I Need "Cat Proof" Window Blinds

Gizmo j

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2013
1,761
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My housing manager was inspecting my apartment today and she said I needed to have blinds on my windows and that not having them is a violation.

My cat tore up my old blinds because he likes to look outside, so the maintenance people took them out a year ago to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

I gave my cat back to the pound over a week ago because I was trying to get myself admitted to a mental hospital to get electro shock therapy, but I had to wait a while because they wanted to talk to my psychiatrist beforehand, the pound said I can re-adopt my cat again if no one adopts him by the time I come back.

But the housing staff said if my cat keeps tearing up the blinds I can no longer keep him.

I was thinking of getting "VERTICAL" blinds instead so he can jump on the window and not have to tear his way through.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,920
18,092
126
or just don't have them install blinds. Get your own blinds and you assume the cost. There is no pet proof anything.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,920
18,092
126
Still need someone handy with tools to install them. Maybe one of the neighbors works construction?
There are blinds that don't need any tools, expansion rods hold it in place.

example, not recommendation

 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
22,417
6,532
136
Still need someone handy with tools to install them. Maybe one of the neighbors works construction?
Hanging a blind is about the same order of difficulty as brushing your teeth. It's a skill anyone with an IQ above 85 should be able to master in less than half an hour.
Gizmo has a few problems, stupid isn't one of them.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,966
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www.anyf.ca
That seems like a dumb rule, does it have to be blinds specifically or any form of covering? Could just put regular curtains.

They do make vinyl blinds that are fully solid and work like louvers and would be hard for a cat to mess with but they are expensive.
 

mztykal

Diamond Member
Apr 21, 2000
6,713
48
91
Our cats destroyed our cell shades in a month. I replaced them with cheaper 2” “wood” blinds and it’s been fine since. The fake wood so far has survived!
 

balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
7,249
3,687
136
My sister has several cats and they destroy the blinds. She usually leaves one blind raised during the day so the cats can sit on the back of the couch to look outside.

Also, if you have blinds you need to trim the lift cord so the kitty doesn't get it's neck caught. Once they get caught in something they tend to panic and twist and that only makes things worse.

This kitty got lucky.

 
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Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,966
13,936
126
www.anyf.ca
Actually does the rule say the blinds have to be down or that they have to be installed? Install cheap blinds, just leave them up. And yes make sure cord is secured very well so they can't get caught on it. If it hangs a little they will want to play with it.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,920
18,092
126
That seems like a dumb rule, does it have to be blinds specifically or any form of covering? Could just put regular curtains.

They do make vinyl blinds that are fully solid and work like louvers and would be hard for a cat to mess with but they are expensive.
It's social housing. Not a strange rule at all, they need you to have window covering, doesn't mean you have to use it.