Cat question

[minnieandme]

I bought my cat 2 different scratch posts and she will not use it. I have the tower one with the carpet on the bottom and all she does with that is bite the tower part. I also have a toy that has the scratch post in the middle with the ball that goes around that they can try and catch and she doesn't seem to be to amused in using the scratching part although she does love playing with the ball. I showed her to use the scratching post but it seems she rather use my carpet, cabinets and door frames. Any advice on how to stop her from trying to tear up the house? I really don't want to declaw her but may consider it (no flames please)

 

[Daxx]

No flames here.

Try spritzing the scratching post w/ liquid catnip. They have the liquid spray at most pet stores. That might entice her! We use it to freshen up cat toys once the catnip wears off.

Also ... re. declawing ... they have these plastic claw covers that you can put on your cat's claws. They are harmless to the cat, do not hurt to apply them and "grow out" with your cat's claws. An alternative to declawing. Have you tried spritzing the cat w/water every time you catch her near something she shouldn't be clawing at?

ETA -- check out this website: claws.

Also ... when you take her to the new scratching post, hold her paws, press lightly on the pads so her claws come out and move her paws in the scratching motion on the scratching post so she knows it's ok to scratch there! Good luck!

 

[disneymama73]

In the past 15 yrs, I have had 5 cats. The only one that would use a scratching post is the kitten I just got 6 mos ago.

I had my past 4 cats declawed, but I don't see any reason to declaw this one. He's such a good boy.

Good luck with yours! I hope you find something that works. Maybe try talking to your vet!

 

[alldiz]

everytime i saw my cat scratching something......
i would pick her up and bring her to the scratching
post and scratch the post with her paws....

pain in the butt....but it worked

good luck.....
Kerri

 

[aynt79]

I agree with the catnip spray.

Also, are the scratching posts tall/large/sturdy enough? If they aren't comfortable with it they won't use it. It needs to be big enough for them to stretch out. We had a floor to ceiling one, they used it - but still used other things as well. We finally just made our own. It has a big base (at least 3'x3') and is about 4' tall, so they can stretch out whichever way they like. You can tell by the rips in the carpet that it gets well used.

We have also used Sticky Paws. They are small strips of clear double sided "tape". We use them on the corners of the furniture. They go to scratch and it feels sticky so they stop and don't try again.

You can also try getting some of that spray stuff that keeps cats away from certain areas. I've never tried it. Try spraying some on her favorite carpet areas and see if it works.

 

[goudaman40]

Our kitty hates scratching post . . . however, we did find something she liked . . . a small throw burber rug (you know, the ones you place in the kitchen). She uses this all of the time and she also likes the thistle type rugs).

She doesn't use the furniture of the living room carpet, just the two rugs. We haven't changed them, because for 9 years this has been her scratching post and we are afraid she might start scratching something else.

 

[Melwood23]

I also have a problem scratcher. He does love the cardboard inserts in the ball one, but he still loves to use my bed.

I have read someplace, but need to research it, some devices to use to keep them from scratching places, some type of sticky card. Also have heard that cats can be picky on what and how they scratch. Some like to scratch vertically, others flat on the floor, and also diff materials. Some cat's like the sisal(sp?) rope on cat scratchers, while others like the carpet, other like the card bd, etc.

The problem is Cats will do exactly the opposite of what you want them to do.

 

[OK!]

My cat used to be a problem scratcher (witness my dining room table legs...sigh) and I tried several different kinds of scratching posts with no luck. Then when I was housesitting for my parents & had him with me, he happened upon a scratching post they'd bought for their 2 kittens (which the kittens hated, BTW) and decided that he loved it. They ended up giving it to me and, even though he obviously liked using it, I still praised him lavishly every time. Now it's to the point that if he gets scolded for anything, he immediately heads over to the scratching post and starts using it and looking back at me like, "No, really! I'm a good boy! See?!"


Oh, and he also likes using carpet scraps that are flat on the floor if they're stable and don't move around too much when he pulls on 'em. I'd just see if you can find a few different kinds of things for the new kitty to try out and be sure to use a TON of praise. That was the only thing that worked for my cat.