Just yesterday, after a big snow, I was reminded of another way I make my dogs avoid something with Vics.
When it snows, my dogs pee on our deck, probably because it looks the same as the yard, and it's closer and they don't have to walk through a foot of snow to get where they want to be.
I take about 3 of extra metal feeding bowls, put Vics on the bottom, and lay them upside down around the deck. I think the smell is strong enough to make them want to get away from that area of the deck, and worth walking through the yard
In the front yard, where the dogs can't get to, there was a stray cat that used to like relaxing on the futon on the porch. A few pieces of paper towel with Vics has gotten rid of the cat hair on my cushions.
A way to get rid of the kitty, but not hurting it.