How to Keep Cats From Clawing Curtains

Your curtains are a perfect target for a cat to relieve its natural instinct to claw. The vertical material won't fall no matter how hard the cat pulls at the material and tears it. Cats need a stable surface in order to stretch their muscles, mark their territory and feel good through clawing. Redirect cats' clawing instincts to save your curtains and still let your cats engage in the healthy feline behavior of clawing.

Instructions

    • 1

      Trim your cat's claws every few weeks. The shorter the cat's claws, the less likely the claws will get stuck in the curtains and tear.

    • 2

      Spray the curtains with herbal cat deterrent spray every few days. Test the solution on a small area of the curtains and observe whether or not the material stains before you spray the entire curtains. Cats will stay away from areas with smells they do not like.

    • 3

      Set up several approved cat-clawing areas. If your cats claw curtains, they like to claw vertical items. Buy multiple vertical cat-clawing surfaces, such as carpeted cat condominiums. Place one in the same room as the targeted curtains but in another corner. Place the others in different rooms throughout the house. Cover the clawing areas with catnip or place one or two cat treats atop the surfaces to encourage the cats to claw these areas instead of the curtains.

    • 4

      Reward good behavior and ignore bad behavior. Give your cats positive attention and a treat when you see them clawing their approved cat-clawing surfaces. Do not yell at the cats, spray them with water or chase them away when you see the cats clawing the curtains. In the panic to get away from you, they might rip your curtains even further. They will also sneak around and return to claw the curtains when you are not present.