I have scratch posts and pads all over my house, why do my cats not use them?
By goodbody33
@goodbody33 (170)
January 13, 2008 8:42pm CST
I have brought so many scratch posts, houses you name it with sratching material all over, why do my cats not use them but scratch other things like my wicker laundry basket, bed base, stair carpet....
Any tips? I even brought those sticky strips that you put on the areas that they are scratching but that didn't work either, the sticky pads just come off and i spent three hours detaching them from my cats fur...
1 person likes this
5 responses
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 Jan 08
I've found a squirt bottle of water to be a great deterrent for all sorts of bad behavior, but it only works if you're around to catch them doing it. But, if having a sticky strip attack them hasn't changed their ways, I don't know if water will do the trick. :-)
Have you tried putting the scratching posts/pads right next to what they have been errantly scratching and sprinkling some catnip on it? That might make it more attractive to the cats, and then you can slowly move the post to a more convientient spot (for you) once the cat gets better about using it.
All that being said, sometimes you just can't get the little buggers to stop completely. Just comes with owning a cat, I suppose.
1 person likes this
@goodbody33 (170)
•
14 Jan 08
actually thats a good idea it might confuse them lol, i'll switch the laundry basket for their house which has big scratch post on it, and see what happens, thanks for that..
1 person likes this
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
15 Jan 08
I have the same problem and can't do anything about it! Once a cat starts doing something, such as scratching furniture, it tends to keep doing it. No amount of noise or strips or yelling "No1" seems to make a difference. I really believe that a lot depends on a cat's personality. Some cats are just born that way and there's not a whole lot that you can do.
@SixPaulEleven (552)
• United States
14 Jan 08
"the only thing you can do is beat it"
WRong. God how wrong.
You train cats. You don't beat them. Use newspaper and whack it against the floor. Use an empty plastic bottle filled with nuts or pennies and shake it to make noise.
You never, ever beat animals. How would you like it if I beat your kid because he ran out in the street or scribbled on my walls with crayons? Same thing.
@SixPaulEleven (552)
• United States
14 Jan 08
What is covering your scrathing posts? How tall are they? What are they made of?
If they are soft material such as carpet or fabric, the cats may opt for your wicker baskets as they need roughage to scratch.
My suggestion to you is go to your local home store such as Lowe's and pick up one landscape timber about 4 feet tall or bigger, one sheet of plywood and about 4000 feet of sisal rope (about 3 packages). Cover the landscape timber with the rope. Then take the plywood, cut it into a circle about 3 feet in diameter for the base of the post. Then screw the post to the base with a big bolt or large wood screws and stand up for your cat.
Cats like to be able to fully stretch when they scratch and if you bought a short post, no wonder they are attracted to your couch.
@goodbody33 (170)
•
14 Jan 08
well their house is about 5ft tall with rough hesian like material which is similar to the basket.
I've now moved that into the bathroom which looks like an eyesore but was a suggestion on here so i thought i'd try it and then gradually move it out if they use it properly..
thankyou for the tips, it may come to that.... i'll print it out for hubby lol
1 person likes this
@Tuppenny (10)
• United States
7 Feb 08
I had the same problem with my cat cat jessie. she wouldn't use a scratching post of any kind either she tore my wallpaper my carpets my chairs etc until it got so bad that unfortunately i had to let her go. I felt so bad because i loved her dearly but she became out of control. I do hope you have better luck than I did.
