How to Stop Cats from Urinating Near Windows

Stop Kitty from using your windows as a litter box!
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Has the area near your windows turned into an impromptu litter box? Rather than resigning yourself to never opening the window again, you can send the cats packing with a few clever ideas. Keep in mind: cats are persistent animals, and you may have to be persistent as well.

Step 1

Remove temptations. Cats are not peeing near your window because they hate you; they're coming around because something is calling their names. Do you have an indoor cat who likes to spend time near the window? Neighboring cats might be coming around because of that. Spaying or neutering your own pet will make him or her less interesting to outside cats. Are you leaving food or empty food bowls outside? Strays might be "claiming" the area to tell other cats "This is my food, go away!"

Step 2

Clean the area using a non-ammonia-based product. Cats find ammonia strangely alluring, so using that to clean will bring more cats around to urinate near your window. Instead, use vinegar or buy an enzyme-based cleaning product and scrub away. As long as some urine smell remains, cats will keep coming back.

Step 3

Place some potted citronella, lemon thyme or Coleus canina plants right under the window. Cats hate the smell of these plants and will march right past them rather than hang around. Avoid planting catnip or valerian anywhere in your home or garden if you want to prevent all the cats in the neighborhood from moving to your house.

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