I can honestly say that I thought you were suggesting something else at first when suggesting the Tabasco sauce, then I read the second half of your post.
I once made a pepper spray using what was essentially capsaicin oil to spray on my couch to keep the young cats I had at the time from scratching it.
It worked quite well! So well in fact that I wouldn't go near it for a few days because my sinuses would immediately start flowing and I'd have a coughing fit. My wife was not pleased with me!
I learned that trick from my late brother in law. He tried it to stop his Lab pup from gnawing the wooden legs on a coffee table. It worked.