How to stop a cat from jumping on curtains? Basic and auxiliary methods

The behavior of pets sometimes discourages owners. The cat has just been basking in the rays of the sun on the windowsill, but the next he is testing the teeth of a nearby wire, shredding the upholstery of the sofa or destroying his favorite Italian wallpaper. Sharp claws remove layer after layer, breaking through to the concrete wall, and the cat’s owner doesn’t know what to do, how to stop the cat from gnawing wallpaper?

How to stop a cat from scratching wallpaper

Many people, who are not known for their patience, take up a newspaper or slippers and go to raise their pet using not the most pleasant methods. Those who are prone to radical methods take their cats for declawing surgery. And some even allow the pet to act as he sees fit and not to hamper his will in any way. But what solution will be the most effective and humane? Let's figure it out.

Personal space

When buying an apartment, a person equips it according to his needs and desires. But what about the cat? Sometimes, when welcoming a kitten into the family, the new owner does not make any changes to the layout of the house, with the exception of placing a tray and bowls for food and water. If you are one of these owners, then you should not be surprised that the cat is looking for something to do in places that are not suitable for it - it simply does not have “its own” place.

In a perfectly sterile apartment, it will be very difficult for a cat to find a place for itself.

Apartment arrangement

It is recommended to arrange several interactive corners in your apartment or house before purchasing a pet (their number and size will depend on the size of the room). Play areas allow the cat to realize a number of hunting and territorial instincts, which the owner seeks to avoid a destructive encounter with. If you prohibit your cat from approaching the wallpaper and in return provide him with a number of other interesting things (such as a scratching post), sooner or later the pet will switch his attention.

The presence of interactive zones will quickly switch the pet’s attention from the wallpaper that is dear to the owner

The play area can be purchased ready-made or built independently. Some owners use a trick and build an interactive platform for the cat into existing items. For example, they wrap the legs of a coffee table with felt, creating an impromptu scratching post.

Complete set of gaming complexes

Specialized areas for cats, as a rule, consist of several differently grouped parts:

1. A closed house in which the pet can rest from the events around it;
2. Tall poles covered with felt, designed for grinding down claws;
3. Elevating platforms that satisfy one of the cat’s main needs - to look around the entire territory entrusted to him at one glance;
4. Small interactive details, in the form of dangling soft balls, which your pet will spend many hours trying to catch.

There are many inventive options for adapting complexes to different types of housing

Recommendations for purchase

The range of gaming complexes is large. There are areas intended for one individual, and there are areas for entire cat families. When purchasing, the owner should be guided by both the temperament of his pet and the size of the room. The sizes of play complexes vary from several meters in length and height to compact suspended structures.

When choosing a model, do not forget to take into account the size of the pet and its temperament

Regardless of the type of model chosen, there are a number of tips that will help you purchase a durable and strong complex:

1. Look for complexes upholstered in hard material. Soft textures quickly become unusable and require replacement;
2. Check the upholstery for quality. To find out how long the upholstery will last, simply rub it with your palm or a wet handkerchief. Fabrics that are stained or have a strong odor should be discarded immediately;

   

   The upholstery material should not only be of high quality, but also suit the pet

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3. Pay attention to the reliability of the frame. The preferred materials are wood, metal and plastic. Hanging compact options made of synthetic materials take up little space, but are inferior in strength to full-fledged options;
4. Make sure that the complex has several attachment points. The ability to attach the structure to the wall and/or ceiling will be a significant advantage. Fastening with nails is unacceptable, as it is potentially traumatic;

   

   Unreliable structures can collapse and injure or seriously frighten the cat.

5. Choose sites that pay attention to detail. Holes, ladders, platforms - all this allows the cat to realize its hunting instinct, allowing it to take cover and jump out unexpectedly.

With the purchase of a gaming complex, it is also advisable to acquire a special vacuum cleaner that allows you to clean small surfaces from accumulating cat hair.

Choosing a gaming complex

When you first encounter a number of playgrounds, you cannot help but think that they are all similar to each other, but at the same time have subtle differences. In order for you to better understand the details of the structure of various complexes, we will study the main ones clearly.

Table 1. Types of gaming complexes

What to choose?

There are many types of scratching posts, varying in size and structure, but similar in function. There are minimalist rectangular strips, upholstered in strong material, which are nailed to a vertical surface. There are entire complexes, which we just looked at, that use this strong material on all surfaces.

The choice of possible variations of play areas is limited only by the imagination of the pet owner

The type of scratching post is not so important, what is important is its benefits. If your pet only needs a small rectangle on which he grinds his claws, then there is no point in buying a whole complex for these purposes. If you notice that your pet is experiencing a lack of extra territory, then buying a small scratching post will not correct the situation.

Foil covering

The method is similar to the previous one, but is more secure. This method is not suitable for small kittens. It is better to use it against adult, conscious offenders. Regular foil will help stop cats from climbing on the table.

The edges of the table top are wrapped in food foil, pressing it down slightly. The layer will quickly take the shape of the tabletop and will not give itself away.

Next, the cat tries to jump in a familiar pattern. His front paws catch on the foil and it slides off. The animal falls.

How to train a cat to use a scratching post

There is no secret that would instantly instill in your pet an interest in this unit. Articles like “training a cat to do something in 15 minutes” are most often a move that attracts attention, but has little overlap with practice.

You need to introduce your cat to legal ways of caring for its claws from the first months of life.

Of course, if you want a quick effect, you can take a scratching post already soaked in catnip or valerian, but veterinarians strongly advise against this option. Such “flavors” awaken a cat’s sexual instinct, since their smell reminds the animal of the smell of a cat during heat. Sexual arousal in a cat is clearly not the association that the owner wants to develop in connection with the scratching post.

Useful and harmful advice

There are several simple, intuitive ways to help attract your pet's attention to a new object. However, then the cat’s will comes into force - you can endlessly shower it with treats, but if the pet does not accept this accessory, the owner will not be able to do anything. Read on to learn more about what you should and should not do when training to use a scratching post:

1. Re-check that the scratching post is securely fastened and does not wobble. Having felt the fragility of the structure, the cat will never want to stay on it;

   

   If there is the slightest doubt about the stability of the structure, the pet may ignore it

2. Introduce your pet to the scratching post through a game. As you know, cats instantly react to moving objects. Hang a candy wrapper on a thread or use a similar type of toy to concentrate your pet's attention and take him to the treasured place. Further acquaintance with the scratching post will take place without your participation;
3. The often-heard advice suggesting praising the cat when he uses a scratching post does not always work. Of course, cats have a need for attention, but cats’ “greed” for flattery is more likely the result of human self-hypnosis. A pet will not do something he doesn’t like for the sake of a kind word;

   

   If your pets like the scratching post, they will reach for it without any reward.

4. Positive reinforcement in the form of treats also does not work in all situations. This method is more applicable to dogs. You are working to ensure that the cat understands the practical use of the scratching post, and this process does not require additional treats or other signs of appreciation;

Causes of lawlessness

To catch a cat, you need to think like a cat.
Therefore, first you should figure out why the fluffy climbs onto the dining table. There could be a lot of reasons for this. Why does the cat walk on the table?

1. He explores. Little kittens ignore rules unconsciously. Kids explore the world and try not to miss a single interesting detail. Everything needs to be sniffed and knocked over.
2. Delicious smell. As a rule, the table smells of food, and it’s rare that a cat doesn’t stretch out its muzzle to catch the smell of meat. But animals have a much stronger sense of smell, so they can even smell traces of food. This is why cats jump even on an empty table.
3. Passion for heights. Predators like to climb trees to observe their territory from above. There are no tall plants at home, so we have to adapt.
4. Plots a route. Sometimes the table is not the end point of the cat's route. If the furniture is on the way to the window, the woolen one will walk along it without even noticing his “misdeed.”
5. It's getting warm. Sometimes the floor is cold or there are drafts. Heat-loving cats are looking for a secluded place to sleep, and this place can even be the dining tabletop.
6. Craves attention. The most risky stock. Some cats sit right in front of their owner while he's having dinner. It is unlikely that they are praised for this, but pets try to attract the owner’s attention with their immodest persona.

No matter how beloved your pet is, it is not advisable for him to climb onto the table. Firstly, there may be food there that animals should not eat. Secondly, hygiene must be maintained. After all, the paws that stepped on the table had just come out of the toilet. Don't forget about wool. They say that in a house where there is a cat, lint is a seasoning. But it is better to eliminate this “spice” from food.

Simple life hacks from experienced owners will help you wean your cat off this bad habit.

Anti-scratch

If for some reason there is no opportunity to purchase and place a gaming complex or scratching post, you can turn to anti-scratch products. Anti-scratch guards are silicone attachments for pets’ claws, made from special materials that, if they get into the pet’s stomach, do not harm it. The glue used for them is non-toxic and does not cause irritation if overcooked.

A large selection of all kinds of attachments will allow the owner to easily find the right option

Their low price (around 300-400 rubles per set) and ease of handling may appeal to many cat owners who practice grinding their claws on interior items. However, it is worth keeping in mind that different pets react differently to rubber attachments on their fingers. Some individuals quickly get used to the anti-scratches, some strive to tear them off with their teeth and eat them.

Read more about anti-scratch for cats and how to choose the right size on our portal.

How to stop a cat from scratching wallpaper

It may also happen that after testing and approving the proposed scratching posts, your pet will continue to visit his favorite wallpaper with amazing persistence. It remains to endure or go to extreme measures - the final choice always belongs to the owner. Radical methods of influencing your pet are listed below:

1. Appeal to your cat's keen sense of smell. Cats are very sensitive to odors and cannot tolerate strong odors. Among the most hated odorous enemies of cats are citrus fruits, essential oils, all kinds of seasonings, garlic, and perfumes. Choose any of the options you like and spray it on the area of ​​the wall chosen by your pet. The result will not be long in coming. However, be prepared for side effects in the form of possible allergies or pet aggression;

   

   The hostility of cats towards citrus fruits has long been known to all cat lovers.

2. Apply long strips of double-sided tape to the damaged area of ​​the wall. Cats do not tolerate sticky surfaces well and after meeting them they diligently lick themselves for a long time. The disadvantages of this method are easy to calculate: 1) the tape itself will cope with damage to the wallpaper no worse than a cat; 2) when the pet switches to new areas, you will have to paste them over too;
3. Spray your cat with a spray bottle every time he tries to engage in forbidden activities. The method is effective, but does not have a long-term effect. The pet does not see any connection between an unpleasant shower and tearing the wallpaper, and therefore, at every opportunity, he returns to his occupation;

   

   Please note that the cat will not be happy with your manipulations with water.

4. Cover the board with similar wallpaper and place it in the place that the animal has chosen for itself. In some cases, the pet's attention actually switches to a new object. But it may also happen that the cat simply drops this board with active body movements and scares itself and everyone around.

If you want to turn to the most powerful weapon, and start by influencing the cat’s sense of smell, then below are examples of odors that will block the animal’s path to the wallpaper.

Smells that repel cats

Video - Weaning a cat from scratching wallpaper using a scratching post

Unexpected fall

The method is somewhat inhumane, but one session may be enough for the cat to forget the way to the table. To carry out the plan, you will need a lightweight plastic tray.

The tabletop is furnished with “inconvenient” objects so that only one side remains free. Bottles and pots will come in handy as an impromptu fence. Place the tray on the free side, pushing it slightly beyond the edge of the tabletop. You can pour some water into the tray itself.

Further events can be predicted. The cat doesn't want to jump on the tray, but there is no choice, because the whole table is occupied. The animal jumps, knocking over the tray. Water pours onto the cat, and the container itself falls to the floor with a crash.

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