ScatMat -- just turn it on and off with a little switch. It takes up very little counter space. Very effective and safe.Drawbacks: Quite expensive, in a multi-cat household (with very bad cats), it doesn't last long. Can't find refills -- I've been waiting months for refill order on Amazon to be fulfilled.

The stay away or scat air cans work very well, just so expensive for a can of compressed air that does not last long. So I started experimenting with air duster can used for blowing dust off computers. First I took off the top of the can ( the spray trigger ). It takes some force to remove but it does come off. After that just clip on the motion detector. And one last step. Turn the can upside down or lay flat. See, inside the stay away of sscat can refills there is a tube that goes to the bottom Of the can and this picks up the liquid in the can. The air duster cans don't have this tube inside so its necessary to turn the can and sensor upside down or on its side. This way no need to buy 12.00-15.00 dollar refills. Instead you can get four cans of computer air duster cans for the same price as one stay away or sscat refill. Plus the air dister cans are bigger.