Methods to Modify Destructive Cat Scratching Behavior
Cat scratching is an inborn cat behaviour and because of this, you cannot get your cat to end the scratching by chasing him away, shooting water, bullying or reprimanding. No matter what you do, your cat will still have to scratch.
Cat scratching posts come in many sizes and shapes. If you have more than one cat, acquire or build a pole structure that has several resting places so that both cats can happily share their ‘play’ area. Cat scratching trees are also a great option because they often combine horizontal and vertical scratching surfaces and offer a variety of textures and materials in one tree. More choices means more activity and exercise for your cat.
Praise your cat when she uses her new posts. Put it close to where she sleeps because scratching deposits pheromones in the paw pads on the surface, and when Kitty wakes up, she wants everyone to know that this is her singular area! Praise her and tell her ‘Good Kitty’ and stroke her to make it an pleasant happening. You will have to be watchful initially and try to spot her in the act of scratching your furniture. Praise her whenever you see her using the new pole, and gradually bring it closer to an ideal location, away from her old favorite. You may want to locate it up near her normal resting location.
Punishment will normally not have any positive consequence at all. Your cat simply will not grasp it if you try to punish her in any way for something she has done, cats do not relate punishment to the “crime”, they are far more likely to relate the punishment to you! Punishment in all cases is counter productive.
Covering a favored scratching place with tinfoil, sand paper, double-sided sticky tape or plastic carpet runner (pointy side up) makes the surface uncomfortable to scratch. Once the mistaken scratching habit has been changed and the cat has learned to like the tree, the covering can be taken off. Cover that corner of the couch with double-sided sticky tape that is completely unattractive to your cat (the tape can easily be taken off for entertaining company). This will turn your cat away from your couch and right there is a pole that they will love. Shortly the cat will understand where they should scratch.
If you build your own pole cover the it with rope instead of with carpet, the last thing that you want to do is give your cat the idea that it is alright for him to claw the carpet!
Sisal is a very durable material, and will last a long time. Also, if you put a little catnip on the scratching tree, you can pull them right to it. Sisal is a good coarse material for covering the scratching tree as it is very durable and cats like to sharpen their claws on such surfaces.
With love, patience and common sense you can train a cat to stop this destructive behaviour
Tags: car, exercise, furniture, love, men
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