Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent

by Contech

• Humane method of keeping pets away from certain areas of your home
• Passive infrared sensor detects animal within 3-foot range
• Two different modes of operation: sound with odorless compressed air spray and sound only
• Each replaceable can of compressed air holds over 200 sprays
• Powered by 4 AAA batteries (sold separately)

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 2 inches ; 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000DZFFN4
• Item model number: 300000355
• Batteries 4 AAA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (276 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies)
  • #3 in Pet Supplies > Dogs > Training & Behavior Aids > Repellents > Spray Repellents
  • #4 in Pet Supplies > Cats > Educational Repellents > Spray Repellents

Product Description

The StayAway automatic pet deterrent protects your porch, patio, potted plants, and countertops. Just place it in the area you want to protect, and the StayAway does the rest. When a cat approaches the area, the StayAway responds with a warning sound and a brief spray of "compressed air" to warn your pet away. Once your cat learns to recognize the warning sound, you can switch to the "sound only" mode to conserve compressed air for an even more economical solution.

The StayAway automatic pet deterrent is constructed of durable, high-quality materials, and has been designed to provide many years of reliable service.

Key Features and Specifications

• Keeps cats away from protected areas.
• Five-position motion sensor detects motion up to 3 feet (1 meter) away.
• Combines sound with "compressed air" for an odorless deterrent.
• Operates up to 200 times on a single, replaceable canister of "compressed air."
• Motion sensor and spray are separately adjustable so they can be positioned precisely.
• Two different modes of operation: sound with spray and sound only.
• Requires 4 AAA batteries (sold separately).

How It Works

The StayAway automatic pet deterrent uses a passive infrared sensor to detect an animal within its one-meter zone, and responds with a warning sound and a brief, harmless spray of compressed air.

To set up the StayAway, simply place the unit in the area you want to protect, (for example kitchen counters, potted plants, etc.). Turn on the sound/spray, and wait a few seconds for the motion detector to stabilize. The StayAway is now set to go.

For the first few days, use the combined sound/spray mode. When the motion detector detects a cat's movement, it will first respond with a sound, followed by the spray of air. After a few encounters with the StayAway, most cats will decide that the sound is enough to warn them from off-limit areas.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Never "re-decorate" your Christmas tree daily again! November 23, 2007

By cindyinthewind

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you're tired of having your Christmas tree climbed, or finding the ornaments under your furniture daily, or the garland dragged onto the floor, or seeing your cats anywhere you don't want them to be (or just witnessing the aftermath of where they've been where they shouldn't), this product is for you! Since I bought it, turned it on and put it under my Christmas tree, I have not had a problem with my cats even going anywhere near the thing! Forget all the other tricks (including hanging bells low on the tree so they'll jingle when the cats rattle it, or purposely hanging ornaments low that they can "have" to play with...the first only works if you're home to hear, and the second only trains them to believe the whole tree is fair game!).

The reason this product works so well is that it trains cats to stay away from forbidden places at ALL times...even when you are out of the room, asleep or not at home! Other deterrents depend on your presence and your ability to swiftly respond and match "penalty" with the crime...cats soon come to realize that as soon as you can't see or hear their mischief, it's party time! But StayAway works 24/7...whether you're there to catch 'em in the act or not! Cats otherwise used to doing as they please the second you leave the place or shut your eyes soon learn...the punishment comes whether or not you're there! Eventually they become too scared to even go near that part of the room...at any time. It's an effective form of training that does pets no harm.

If you have problems with cats on counters, cats in houseplants, whatever, set this can near or on what you're trying to protect and you will have problems no more. Eventually you won't even need it turned on at all...the very sight of the thing will keep them away! (And if they ever figure out that trick and start giving you trouble again, just turn it back on until the problem ends!) It may be more expensive than squirt bottles or double-stick tape, but IT WORKS! Get it this Christmas (or any other time of year) and finally have peace of mind!

56 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars good product August 31, 2008

By Jaw

Amazon Verified Purchase

I got one of these several months ago to keep the cat off the counters. As far as i know, it's working. I never see the cat up there. It also keeps the dogs out of any area or room i don't want them in.

When i first read about this concept on the web, i read about the SSSCAT product by Premier and i came to Amazon to buy it, but i read reviews in which the users reported that there was an older version of the product that had both a sound alarm and the spray of air, with the option to use sound only. SSSCAT was advertised as having both features, but users reported it had air spray only, no alarm. Apparently no one updated the page on Amazon after they discontinued the alarm. There were disappointed reviewers complaining that the product was not correctly described in the ad, and also, that the alarm option was not available anymore.

I really wanted the alarm, with the option of sound only. The spray uses up the supply of air pretty fast, and then it costs $20 including shipping to get another can of air, that doesn't last very long. I was very disappointed that the Premier product took this feature away. That's when a search led to the discovery of StayAway. True enough, the spray ran out very quick when i first got it. I had to buy a new one and during the long period between buying the refill and receiving it, there was no continuity of the cat's training. But since then, i have used mostly the alarm/sound only and not the spray, and have not run out of spray again, after a very long time, months.

I began worrying that it would wear out and that the product would be discontinued, and also, i wanted to position more of them in different parts of the house, so i just bought two more today.

In other words, i think they're great.

136 of 153 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars 2 swings and a miss July 10, 2009

By C. Strobach

Amazon Verified Purchase

After considerable review of the different manufacturers of this type of product I chose Contech specifically because their customer reviews indicated it was a better product, i.e. better quality, performance, etc. compared to the competition. I'll relate my experience and let you be the judge. I ordered two of the StayAway Pet Deterrents and they arrived promptly. The product is easy to assemble and place into immediate use. However the motion sensors on both units proved to be hypersensitive. Instead of limiting their sensing range out to 3 feet (the manufacturer's specifications) they detected movement and activated at a range clear out to 15 feet. So now you can't walk through our living room at all without them activating. I contacted customer service who were very friendly and the rep told me she had not heard of such a problem and would consult with one of their engineers and call me back which she did in a timely fashion. She stated that the engineer indicated that it was a bad sensor within the unit and they promptly shipped me 2 new units at no cost. I now have 4 units and they all have the same exact problem. They all fire at a range out to 15 feet. Unfortunately in my case the excess sensing range renders them very impractical unless I want to be purchasing the expensive refill canisters every week and putting up with the annoying blast every time we walk through the living room (high traffic area). I'm sure that the product normally works as advertised. Every manufacturer produces a lemon from time to time. But 4 units all performing outside their specifications indicates to me their is no quality control going on and neither did their customer service take the time to ensure they were sending me a properly functioning replacement.