Top Tips to Cat Proof Your Blinds

Cats and blinds do not get along. It’s one of the odd things that most cat owners observe, as cats simply hate the fact that a set of blinds has the audacity to block their view of the outside world. As a result, cats don’t take kindly to the presence of blinds, typically clawing and biting at them until they can see through the window.

While this makes for entertaining YouTube videos, it’s quite the headache for pet owners. Wooden Blinds aren’t the cheapest, so it’s very annoying when a cat decides to damage them. Not only does it make blinds look unsightly, but sometimes it even prevents them from working properly.

This makes catproofing your blinds very important! Here’s some tips for how to do so:

Beware of the cord

Roller Blind cords are one of the biggest temptations for a cat, as this swinging piece of cord is essentially a massive bit of string for them to play with. Cords are commonly mistaken for cat toys, so be sure to keep them out of reach whenever possible.

An easy way to do this is by attaching a hook on the wall and securing the cord around it, keeping it out of reach and out of sight.

Another option for anyone buying new blinds is to go for cordless blinds! While designed with child safety in mind, they are quite handy for anyone with cats too.

Spray them with a deterrent

There are various types of sprays that act as cat deterrents, so this can be used to keep them from climbing or scratching your blinds. Citrus spray is a natural option that is said to be quite effective, as cats dislike the smell quite a bit, and the spray itself doesn’t leave an unpleasant odour either.

Catproof the window sill

Many cats damage blinds by simply moving past them to get onto a window sill. Cats love to observe the natural world from the comfort of a window, which is why blinds are so often caught in the crossfire.

An effective way to prevent this is to catproof the window sill so they don’t enjoy sitting there. A simple way is to use a small section of carpet placed upside down, as cats hate the feeling of the underside, so will likely avoid sitting there.

Give them a dedicated window

There is no guarantee that other catproofing techniques will work with your pet, in which case it may be worth giving them their own special window. By leaving a window without any blinds – or blinds that remain half raised – you can ensure the cat avoids going to other windows where they may damage the blinds.

Buy cat-friendly blinds

If you want to maintain privacy on every window, consider buying blinds that don’t tend to get damaged by cats. For instance, vertical blinds are great because cats can easily slip through the vanes undisturbed while the window remains covered.

Roller blinds are also quite effective in this regard, as even when lowered its easy enough for the cat to pass through without damaging or messing anything. They also don’t attract much fur, which is especially  handy if the cat constantly passes beneath it.