Final Up to date on: April 3, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Cats like to climb, and it’s deeply rooted of their feline DNA. In my expertise, cats will climb absolutely anything to take pleasure in a little bit of vertical enjoyable. For no matter cause, curtains appear to draw feline consideration usually. Some cats restrict themselves to utilizing thick curtains as an occasional further scratching floor, however others take pleasure in indulging in an excellent climb. When you’ve got a feline curtain climber at house, you could surprise if you are able to do something to persuade your cat to cease.
Cats climb out of intuition, so the easiest way to maneuver your cat away from curtain climbing is to supply them with an applicable approach to interact with the world as they naturally would. Beneath I’ll assessment 4 potential methods to cease your cat from climbing the curtains.
Why Do Cats Climb Curtains?
To vary your cat’s conduct, it’s important to know why they climb curtains, to start with. Cats are pure climbers. Within the wild, kitties climb bushes to survey the world for prey and hazard. In addition they use vertical areas to relaxation and calm down, as being up excessive permits them to shortly see hazard and react whereas the issue continues to be comparatively far off.
Whereas we could discover the injury kitties do when scaling the heights of our curtains irritating, there’s completely nothing fallacious with cats who climb issues—they’re fulfilling a pure feline want. One of the best ways to persuade cats to cease climbing curtains is to offer them a extra engaging approach to meet the identical want. Many cats will fortunately pivot to napping in cat bushes or exploring mounted cat cabinets if given the chance (maybe nudged in that course with just a few tasty treats).
Punishment doesn’t work and infrequently ends in stressed-out and confused cats who don’t perceive what’s anticipated. With out different actions, cats don’t have the bodily assets required to fulfill their fundamental wants, which might result in stress and anxiousness. Preserve studying to study extra about steps you’ll be able to take which will cut back your cat’s curtain climbing.
My 4 Tricks to Cease Cats From Climbing Curtains:
1. Present Vertical Alternate options
My favourite approach to deal with this drawback is to introduce enjoyable options to appropriately fulfill your pet’s want for a little bit of vertical enjoyable. Cat cabinets and bushes are glorious merchandise since they provide pets locations to hang around and maintain tabs on issues. With only a few cat cabinets and a hammock, you’ll be able to create an impressive play and rest space the place your cat can soar, climb, and calm down.
Cat cabinets, particularly, are an inexpensive DIY choice (nice for a Sunday afternoon venture!); search for designs which might be vast sufficient on your cat to comfortably relaxation and choose supplies that may safely maintain your cat’s weight. In case you’re within the temper to deal with your cat to one thing spectacular, take into account buying a catio that attaches on to your window to offer them a pleasant perch from which to observe outside actions.
2. Put money into Scratchers
Cats usually take pleasure in digging their claws into thick curtains, which might result in climbing in the event that they’re having an excellent time. Scratching is one other a kind of actions firmly rooted in your cat’s DNA. Cats have scent glands of their paws and infrequently scratch to mark their territory and supply details about themselves. In addition they do it to maintain their claws sharp and wholesome.
Scratching posts and horizontal scratchers present felines with much less harmful methods to fulfill their must unfurl their claws. You may search for merchandise with completely different textures to offer them choices; some cats adore the texture of cardboard, and others can’t resist carpet. Put a model of your cat’s favourite scratcher within the room with the curtains you’d desire your pet to keep away from, in order that they don’t must go far to take pleasure in an excellent scratch.
3. Cut back Accessibility
Some cats don’t reply at first when supplied with options, so it usually helps to make it tough on your cat to get to the curtains. Tying again heavy curtains discourages some cats from climbing as a lot. In case your buddy insists on climbing the curtains after you’ve pulled them again, calmly take away them and transfer on.
Contemplate including an additional deal with or two to the cat tree or different place you’d desire them to hang around. However let your pet gravitate there by itself. Reward your companion with treats and reward whenever you see them investigating their new vertical playground or hanging out of their new cat tree.
4. Make the Space Disagreeable
One other trick I like to recommend attempting is utilizing disagreeable smells and textures to make your curtains unattractive to your cat. Cats intensely dislike sure smells, together with citrus and sure types of Irish Spring cleaning soap. Contemplate spritzing your drapes with a product designed to discourage feline curiosity. Many cats dislike the texture of tape and aluminum foil and can take energetic steps to keep away from strolling over both product.
Putting tin foil or tape within the areas your pet makes use of to entry the curtains and the areas instantly across the drapes could cut back the overall enjoyment your cat will get from the exercise, growing the probability they’ll naturally start gravitating in the direction of the enjoyable catnip-laced different you’ve offered.
Conclusion
You may persuade your cat to follow its actually unimaginable climbing expertise in ways in which don’t contain your curtains. It’s generally so simple as offering cats with a extra pleasurable different that meets their bodily and social wants.
As a result of cats are predators and prey, they usually really feel most snug when perched excessive above every part, the place they’ll keep watch over the world. Giving cats other ways to benefit from the heights usually helps cut back curtain climbing.
Featured picture credit score: Inga Gedrovicha, Shutterstock
Cat mother to Ivy – a feisty little rescue kitten that’s her one and solely youngster. For now! All through her life, she has been launched to the particular love that may be discovered within the bond with a cat. Having owned a number of felines, she is greater than sure that their love is unmatched, unconditional and in contrast to some other. With a ardour to teach the general public about every part, there may be to find out about felines, their conduct, and their distinctive personalities, Crystal is devoted to creating certain that every one cats and their homeowners know the significance of acutely aware dwelling – and loving!
