Zoey has never had the urge to scratch, not until recently. She has started scratching our office chairs and my mattress! I'm not concerned about the latter, the junky old thing I plan on replacing, though I still reprimand her for it because if I get a nice one in the future, scratching will be a NO-NO. But our office chairs are like $100 chairs and I am not too keen on her scratching them. Oh, and she also scratches on my parent's leather automan that goes with the loveseat, couch and armchair. This is expensive furniture as well. I have been telling her "NO" and taking her to one of her scratching 'areas'. I bought her two of those cardboard scratchers- one is leaning against the wall and one is flat on the floor. One has catnip rubbed into it- the other doesn't. I also have nailed a strip (about 1 ft by 3 ft) of carpet to my wall, and attatched a feather at the end of a string to the top. She loves to climb and scratch it but still loves scratching the inappropriate places and I can't seem to get her to stop! What can I do? The only scratcher she likes is my homemade one, just nailed to my wall with a toy on it. Is there a different kind of scratcher I should try? Help please!
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Scratching Issue & Questions
- Thread starter kuntrykitty
- Start Date
You could put something on the areas you want to deter her from scratching. Some people use aluminum foil. The object is to remove the "scratchability" from the object. Then right next to it place what you do want her to scratch. When she's scratching that faithfully, then you can gradually move it to a more convenient location. And if she continues to scratch it after the move, then you can remove the deterrents. You'll probably have to do this in multiple locations in each room.
Are you trimming her nails?
PS - I just love her facial markings.
Are you trimming her nails?
PS - I just love her facial markings.
Hmm, try putting "sticky paws" on the places she's scratching. That will hopefully deter her while she's learning the other, appropriate behavior. Find good catnip.. and use the good catnip on the current posts. Some catnip is better than others.. as some uses the flowers and so forth, and some uses the stems which isn't nearly as potent. I honestly don't know which ones are which, but probably someone here does.
Next, give her treats and praise for using the "right" scratching posts. Put them near the items she's currently clawing, if possible. Take note of the position and type of scratcher that she likes the best, and attempt to duplicate it if possible. Get a small coffee can or even a pop can will work, put about 5-8 pennies in it, close it up (use tape if it's a pop can).. and you want to make sure she doesn't see you using it, but keep an eye out for when she uses the "wrong" items and shake the can. This will startle her and interrupt her behavior. Try not to interact with her when she's doing it. Distracting her with play or picking her up or distracting her with food will reinforce the behavior.
What are you currently doing when she engages in scratching the wrong items? Are there other cats in the house (clawing is also a marking behavior)?
If you can afford it, try picking up a substance called "no mark" or something similar, it's basically the cheap version of a product called Feliway which is *vastly* more expensive than the "no mark". There are a few other brands that you can use to substitute. Spray the areas she's clawing with No Mark as well, if you can.
I'll look up some more solutions for you. The book I have handy doesn't cover that, particularly.
Next, give her treats and praise for using the "right" scratching posts. Put them near the items she's currently clawing, if possible. Take note of the position and type of scratcher that she likes the best, and attempt to duplicate it if possible. Get a small coffee can or even a pop can will work, put about 5-8 pennies in it, close it up (use tape if it's a pop can).. and you want to make sure she doesn't see you using it, but keep an eye out for when she uses the "wrong" items and shake the can. This will startle her and interrupt her behavior. Try not to interact with her when she's doing it. Distracting her with play or picking her up or distracting her with food will reinforce the behavior.
What are you currently doing when she engages in scratching the wrong items? Are there other cats in the house (clawing is also a marking behavior)?
If you can afford it, try picking up a substance called "no mark" or something similar, it's basically the cheap version of a product called Feliway which is *vastly* more expensive than the "no mark". There are a few other brands that you can use to substitute. Spray the areas she's clawing with No Mark as well, if you can.
I'll look up some more solutions for you. The book I have handy doesn't cover that, particularly.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Coaster- I am not trimming her nails, because I don't think it would really help with the actual damage she does with her nails, and I don't use Soft Nails or whatever those things are, because she goes outside every morning for a couple of hours to play.
CatsAreBetter- Whenever she scratches where she is not supposed to, I tell her "NO", and take her over to her other scratching items. She doesn't like the cardboard ones, has NEVER scratched them, and the only reason she scratchs the carpet one is because there is a toy attatched. She must like the mesh type matieral on our chairs, and she prbably scratches the automan because she also loves to sleep there. No, we have no other indoor cats, only her. My dog doesn't even come in that often, and if he does, he stays in his own designated spaces.
I will look for that "No Mark" most definitely! Thanks! I just spray it on the areas she is clawing that I don't want her to scratch? I will definitely see if our local petstores have it, especially our PetCo, or anything similar.
Also, there is some leftover carpet. I will take a tall, wide piece of wood and staple or tack the carpet to it and put it on a base. That way it is similar to the one she likes, only portable. I'll put the acceptable scratchers right next to the unacceptable ones and try to get her to use those.
There is something at PetCo that is a catnip spray. Would that work? I figure it's worth a try... And the No Mark too. I'll let you guys know how she does!
CatsAreBetter- Whenever she scratches where she is not supposed to, I tell her "NO", and take her over to her other scratching items. She doesn't like the cardboard ones, has NEVER scratched them, and the only reason she scratchs the carpet one is because there is a toy attatched. She must like the mesh type matieral on our chairs, and she prbably scratches the automan because she also loves to sleep there. No, we have no other indoor cats, only her. My dog doesn't even come in that often, and if he does, he stays in his own designated spaces.
I will look for that "No Mark" most definitely! Thanks! I just spray it on the areas she is clawing that I don't want her to scratch? I will definitely see if our local petstores have it, especially our PetCo, or anything similar.
Also, there is some leftover carpet. I will take a tall, wide piece of wood and staple or tack the carpet to it and put it on a base. That way it is similar to the one she likes, only portable. I'll put the acceptable scratchers right next to the unacceptable ones and try to get her to use those.
There is something at PetCo that is a catnip spray. Would that work? I figure it's worth a try... And the No Mark too. I'll let you guys know how she does!
Actually, trimming nails can help reduce scratching AND damage from scratching. Usually my first indication that one of my cats needs their nails trimmed is when they start scratching excessively or scratch where they're not supposed to.
Actually, Coaster has a point, and if you trim them, it will reduce how much she "needs" to scratch to keep her nails in shape. You can get a clipper from the pet store for about $5 if I remember correctly (maybe less). Clipping is fairly easy, and it's good to start out clipping when they're still young so they learn to be handled. If you need help with figuring that out, let me know.
So.. to me it sounds like it may be that she doesn't like her scratching surfaces.. well, that is, her "appropriate" scratching surfaces. I'm not sure why she doesn't like the cardboard scratcher. It is the corrugated cardboard ones that look like you're looking at the inside of a box wall, with the little holes in it? I'm sure that's what you have but, always good to double check. I'd definitely try a better brand of catnip. Okay, I checked my book and it says that to find better quality catnip you want to look on the back of the package and make sure it's made with only the flowers/blossoms and leaves. Dont' get one that adds stems, as stems are ineffective. Also, how often is she getting catnip and does she have catnip toys? (This may relate to how much effect catnip will have on her when you give it to her.. if she's exposed to it all the time, it may have no effect on her). She also may not understand what it is.. I remember with one of my previous cats, she had to watch the others before she "got" it. You might have to rub some on your hands and pet her with it or something.. Does she ever show interest in catnip?
Okay, so, what kind of carpet is the scratcher she occasionally uses? Is it actually the side up side as you'd put the carpet on the floor, or is it the woven side?
If you have access to a "stump" you may want to consider making your own cat scratcher.. get a plywood base or, if the log is large enough that it won't fall over, just bring it inside bark and all and let her have at that. It may be more natural for her. Mine love sisal rope. I bought a scratcher that was $35 (probably cheaper around your way) that is just a stand, with a post that's covered in sisal. No tree, or anything else, just a stand.
