Rubs paws on edge of bed

We have a bed that use to be a water bed, but we jsut stuck a mattress in there instead.
Just about EVERY single time Beauty wants to get up on the bed, she goes to the corner and just starts to rub the heck outta the edge. It's wood and has woken us up at night.
I'm trying to break her of the habit by just picking the front paws up and inviting her up. However either its a very difficult habit to break or its something behavorial.

Anyone know why?

Cats rub/claw for two main reasons:

1) To "sharpen" their claws.

Actually what they are doing is tearing off the top sheathe of the
claw - like a snake getting rid of an outer skin to make way for
the new one.

2) To mark territory. There are glands in cat toes that leave a
scent when the cat paws at a surface -- the cat is marking territory.

This is instinctual, so it will be difficult to stop altogether. However,
you can influence *where* they practice this behavior, by discouraging
use of surfaces you don't want them to use and by encouraging more
appropriate surfaces.

Give them scratch boxesa and posts, even if declawed, for marking.
Protect the corners of furniture with tin foil, which is a surface cats
don't like to feel, so they won't scratch there.

Good luck!

Carol

Hmm..no claws on this cat (BF had her declawed).

I thought about the glands thing. Luna and Patches don't scent as much as Beauty does though. Plus neither of the cats scent the edge of the bed. I just always thought it was odd...plus sometimes she'll do it for about 5 minutes

Declawed cats don't 'know' they're declawed and will still 'scratch'.

My neighbor's cat Misty (also declawed ) would bat at the corner of the bed, like whap! whap! whap! We thought it was cute.

Hmmm...OK thanks. I guess I would think it was cuter if it wasn't wood she was rubbing against...and during the night. Guess I'm just a sensitive sleeper

Mia has torn up the edge of our mattress. I bought her a scratching post 8 months and she won't touch it. I've moved it all around the room to see if she perfers it somewhere but she doesn't even seem interested. she also scratched the back of the chair. I have n idea what else to do about it. I just sray her with the water bottle when i catch her doing it but that doesn't help either.

Originally Posted by Mia's Mommy

Mia has torn up the edge of our mattress. I bought her a scratching post 8 months and she won't touch it. I've moved it all around the room to see if she perfers it somewhere but she doesn't even seem interested. she also scratched the back of the chair. I have n idea what else to do about it. I just sray her with the water bottle when i catch her doing it but that doesn't help either.

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You may not have the right kind of scratching post, or with the
right covering. You might try something else - maybe a post that
simulates tree bark, for instance.

You can also try a scratch box, which is a horizontal surface,
which some cats prefer (mine like both.) They cost only about $10,
come with organic catnip pressed into the cardboard and many cats
love them.

Carol