How to Find a Scratching Post That Your Cat Will Actually Use
Everyone has been there. You finally got that brand new piece of furniture you’ve wanted forever - the couch, the rug, the chair. And no sooner do you get it placed than your furry feline housemate decides to sink their claws into it. How do you keep them from scratching it to shreds?
Why do cats scratch?
First of all, it helps to know why cats scratch.
Scratching is about more than just sharpening claws - in fact, they aren’t really even doing that. When cats scratch a surface, they remove the outer sheath of their nails, revealing a new, pointy nail underneath. They are also marking territory, both visually with the scratches and olfactorily with pheremones in their paws. It’s also a good opportunity to get in a really good stretch. Finally, it’s a stress and anxiety reliever for them. All in all, scratching is an entirely instinctive behaviour and an essential part of your cat’s day.
It’s best to approach any destructive scratching from the perspective that your cat is going to scratch something no matter what. Your goal is to give them an option that they find better than your furniture. And that’s going to mean at least one (likely more than one) scratching device.
So, what makes a good scratching post?
That depends on your cat. Most humans have a preference for what kind of mattress they sleep on or what kind of car or bike they use. Cats are no different - they all have individual preferences for their scratching surfaces. You’ll have much better luck getting your cat to use a post rather than your furniture if you observe their preferences and try to give them a good alternative from their point of view.
Things to look for:
Orientation: Is your cat scratching a vertical surface, like a chair leg or side of a couch? A horizontal surface, like a rug or carpeting? Something on an angle? Get a scratching surface that mimics the orientation they prefer. If they use multiple orientations, get multiple scratchers.
Size: For vertical posts, make sure they are tall and sturdy. Remember that part about how they use their scratching time for stretching? The post needs to be taller than your cat when they are stretched up on their hind legs and sturdy enough not to slide around when they put their full weight on it. If you’re getting a horizontal cardboard scratcher, make sure it’s big enough for your cat. Some cats are fine with smaller ones and some prefer to be able to sit on one end and scratch the other. Also, cardboard ones come in a variety of shapes, from a flat rectangle to curves and swoops, so you may need to experiment to see what your cat likes. When in doubt, try flat first.
Material: What kind of material is your cat scratching? There are lots of different materials you can get for scratchers - sisal rope, carpet, cardboard, wood - so you may have to experiment to see what your cat likes best. And you may find you need to have a couple of different types to satisfy all their scratching needs.
Location: Where in the house is your cat scratching? Since scratching is both a marking behaviour and a stress reliever, you may find that your cat will use post in one location and not another. If your cat is scratching something like a door frame, you may find that a scratcher that you can mount on the wall works best.
Tips
I’ll be doing a more detailed post on decreasing destructive scratching in the future, but here are some quick tips to help you get your kitty on board with the new scratchers:
Dos:
Let your cat investigate the post themselves. You can try sprinkling catnip or silvervine onto it to increase interest, but cats will generally only do things that they think are their idea.
Make the furniture you want them to ignore less appealing. For couches, chairs, rugs, and carpet this can mean putting a smooth sheet over top (make sure to tuck it in so your cat can’t sneak underneath). There are also products you can buy, like double sided tape. Cats are always drawn to fabrics with a larger weave as they can get their nails caught in there for a good scratch. The smoother and tighter the weave, the less appealing it will be. You want your cat to decide on their own that the post is better than the couch, so make that couch the most boring thing in the house.
Don’ts:
Put your cats paws on the post and mimic scratching behaviour. For some cats, this could have the opposite of the desired effect and give them a negative association with the post. Cats do best when they make their own choices.
Scold or punish your cat when they’re scratching the furniture. Remember: to your cat, this is an instinctive behaviour and they don’t know the difference between an expensive couch and a scratching post. Plus, something like a spray bottle is only going to happen when you see them, so all you’re teaching your cat is to wait until you’re not home to scratch. This is a very ineffective method and can wind up making your cat more fearful.
You’ll always be more successful getting your cat to use a post if you consider what’s best from their perspective. Since they can’t tell you, it may be a little trial and error to find the right thing. Your goal is to find something your cat likes scratching more than your furniture and the best way to do that is to try to observe their preferences and take those into account.
Need more help to deal with destructive scratching? Contact us about booking a behaviour consult!