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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/scratching posts
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Question
How to make my cat scratch on her scratching post not on the furniture ?
Mado,
You need to make the scratching post attractive to the cat and you need to show her that the scratching post is hers, but the furniture isn't.
Suggestions:
Put tin foil on the corners if it is a sofa she is scratching
Use a rolled up newspaper to swat her when she starts to scratch the furniture, then love on her a few minutes later. You want her scared to scratch the furniture, but NOT scared of you
Get a scratching post that has sisal rope (hemp rope). They like that MUCH better than carpet.
Rub catnip on the scratching post
Get a tree 'kitty condo' that the cat can scratch, climb on, and sit on (preferably where she can look out a window).
Keep the cat's claws trimmed! Here is a website that shows with photos how to trim a cat's claws:(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into the address bar)
http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm
Note: Do not declaw! Declawing is an agonizingly painful procedure that may destroy a cat's trust in people for life. Declawed cats may stop using the litter box because it hurts them to walk on uneven surfaces. Declaw wounds may continue to cause pain for months or years. (Note that declawing cats is illegal in many countries, and in some municipalities in North America.)
Here are a couple articles to read about declawing:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole link into your address bar)
http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.hdw-inc.com/declaw.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/declawing.htm
I hope this helps!
Tabbi
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
***********
Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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