You have a cat. You have windows. You have blinds. That’s an impossible mix!
Cat owners know quite well how much a struggle it is to keep their cats away from their blinds. You can repel your cat from the window, you can give her a distraction, or you can give in to your pesky pet!
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Here’s how to stop cats from attacking blinds
Deter cats from attacking blinds by applying double-sided tape, placing appealing perches elsewhere, providing healthy scratching outlets, installing vertical or faux wood blinds for access, and designing the environment to allow view space while removing loose cords that can entice.
5 Tips That stopped my cats from attacking blinds
Now that you’re familiar with the possible reasons for the problem, here are ten solutions to solve the situation, whatever its cause.
1. Use Double-Sided Tape
We want to mark territories here. To do this, apply double-sided duct tape on your window still and extend it as much as you want; right below the window, and maybe an additional layer after it to increase its width would be fine.
Your cat will hate the texture and feel of the duct tape on its paws. After a few failed attempts, it won’t approach the window altogether.
This is a well-known method to cat-proof your furniture as well. The only downside to this method is that double-sided tape can leave a residue on the surface you stick it on. To solve this, you can use tape that’s made especially for that purpose. Yes, there’s a sticky duct tape to drive cats away from scratching stuff! This Anti-Scratch duct tape is a perfect option and completely safe for cats.
2. Create an Appealing Alternative
Do you know when your cat will lose interest in your lovely blinds? When she has something else more entertaining to do. This is the core of this idea. Try to create an appealing space for your cat that she’ll approach and stay there till she forgets about your not-so-exciting blinds.
You can set her a nice perch in front of a certain window, with no blinds, of course. Try to make it as appealing as you can. There are a ton of these available online in a variety of shapes, sizes, and prices. Hammock perches are so trendy, for they’re easier to mount.
You can still get a shelf-like perch if you want to. Accessorizing the perch might be a nice idea; a comfy blanket and some stuffy toys would do wonders!
Finally, you can sprinkle some catnip to attract your little one. Evil, but clever!
3. Fulfill Their Climbing Instincts
Your cat might be messing with your blinds because she wants to climb the whole thing and sit on top of it.
Why? Because cats are natural climbers, they climb trees to stay away from predators. That’s what they do in the open wildlife. When it comes to an indoor setting, your cat might be acting on its natural instincts, and it won’t resist the temptation to climb any high post in your home.
The idea here is to try to satisfy their love for climbing away from your window and blinds. To do this, you need to buy your cat a climbing post that’s designed specifically for it to climb and sit on it. They have multiple levels to pose a challenge for your cat so that it doesn’t lose interest quickly.
You can get a cat scratching post, which comes covered in a material that your cat can scratch without hurting its claws. This way, you satisfy two pleasures of your cat; climbing and scratching. You don’t want it to practice either of them on your blinds, do you?
A cat tree would be a fantastic idea as well, especially that it comes with different levels that your cat can climb so it won’t get bored.
4. Get an Alternative to Blinds
If it’s getting out of hand, maybe it’s time to consider changing your blinds altogether.
There are two practical solutions here that are not that expensive: vertical blinds and faux wood blinds. Vertical blinds give cats the space to squeeze in and get through them, thus they can enjoy the window’s view, and it won’t damage the blinds. Here’s a list of the best blinds for cats on the market.
Another nice alternative is the wood blinds. These blinds have wide spacing between them that allows the cat to see through. If she’s attacking the blinds to try to get to the window, she’ll get there while the blinds are still there. Win-win!
5- Prevention Through Design
The easiest way to stop blind attacking is to optimize environmental design and window treatment choices:
- Select blinds made of sturdy vinyl, wood, or metal vs delicate fabrics if your cat will access them. These withstand scratching better.
- Blinds with wider slats or separated panels allow cats to enjoy window views with less risk of damage.
- Reduce dangling cords, strings, and ties that prove irresistible to playful paws.
- Ensure window perches, cat trees, and scratchers are easily accessible to offer approved vantage points and scratching spots near window areas.
Why Do Cats Attack Blinds?
It’s nothing personal, we assure you. There are multiple reasons why your cat might be attacking your blinds. You need to know them so that you choose the suitable remedy to that problem.
It could be to fulfill their needs. Cats love to climb and scratch; it’s what they do in nature, and it’s what they’ll do in your home. Blinds and windows give them a perfect setting for that.
Another possibility is that your cat doesn’t care about the blinds; she’s after the window. Cats are inquisitive by nature, and they love to sit and observe. How can they do that indoors? Only through a window.
Lastly, she might be trying to get your attention. Messing with the drapes and producing loud noises, as a result, will annoy you and get your attention, which is what she needs.
Training Techniques
When catching your cat attacking blinds, use techniques like:
- Distracting with toys, then rewarding with treats when they shift focus away from the blinds.
- Making loud noises to startle and deter blind roughness during the act.
- Withdrawing all attention when blinds crash until the cat disengages on their own. Do not yell or rush over.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When attempting to correct blind attacking, do NOT:
- Physically punish or yell at cats. This often only makes them sneakier.
- Allow dangling cords or loose blind hardware within paws’ reach.
- Simply surrender window access without providing alternative approved outlets nearby to meet natural needs.
Wrap Up
Cats have some weird behaviors, provocative ones if we might say. Yet we adore them!
Keeping your cat away from your blinds isn’t an easy feat, but it’s doable. It just needs some observation from you to your cat along with some trial and error within these tips till you get it right.
I’ve been living with cats since 2008 and I can confidently say I have more feline friends than humans lol. I currently live with 5 cats in different life stages; two of them are less than one year old, one is 2-ish years old and the oldest two are 9-ish years old. I’ve developed a strong bond with cats over the years and I’m eager to share my experience through this blog. You can learn more about my cats here.