Why does my cat keep knocking down hanging picture frames?
Cats deliberately play with and knock over hanging frames because they know it is the ultimate way to make you come to them. Even with plenty of other playtime and enrichment, they will persist until the frame breaks or you intervene to stop them.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Applying double-sided Velcro tape to the bottom of the frame to keep it from swingingDid this help you?
- 2Using Blu Tack behind frames and under breakable items to keep them anchoredDid this help you?
- 3Mounting pictures using two hanging points near each corner instead of just oneDid this help you?
- 4Moving picture frames higher up on the wallDid this help you?
- 5Using compressed air noise to deter the cat from specific objectsDid this help you?
- 6Clipping the chain up high using binder clipsDid this help you?
- 7Hanging the chain on a small screw hook installed at the top of the window trimDid this help you?
- 8Installing wall tie brackets or child safety tensioners to keep the loop tight against the wallDid this help you?
- 9Shortening the physical length of the chain and reconnecting itDid this help you?
- 10Running the dangling chains through plastic cord hidersDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I have a hanging picture frame that my cat just has unexplained beef with. She had knocked it over and broken it once… she will sit there and meow and play with it until i stop her.”source ↗
“I’m looking for a safe solution to secure the chains high up, completely out of my cats’ reach, without worrying about them suddenly falling down.”source ↗
“Replacing the blinds entirely would obviously be the best option, but it’s quite expensive.”source ↗
“I have a cat who does things like this regularly to get my attention even though she also has plenty of playtime and enrichment.”source ↗
“Mine does that with a really old armchair I have! He puts his claws on the fabric and just look at me with an evil eye! He knows this the ultimate way to make me come to him…”source ↗
“My concern is that even with the chain held tightly against the wall, the loop is still there. Couldn’t a cat potentially get its head or paw through it, or pull it away from the wall and get tangled?”source ↗