How to Cat Proof Blinds: 5 Vet-Approved Ways
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Blinds are a serious temptation for cats, especially those that have pull cords and other dangling sections of material for your cat to bat around and attempt to dangle off. Even less playful cats might want to try and get through the blinds in order to be able to see out of the window more clearly.
While you might be asking the question, “Can anything be truly cat proofed,” there are steps you can take to help reduce the chance of your cat pulling the blinds down or getting badly entangled in the slats.
Below, we have included five possible ways you could prevent this from happening in your home.
The 5 Ways to Cat Proof Blinds
1. Use Deterrent Spray
Deterrent sprays don’t work on all cats. Some seem to quite like the citrus or other aroma that is supposed to put them off, but they do work for many, and if yours is one of them, it could be a relatively simple fix to prevent battered blinds and torn cords. Spray the blinds with the recommended amount of spray and repeat the process according to the instructions on the bottle. Over time, your cat may lose interest in the blinds and you can start to spray the area less frequently.
Commercial sprays are available, but you can also make your own deterrent by combining one part citronella oil and four parts water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray the area.
2. Give Your Cat Its Own Window
While some cats do play with the blinds and cords because they simply want to play with the intriguing objects, others are wrecking blinds to get to the window behind. Consider giving your cat one of the windows in the home, leave it free of blinds, and remove any ornaments or other objects that they might push away. But you may not want to leave blinds open just to allow your cat to have unfettered access to the view beyond. If this is the case, you can raise the blinds part way and install a cat sized curtain on a tension rod underneath. This will give the cat easier access to the window view but prevent nosy neighbors from peeking in.
Obviously, cats being cats, there is a chance that they will ignore this window and still prefer the one with your favorite blinds.
3. Hide or Get Rid of the Cord
The cord is a really tempting component of the blinds but is a safety hazard. It is, effectively, a piece of string with an object on the end and this bears a striking resemblance to a lot of the objects we use as cat toys. Sadly cats can become easily tangled in the cord, sometimes with injurious or fatal consequences. If the cord is the obvious object of your cat’s intrigue, consider placing a cleat on the wall and wrapping the cord around it so that it is out of the way. This is recommended for child safety too. Alternatively, choose cord-free blinds that literally remove the desirable object from the equation.
4. Cat Proof the Ledge
If your cat is trying to tear through the blinds because they do want to see the world outside, then the window ledge is their goal. Make the ledge unappealing. Place cacti or other plants on the ledge and your cat will be less likely, although not entirely unlikely, to want to climb on that uninviting space. Sticky strips can also deter determined felines.
Don’t put anything breakable or valuable on the window ledge, however, because there is a chance it will end up pushed on the floor.
5. Try Different Blinds
There are many different designs of blinds, including those with vertical slats. Choose vertical slatted blinds with plenty of space between the slats and your cat should be able to get between them without causing damage. There are cordless blinds that remove the appeal of the swinging toy, while solid blinds that do not have any slats may pose enough of a barrier to deter your cat from trying to get through.
In Conclusion
It is likely to take a few attempts at trying different techniques before you successfully manage to prevent your cat from wrecking the blinds or the pull cord. And, in some cases, you could be fighting a battle of wits and persistence that you will never win. But, with the right choice of blinds, the use of some form of deterrent, and the removal of playful-looking objects like the pull cord and weight, you can reduce the chances of blind damage.
Featured Image Credit: Nathan Fertig, Unsplash
