Why does my cat scratch?

What kind of scratching device will my cat like?

Scratching post must be taller than the cat when it stands on its hind legs and sturdy enough not to tip over. The base needs to be big or well secured so it won’t fall over when the cat leans on the top of the post. It should have a corner, since many cats like to scratch two sides at once.

Cats prefer their scratch pads to be in a prominent area, and some require multiple scratch pads. Since cats tend to scratch and stretch after waking, put at least one post close to their sleeping area.

Cats prefer loosely woven material with a definite longitudinal weave or grain that allows them to dig their claws in and get a good, long stroke. However, commercial posts often are covered with tightly woven, durable materials such as carpet. To encourage your cat to use such a post, cover it with a securely fastened piece of upholstery. As your cat rips through the upholstery into the carpet, the carpet becomes rough and frayed and absorbs your cat's scent. Once the upholstery is thoroughly shredded, it may be discarded as long as your cat continues to use the carpeted post. Other posts use sisal, cardboard, wood, or wood composite surfaces. Unless it is destroyed, the post should not be replaced as it begins to wear; in fact, when it becomes stringy and easy to rip, it is most appealing to your cat!



How do I train my cat to use a scratch pad?

The ideal time to train your cat to use a scratch pad is immediately after it awakes. Hold food or a toy at one end of the pad or part way up the post and encourage your cat to stretch out its paws and perhaps even begin to scratch before you give it the reward. If the post has platforms or ledges for climbing, place or hang food, toys, and catnip from it. Rub your cat's paws gently on the pad to distribute its scent and make the pad more attractive. You can also encourage scratching by leaving your cat in a room where the pad is the only furniture or by having an older, scratch pad-trained cat provide a source for observational learning.

If you see your cat scratching areas other than the pad, firmly tell it "no" and move it to the pad. You may even manipulate its legs as if it were scratching the pad. Also, if you "catch" your cat doing the right thing and scratching its pad, reward it with a kind word or a treat.



How do I correct a scratching problem?

If your cat has developed a habit of scratching something undesirable, you will need to retrain it. First, modify the environment. If it is an indoor/outdoor cat, allow it more access to the outdoors. Move the damaged furniture and replace it with an appropriate scratch pad. If your cat is scratching the carpet, place the scratch pad over the commonly clawed area. The scratch pad can be relocated later.

Make sure that the surface texture of the scratching pad/post is equally or more appealing than the object being scratched. If the furniture needs to be discarded or reupholstered, use a portion of the scratched material to cover the scratching post. Make sure your new furniture has a texture your cat finds unappealing, such as a tightly woven, knobby material or an extremely smooth, impenetrable finish.

Make the areas your cat is inappropriately scratching as unappealing as possible. Cover the furniture with plastic, aluminium foil, netting or double-stick tape. Apply an odour deterrent such as lemon-scented air freshener, underarm spray deodorant, or cat repellent. However, make sure your cat does not see you spraying the furniture! They may think you're spraying urine and may become a "copy cat"!

If your cat's scratching problem persists, you may have to punish your cat. Effective punishment must be administered during the misbehaviour and must be unpleasant enough to deter your cat. Punishment must not be physical, and should not be directly associated with the person. It must also learn to associate the punishment with scratching, not with your presence.

First, you must be able to monitor your cat while you are out of sight. You can do this by hiding around a corner and listening for scratching, placing a mirror so you can see the area being scratched, or by listening on a intercom or child monitor. You can also "booby-trap" the area with a motion-activated alarm or a child security alarm, or by dangling some bells in the area.

Next, you must find a way to punish your cat while remaining out of sight. You can use a spray bottle with water, a siren, or a hand-held ultrasonic device. You can throw a noisy object near your cat (such as an aluminium can filled with coins) or a soft object directly at your cat (such as a stuffed toy or ball). You can also use a remote control switch to activate a punishment device such as a siren, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, alarm clock, or tape recording with an unpleasant sound. Whatever the form of punishment, it must be used continuously until your cat has chosen an appropriate scratching location. Your cat must be given no opportunity to return to the previously scratched area unless punishment can be administered. At all other times, your cat must be confined to its room (with its scratch pad).

Once the scratching problem has been resolved, your household can gradually return to normal. Everything should remain the same for about a month. Then, you can slowly move the pad to a more convenient location and begin to reduce the areas covered by foil or plastic. The pad should be moved only a few inches each day.




What do I do if training does not work?

Many people minimise a scratching problem by clipping their cat's claws. Although this does not reduce the frequency of scratching, less damage is done.

Some veterinarians also carry a product called Soft Paws’ which consists of a set of tiny gloves you glue onto each individual claw. They last approximately six weeks. Surgical declawing and tendonotomy is not recommended.
Key Points

• Scratching is a normal behaviour for cats.

• Provide an appropriate scratch pad.

• Reward your cat for using its scratch pad.

• Make the inappropriate scratching areas unappealing.

• Monitor and if necessary punish your cat while remaining out of sight.

• Gradually return your household to normal.