How To Stop Cat From Climbing on TV?

Seeing a cat climb on something so fragile and expensive is unnerving, but your pet doesn’t do it to annoy you.

Cats are curious creatures, and curiosity is the primary yet not the only explanation for why a cat climbs on TV.

Training a cat requires dedication and patience, but it isn’t impossible. Remember that each cat’s personality is unique and requires an individual approach.

Why Does a Cat Climb on TV?

To pick the right disciplining strategy, the owner should first identify why a cat climbs on TV. Some suggest that cats are attracted to electronics because of specific electromagnetic frequencies, but that’s a pretty far-fetched idea.

The real reasons why a cat climbs on TV are simple – the TV is warm, elevated, and draws the owner’s attention.

Despite their fluffy fur, cats get chilly easily. The problem is prevalent with short-haired cat breeds and those originating in areas with a warm climate, like Abyssinian and Burmese breeds.

Cats may also search for something warm to lie on to ease the pain. If your cat was never interested in TV before, but it suddenly became your pet’s favorite spot, consider showing your furry friend to a vet.

Furthermore, TVs are typically located in the center of the room, and cats love to have a wide field of view. In nature, cats strive to find such spots to hunt for prey.

However, cats aren’t apex predators, and they may also use elevation to hide from other animals. Cats living with other cats, dogs, or children may climb on the TV due to anxiety.

So, a cat that climbs on TV likely craves warmth or attention, tries to hide from other animals or children, or is guided by hunting instincts, seeking an elevated position and better field of view.

Note how your cat behaves when climbing on the TV. If it uses the TV to sleep, it likely seeks a warm, cozy, and safe place, but if the cat climbs there to watch you from above, it probably wants to play.

Play With The Cat Daily

Suppose your cat climbs on the TV because of its hunting instincts or simple boredom. If your cat has nothing and no one to play with, it will climb on TV, run around crushing your flowerpots or chew your shoelaces.

The easiest and most effective way to deal with a cat misbehaving out of boredom is to entertain it. Play with your cat daily to drain its energy – you can use a laser pointer, wand toy, or a ping pong ball.

Unfortunately, not every owner can dedicate even 15 minutes a day to play with their four-legged friend. If you’re extra busy, buy toys cats can play with alone, such as cat springs and ball track toys.

Playing with the cat also helps if it climbs on the TV to draw the owner’s attention.

Get It a Better Place To Climb On

To understand why cats climb on elevated places, imagine a wild cat in its natural habitat. Prey often hides on trees, elevation provides a better field of view, and if a stronger predator comes close, an elevation can save a cat’s life.

In other words, a wish to rest somewhere up high is instinctive. If your cat climbs on TV, the chances are that it has no other elevated places to rest on, or the places aren’t as appealing.

Provide your cat with legal alternatives to climb on, be it a special cat tree, a bookshelf, or a wardrobe. Ideally, get a cat tree with multiple platforms, a condo to hide in, and a scratch post.

Note that a cat that favors TV may not be interested in a cat tree at first. You will need to encourage your furry friend to climb on the tree by rewarding it.

For example, you can give your pet treats every time you notice it on the cat tree, but be careful not to overfeed it.

The tree’s placement also plays a crucial role. Place the tree in a spot where your cat gets a better view of the environment than from the TV.

Keep The Cat Happy & Warm

If your cat loves to sleep on the TV, provide it with a better alternative. Get your little friend a warm and cozy pet bed.

Shy cats typically prefer cave-style beds where they can hide, while cup-style beds are perfect for cats that love to sleep curled in a ball.

Choose a bed from warm, hypoallergenic fabrics such as wool, preferably washable. Avoid beds with fancy decorations like tassels and beads – such beds may look nice, but small elements are hazardous for cats.

Ensure that the bed is large enough for your cat to sleep in any position. If the temperature inside your house is below average, you own a sphynx, or your cat suffers from arthritis, consider heated beds.

You should also find the right place for a cat bed in your home. If your cat sleeps on TV most of the time, find an elevated place close to the TV.

Placing the bed close to your cat’s chosen sleeping spot will encourage your furry friend to use it. However, arranging a comfy sleeping spot isn’t enough to make a cat happy.

Pay enough attention to your cat – pet it whenever you get a chance (as long as the cat doesn’t mind it) and feed it well.

Avoid Harsh Punishment

Apart from providing the little panther with an alternative, the owner should know how to discipline a cat from climbing on TV. Showing that climbing on the TV is discouraged is vital in teaching a cat to behave properly.

Unlike dogs, cats can rarely draw connections between their actions and harsh punishment. Yelling, hitting the cat with a newspaper, or spraying it from a water bottle in the face won’t help you discipline it.

More likely, physical punishment will make the cat resent you and behave worse out of spite. From the cat’s perspective, it did nothing wrong by climbing on the TV – it was simply following instincts.

Whenever your cat climbs on the TV, you should firmly say “no” and put it on the floor, but not yell or beat the poor creature.

Reward Desired Behavior

Rewarding desired behavior is a significantly more effective way to train a cat than punishing it for discouraged actions. To stop a cat from climbing on the TV, reward it for climbing on the cat tree or sleeping in its bed.

Give your cat a treat every time you see it go to an approved resting place. You may buy cat treats in pet stores or give your little friend boiled chicken breast, tuna, or a piece of salmon.

Maintain Consistent Reactions

One of the critical mistakes in disciplining a cat is reacting differently to the same action each time. Suppose that when a cat climbs on the TV, the owner either sprays it with water, yells at it, or ignores it.

Reacting differently to the same trigger depending on one’s mood is normal, but it doesn’t help the cat draw connections between its actions and consequences. Maintain consistent reactions to help your cat understand what’s allowed and what’s not quicker.

Make The TV Less Attractive

Training a cat is time-consuming, but your TV is at risk every day and especially when you’re away. The cat may learn not to climb on TV when you’re watching but do it anyway as soon as you leave.

Are you wondering how to keep a cat off the TV at night or when you aren’t home? Make the TV less attractive using deterrent sprays or sticky tape.

You can buy products for keeping cats off TVs in pet stores or make a deterrent solution yourself from vinegar, liquid hand soap, and water. Be careful not to damage the electronics and screen.

Alternatively, apply sticky tape to the TV stand. Cats hate the feeling of sticky tape, so it will quickly ward your pet off the TV. However, the tape may leave a mark that’s hard to remove and doesn’t look particularly appealing.

Change The TV’s Location

Let’s assume that your cat is extremely stubborn. It refuses to sleep in the new bed, ignores punishment, and doesn’t care about the sticky tape. If no life hacks for keeping a cat away from TV help, you may need to change the TV’s location.

We get it – relocating your TV isn’t the most appealing solution because you’ve likely picked the best spot in the room. However, sometimes, cat owners have no other choice apart from accepting the cat’s annoying habit.

For example, if your TV hangs on the wall but your cat still manages to climb on it, try to hang it higher. Alternatively, you may move furniture that helps your cat to reach the TV.

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