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Chewing the Cat Scratching Pole!

post #1 of 5
Thread Starter 
It's not a huge problem, but just kind of weird. My cat Bobo uses the scratching post just fine, but Eli seems foreign to it, he chews on the strings that dangle out of it, but refuses to use it to scratch. He uses the wooden corners in our house. I always seem to just get the correction bottle of water out when he's already done.

I adopted him when he was 6, so I'm not sure if he was familiar with the posts or not. But is there any trick to training him to use it? Or is he too old and stuck in his ways?
post #2 of 5
I would try putting some catnip on it to attract him to it.
post #3 of 5
Thread Starter 
I have tried this and it's so bizarre, he'll just lick the post and rub on it. But no nails! It's adorable yet, I really hate that he shreds out wooded posts.
post #4 of 5
I was going to say catnip too.

Cats, being the independent souls that they are, like to do their own thing - what I love about cats

As Rolf Harris puts it - "Broderie de Chat"!!!!!!!!!

I wonder if your cat was once an outdoor cat and used to scratching fence posts or trees.

I would try getting a piece of tree, fixing it to a base and see what he does with it. Put it as close as you can to his favourite scratching place. Won't cost you anything either - just go to a local woodland and find a suitable piece of wood to use. I live close to a woodland and there are so many fallen branches that just lie there. Find a good one that hasn't got any rot in it.

My late Lucy preferred the carpet to her scratching post. It now sports a huge hole in it
post #5 of 5
Different cats like different scratchers. You should also try the cardboard scratchers that lay on the floor if you don't have any - many cats love those. Use a string or wand toy to get him up and clawing at the scratcher.
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