How do I keep my cat off my window screens?
 

My 6 month old kitty is cute as can be. He's started climbing window screens to the point where the one in our bedroom came out so many times it's now been ripped and replaced. And of course, he immediately does it again.

I've tried squirting him with water and that's sometimes effective quickly and sometimes he holds on determined.

He's now gotten out a few times this way and that concerns me. I don't want him to be run over and I can't count on him staying in our yard. I can't hardly blame him though - outside is glorious with a garden, flowers, yard, bird feeder, various critters such as gophers and squirrels, etc.

Oliver the kitty has now come over the stare at me. He knows. He know.

How do you keep your cats off of your window screens? Aside from keeping the windows closed which isn't an option for us where it's already getting pretty warm and the a/c isn't effective (both in cooling and price.)

I replaced all of our screens with the stronger pet type of screen. It doesn't keep them off, but it doesn't rip when they scratch or climb.

No suggestion for keeping them off but make sure you have other scratching options for him. Those cardboard things work well - and even better when you add some cat nip to them.

I'd try covering it with saran rap for a day or two. My cats hate that stuff and won't go near anything they associate with it.

Get a wide roll of double sided tape. Put it in the area where kitty likes to jump onto first, so you can still get some airflow. The saran wrap is a good idea, but kitty is going to be able to sink her claws into it and still climb, so it might not be enough of a deterrent. I got the idea for the tape from a show on Animal Planet- it was to keep kitty off the counters, and it worked really well. After a while, the cat gave up.

I suggest getting rid of the cat.

All great ideas - except for Scaeagles of course. I stick out my tongue to you sir! thblblblthbl

I originally put something much more graphic relating to HOW I would get rid of the cat, but decided to be nice(r).

I agree. Cover the cat with Saran Wrap.

WB's tape idea sounds good, too.

You could electrify it.... :evil:

I second this notion: we have successfully used this deterrent over the years.

I had a cat that would scratch holes in the screens to get out. So I did like NA and replaced the screen material with the pet type (I replaced the screen in the frames myself to save money- got a roll of the stuff from home depot). After a while he gave up trying. I think your young kitty will out grow this behavior, and all you have to do is figure out how to get through this time without shabby screens and flying insects in the house. So I'd say replace the screens, it will be the last time you will need to (mine are still going strong and look as good as new after 7 years!). Or you could replace the cat with a dog. The choice is yours! :D

Operation plastic wrap starts today - since I have some of that on hand.

If that doesn't work, I'll look for the tape and/or screen material. Of course, I have recently opened a package of screen material to fix the screen and I'm sure it's not the special pet type. If the other doesn't work, I'll have to buy some.

I knew you guys would have good ideas.

I wouldn't count on that. My kitty SpringerDingerOsamaBadKatten™E&MProductions would climb up the screens and go for a ride as they flew out. My parents couldn't open windows all the way, but since he was a huge kitty they could still open quite a bit.

Shotgun.

My cats would eat the Saran wrap, get a blockage and I'd have a huge vet bill. Foil may work as well but the vet bill danger still applies.

SpringerDingerOsamaBadKatten :D :snap:

Well, all three of my cats out grew the climbing as they got older. You milage may vary.....

I had to replace the screens like NA, bought it cheap at Walmart and it works great. I have gone the spray bottle route and it works most of the time unless they are feeling stubborn! I have used the double sided tape for other things and it works pretty well.

Do not put it on a microfleece couch though. It tears off the fabric when you go to replace it:(

I don't know if this would work, but I was told a while back when my kids had a sand box in the back yard that sprinkling black pepper in the sand would stop cats from pooping in it. It worked. I wonder if putting a small amount of black pepper where the screen sits in the window would be a deterrent. Worked in the sand box.

D . . . . .

D . . . . .

There, I said it.

Pepper?! I'll give that a try. Since replacing the screen, it seems he's only doing it to make me mad. i.e. in the morning when I'm sleeping and it's time to get up and feed him. Or, if I wake up early and put food in his dish, he'll go eat and then come bug me to get up.

I don't...um... understand.

Have you seen a speach therapist for that stammer?

This is what cats do. So I go back to my original suggestion.

We put a cover on ours. Worked like a charm.

Well that is the obvious solution but this wasn't designed to be a sandbox. It was under an elevated playhouse type thing and was not able to covered easily.

De . . . .

Say, have you tried closing the window?

That might work.

Dec . . .

I went out and picked up one of those cardboard scratcher things and WOW! He loves it! I put it down and of course he had to come over and investigate. It took about 5 seconds to get the idea and he went to town.

I wish I would have picked one of these up sooner. I previously got the "emery cat" but took it back immediately because it smelled like moth balls or something and Oliver wouldn't go anywhere near it. and I couldn't wait to get it out of house. Just having it in the car, opened, when I brought it back and then getting back in, the car reeked.

Now if he'd just stop nibbling on the little pieces of cardboard he scratches out...

You should have IT look at your keyboard. It doesn't seem to be working properly.

;)

Do Do Do
De Da Da Da
Is all I want to say to you.