Trying to get cat to scratch "Sctratching Post" instead of sofa

This is a place to gain some understanding of cat behavior and to assist people in training their cats and dealing with common behavior problems, regardless of the method(s) used. Keep in mind that you may be receiving advice from other cat owners and lovers...not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a trainer or behaviorist!

Sookie

Sookie - just one of the- girls

Purred: Wed Nov 4, '09 5:20pm PST


	My cat scratches the same spot on my sofa. I then bought her a scratch post - placed it in front of the area she likes to scratch - but she still wont use the post and is destroying my sofa. I have put her favourite brush on the scratch post - she does sometimes like to sit on the base of it - but she has even tried hoping in the other levels. Edited by author Wed Nov 4, '09 5:26pm PST

my posts | my page | msg me | gift me | become friends

[notify]

Khina

Don't breed or- buy when shelter- pets die

Purred: Wed Nov 4, '09 5:59pm PST


	Try draping a blanket over the spot that she claws. Something with a loose weave works best. Kitty gets her claws tangled in the fabric and can't get the good clawing action she wants. Then try rubbing some catnip on the post and every time the two of you are near the post, scratch your nails on the post to entice her to try it.

[notify]

mIcHiS

-iTs aLl AbOuT- ME!!!-

Purred: Wed Nov 4, '09 6:02pm PST


	If you dont adore your sofa put sticky tape on it at least for a little while to discurage her from scratching. The way I trained michis to scratch it was using a wand toy and playing with her on it , and they instinctivly scratch it then. You can also sprinkle catnip on it , I tried it but the catnip doesnt have any effect on michis , MOL. But whatever you do , please dont declaw her Its a terrible operation for kitties.

[notify]

Ambassador at- the Kitty U.N.

Purred: Thu Nov 5, '09 5:23am PST


	We had this problem too. Mommy finally had to buy a new couch and she put double-sided tape in all the spots we liked to scratch. She also got us a taller scratching post. Turns out the first one was too short to allow us to stretch and scratch. Now we love the new post and haven't got one scratch on the new couch.

[notify]

Charity- Valentine- Fajer

Charity - Agent of sleep.

Purred: Thu Nov 5, '09 1:54pm PST


	One thing that might help is to get another cat to scratch it first. Take it to a friends house and see if their cats will scratch it. Your kitty will scratch it to cover their smells.

[notify]

Lexus

930985

Purred: Thu Nov 5, '09 5:45pm PST


	What I am learning is that not all cats have the same scratching habits. Some cats like to scratch vertically - some like to scratch horizontally. Some like sissal - some like carpet. Once you figure this out then run with it amd give the favorite material to them. I know my one cat likes to scratch vertically and the other one likes to scratch horizontally. The one that scratches horizontally I give her scrap pieces of carpet to scratch on to her hearts content. The vertical scratcher to this day I have to leave blankets draped on the couches when I am not home so he doesn't scratch them. This works great. I just take them off when someone is going to come over. Some ideas I have heard are get tall enough and steardy scratching posts. Attach a piece of carpet (or sissal type carpet) onto the wall for him to scratch. You could also get a big piece of wood for you cat to scratch on. Just make it sturdy enough so that it doesn't fall over. Try and figure out what type of material he perfers to claw and get him something to scratch with this type of material. And whether her prefers vertical or horizontal scratching.

[notify]

Macie

Little- Miss-cheif!

Purred: Tue Nov 10, '09 10:41am PST


	Someone mentioned to not declaw and they're right. If you absolutely cannot get her to stop scratching on the sofa, there's caps you can buy. Softpaws.com has a ton of different caps (sizes for kitten to oh my gosh that's a huge cat in all their colors) they're cheaper than getting them from the vet (about $20 US for 4-6 months, compared with $10 US for one month) and a WHOLE LOT of colors! I talked to someone on their phone line about the caps and they're easy- just slide on and when they wear down, clip the tip of the nail and slide off. If I can't get Macie to kick the habit, she just may get some orange ones (orange will go so well with her orange patches/stripes) though I really do like the dark blue ones, as well. They do have the exact same thing at the vet but they're more expensive and only the clear ones. So, if sticky tape, putting the post near the scratching area, catnip, etc. doesn't work, the caps should be the next thing you think of.

[notify]

Catster

Cat of the Day

Community Homepage »

Trying to get cat to scratch "Sctratching Post" instead of sofa

Catster

Have a cat?

Want a cat?

Love cats?

Local Guides

Catster

Cat of the Day

Community Homepage »

Forums Home » Behavior & Training

Trying to get cat to scratch "Sctratching Post" instead of sofa

Catster

Get the newsletter!

Have a cat?

Want a cat?

Love cats?

Local Guides