How do I stop the cats climbing the curtains?

Question

We have four cats two one year old (Sisters) and two 8 months old (Brothers)

Answer 1

You need to catch them in the act and squirt them with the jet stream of a water spray bottle or shake a can of pennies at them. Sometimes a firm No will do. Also provide alternatives for them and redirecting them to it will help, such as kitty condos or even sturdy shelves hung on the wall.

When you can't supervise them, then you will need to confine them to a room where they can't destroy anything with their food litter and water and a bed. Careful not to put the food and water too close to the litter, cats won't contaminate near their food or water source so may not use the tray. If a room is not an option, then a large crate (such as a puppy play pen) will do, it will need to have a top so the cats can't escape. This can be used for a few hours a day without any detriment to the cats.

Environment enrichment will help, the problem may be boredom. Provide paper grocery bags, cardboard boxes with door holes cut into it, alone or taped together to form a condo, shoe boxes with a small hole just smaller than a table tennis ball with the ball inside and the lid taped on are good toys. Also cardboard rolls like from paper towel with a little food inside and the ends crimped shut and one end slightly torn to get it started are good for amusing cats. You can hide their food around the house from day to day, behind pot plants, the sofa etc to satisfy their hunting instincts. You don't need to use extra food, just what they would normally eat, divide it up into treasure lots.

You can make a great toy by taking a biggish cardboard carton and cutting arm holes all the way around at different levels. Get some cheap toys, or even table tennis balls on string inside will do (be creative but make sure it's safe) and punch holes in the closed bottom of the carton and secure with string threaded through the box. You can use a chopstick or similar on the outside to anchor the string to but you want the toys dangling inside. Seal up the carton and turn it upside down, voila, a toy that should keep them amused for ages.

If your cats like water, you could buy a small cheap indoor fountain, they're often entertaining for cats.

You can cheaply get springy door knob toys or feather or ribbon wands, or make your own. The wands I suggest you use with them to play, the door knob toys, keep these for when you're home so that if a claw gets caught in it, you're there to free it.

Busy cats are usually happy cats are are much less likely to get into mischief. Also move the toys around occasionally, they will get bored with them if they're in the same spot too much and overlook them. Toys which they have become bored with can be put away and brought back out, they will forget and think it's Christmas when you return it to them.

I hope this helps, good luck and I hope your curtains aren't too badly damaged.

Answer 2

Water spray works really well to discipline cats. Squirt them with it when they go to run up the curtains and also always use a word with your discipline. So you may squirt them and say NO. It is always important as you want your cats to respond to the word and not the spray sooner or later.
The air cans that you use for cleaning your computer keyboards are just as effective.
Don't use anything in the water though, just put it on the dart spray and your cats will soon get the hint

Answer 3

When I used to have a cat we used a product called Get Off Spray but sample some on a small area before spraying the whole lot just in case it reacts badly with the fabric. We used it on our sofa edges as this was a favourite clawing area. Also get them some toys that are laced with catnip, it may deter their attention from your curtains. If all else fails get a dog that doesn't like cats....I got 2. Just kidding ;-) Hope this advice works.

Answer 4

A cat tree is a great idea, especially if you entice them with cat nip (rub it in on each level). Then punish them every time they climb the curtains. Or maybe remove the curtains until they are used to the cat tree, then eventually put them back and see if they are disinterested. If they still climb punish them with a spray bottle, only thing I can think of. They are relatively young still so hopefully they will learn.

DONT declaw them! Worst mistake my mom ever made, one of ours died from the surgery :'( I am still heartbroken over it to this day.

Answer 5

Water discipline - a few good squirts should "learn" them. The drawback is you have to catch them in the act.

Double-sided tape - cats hate sticky feeling on their paws. This will keep them off the curtains when you are not around to spray them.

Spray your curtains with a cat deterrent. Test it in a small, out-of-the-way area of the curtains first to make sure it doesn't discolor your curtains.

Provide a couple scratching posts or kitty condos. Rub them with fresh catnip to entice your cats to climb them instead of the curtains.

Do not even think about having your cats declawed - it is cruel!

Answer 6

I've had the same thing happen.
O.K., cats hate water. I would sit quietly near the curtains...maybe 4 or 5 feet away. I'd have a squirt gun on my lap. Kitty never knew I had it. I had it pointed at the curtains, ready to shoot. After a 1/2 hour, hear she comes, heading for the curtains. When she started to mess with the curtains. I had the gun just on top of my lap, minding my own business - as far as she was concerned. And bam!, I got a direct hit. she ran away 2-3 feet, looked back and said "Wow!, those curtains squirt water! I'm not going back their anymore!" Don't give it away that YOU did it, and don't say anything, laugh or anything.
Took care of it forever. You can't give it away. Keep it secret.


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Answer 7

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Answer 8

Do not declaw your cat. They remove the bone down to the first knuckle. It is painful, cruel and unneccesary. It also can lead to poor balance, and muscle loss

Spray them with water until they get down from the curtain. Everytime they climb, keep spraying until they get down. They will understand quickly

Answer 9

As one who has been owned by cats all her life I DO actually have the solution to your problem...



How do you stop your cats climbing on the curtains?






Take down the curtains!


Simple really; and as you become more accustomed to being a cat's pet you will soon learn.

I am HORRIFIED to discover some people think it is okay to "declaw" a cat!!!

BASTARDS!

THEY should be declawed - see how THEY like it!

Answer 10

Spry cat repellent on the curtains. Its perfectly safe, its just a smell that they don't like to be near. You can buy it easily from most pet shops.