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Newel post problems

7 months ago

We have two cats who like to jump on our white painted newel posts. The newel posts become very dirty. My husband and I have painted them and all the banisters today but we have four flights of stairs and banisters on both sides. It's very time consuming painting all the time. Any ideas how we can protect the newel posts from the cats? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

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Comments (4)

Sonia
7 months ago
Can you not clean them with cif or a similar cleaner? Newels do get grubby as it’s the spot everyone puts their hands on as they go up and down stairs. I’ve read that cats hate kitchen foil so you could wrap the newels in it, but then it would look a bit odd.
Siwan Harrison
Original Author
7 months ago
Thanks Sonia. I will give Cif a go when the time comes. If its beyond Cif I will just paint them again. 🎨
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minnie101
7 months ago
I’m not sure if it will work for cats as they jump higher but we had a baby gate at the bottom of our stairs for our dog to prevent her going upstairs although I appreciate dirty posts could arguably be more appealing!

Alternatively have you tried scratch posts but I know cats often avoid them…Maybe try putting them in front of the posts would help and then reward them when they use the scratch post?!

Alternatively dark newel posts may hide the dirt if not the scratches?!
Sonia
7 months ago
Good point Minnie, painting the newels a darker shade like grey or a dark taupe, as long as it goes with the decor, wouldn’t show the dirt so much. I’m bemused why the cats jump up there in the first place! 😂

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