How do keep my cats from climbing up my windows?

Question

I have two inside only 5 month old cats and I find them at night trying to climb up the windows and destroying the blinds and knocking over things on the way up the window, its not like a child that I can just say no, because they just don't listen to me or will for the moment then like 5 minutes later they are up another window. What can I do to stop them from thinking that this is ok, or is there another item that can be used to sway them away from wndows? Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Oh for the love of god don't declaw them! It is cruel and inhumane, illegal in some areas even.

I am wondering if your cats are neutered/spayed. If not, it would help to get them fixed as this could be sex-linked territory/mating behavior that is driving them up the windows.

Also, if it is worse at night, it could be that they need a little extra exercise in the evening. Tire them out. Give them a couple of intensive 15 to 30 minute play sessions. Buy or build some cat furniture and keep it away from the windows. When you catch them in the windows, squirt them and then put them in their cat furniture.

With anything like this, you need to be extremely consistent in making the behavior less rewarding for them.

- When you say they are climbing the windows, I'm not sure exactly what action they are engaging in. Appropriate cat proofing your windows will depend on what exactly they are doing. Swinging from the curtains? You could put up something like inside shutters instead with small cafe curtains on the top (which would be hard for the cats to reach). Clawing their ways up the screen? Consider putting down the storm window instead of the screen or buy a small window sized piece of wooden trellis or other similar material to place inside the window to protect the screen.

- If you are present for the behavior, use a squirt bottle (with just water) on them when they get near the window and look like they are going to hit it.

- Rig up some kind of noise making device under or around the non-cat windows. A set of sleigh bells (dig out those chistmas decorations) or a motion activated children's toy that makes lots of noise would be good. I have a whole bunch of halloween decorations that are motion activated - one's a bat that shakes and "laughs" when there is movement near it. It scares the hell out of my cat.

- Use the ammonia and water method suggested by another answerer or try lemon/citrus scented (non toxic) products around the windows. Cats do not like citrus.

- Even indoors cats like a window to sit in. You might consdider designating one window as the cat window. Cat proof the area around it so when they are in that window they won't knock anything over on their way up.

Answer 2

make access for a window for the cat to see out, that is all it wants, make a perch or some way the cat can look out. I have that problen too. Then, all will be fine. Don't spray with water or make loud noises to scare it away, that causes serioi8s problems, like noise phoboia, that is very bad, and don't spray withwater because then a bath wouldgive the at a heart attack and it will think a bath is puunishment.

Answer 3

Spray the area you don't want them to visit with ammonia, they don't like the smell and will stay away. We use 2 parts water and 1 part ammonia around our pool to keep the stray cats away from it. If you don't like the smell of ammonia take a spray bottle of water and squirt them when they climb, you'll have to do this until they get it but it might be more pleasant for you than the ammonia.

Answer 4

Cats can do a lot more damage than dogs.. I am glad I am allergic.. My cat lives outside and is very happy out there..

Try clipping their claws for one thing, when you cant be there to watch them, put them in a bathroom with food and toys and a litter box.

My cat tore the crap out of the wall from using it for sharpening her dang claws..It's wallpaper so I have to replace the whole room..

I do not agree with declawing, there are other methods..including spraying them with water, and getting the claw covers, they glue on and are soft

Answer 5

declaw the little monsters
OR Duct tape to the floor at night.

Why do you people put up with all this crap from your cats? I just bought a house, the former owner had cats, and I'm finding wood that was clawed and chewed, and some of the sills are going to have to be replaced.

Answer 6

They have all this pent up energy and are literally climbing the walls.
Could you possibly send them outside at night?
The only thing left to do is keep them in the junky part of the house with the door closed this summer.
They DO grow out of it, mine loved to do the same thing. Then they grow too big to support their own weight.

Answer 7

double stickey tape on the window sill and bitter spray on the blinds. we have one window we can't open because there is no screen in it and we have blinds pulled so there is no glare on the tv but the cats are clever they chewed off parts on about 4 or 5 blind thingys and they have and easy access hole to get to sit in the window. we didn't have the bitter end spray at the time. we thought about replacing it, but figured they would just do it again so we just leave it, they haven't done any more harm to it since they just want to sit in the window.

Answer 8

they are most likely board give them more toys.
to stop this behaviour when you catch them doing squirt them with water and say NO. do this every time, they will soon learn that climbing window = wet.

Answer 9

Type balls of foil (not to small) to the window seals. They don't like the feel or sound. This will work around the kitchen counters or any place you don't want them to go.

Answer 10

WHEN YOU CAT CLIMBS ON IT AGAIN IN A FIRM VOICE AND SAY"NO!"