What should I do about my cat using the corners of walls and door frames for a scratching post besides de-claw

Answer 1

There are several things you can do. Don't declaw, that's like a person removing one of our knuckles, same for cats.

One is to buy a scratching post. If you're cat reponds to catnip, then rub catnip on the scratching post to encourage use. If the cat doesn't know what the post is for, then you take their paws and rub them gently on the post. The cat will eventually get the idea. Praise your cat, or even give them a cat treat, when they use the post. Make it a possitive thing.

Next is to take a clean,newly bought, spray bottle. The reason I say new, is because you don't want one that had previous chemicals in it. That can harm your cat. Fill the spray bottle with water and keep it handy. When your cat does a behavior that you don't want like scratching your walls, you squirt them. Don't abuse the squirt bottle, save it only for corrections, if you over use it, it will not work.

And, just like with a kid, if your cat is doing something you don't like, distract them.

There is also a cat play jungle that you can but that will go from the top of your room to the floor. You can find these at Walmart. It will give the cat climbing space, a place to scratch as it wishes, and a hiding place.

Answer 2

Hi Shayla...to help retrain the kitties from using these areas place double-sided sticky tape on the wall corners and door frames. It's a temporary solution for a month or if necessary a little while longer. Cats dislike becoming stuck so this is a useful deterrent.

Next, anytime you catch them clawing inappropriately pick them up quickly and quietly and move them over to their scratching posts/mats (make sure to have plenty of these posts around the home) and then reward them using a food treat as soon as they begin to claw it (something different than their usual food). It teaches them that I get something delicious when I use my claws here, but not in those other places. You have to be very diligent when retraining as well as replacing the double-sided tape as well.

Keep in mind that squirting them with water, scolding not only isn't very effective as it doesn't tell them what they are doing wrong rather they learn that the human is not being nice. The goal is to find ways to teach them to do things correctly by rewarding the behaviour with treats. Cats learn quick with whenever food is involved.

Answer 3

Vinegar sprayed on the walls and doorframes should discourage kitty. Check with the pet store for scratching-post ideas; maybe try putting some catnip near the place where you want kitty to scratch. Also, think about clipping the ends of the claws - that's why they scratch, to get rid of the dead tissue that forms at the ends. I've heard that if you keep the claws clipped, they're not as likely to "sharpen" them all the time. But ask pet store or vet to show you how to do it. A cat's claws are the equivalent of fingers, not nails, so please don't declaw.

Answer 4

Does kitty have a real scratch post? You can buy them but if you can drive a nail straight and have some scrap lumber and carpet lying around you can make one.
Go to pet stores and look around or put "Cat tree" or "scratch post" in your browser and plans for several nice ones come up
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11667&N=2002+113197
Most cats don't require any thing as eloborate as this but it gives you an idea of what a truely creative person can do.
Then you should spray the post with that catnip oil they sell in pet stores. That should make it irrisistable to your cat.
ON the places where she has already scratched put double sided sticky tape or tin foil. Cats hate the feel of those things.
When you believe the habit of the post is established, you can take it off.
Please don't declaw.
http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html

Answer 5

hey,first you have to discourage the cat from scratching at the walling,things like tinfoil on this areas may help .when you purchase a scratching post you will want to choice a material the cat preferres.if the cat were scratching at the furniture one of carpet would be ideal but the cat is scratching at solid objects like wood.you will need a scratching post of wood and that's is a good height. to entice the cat to use the post make it look appealing by adding toys and treats. hope that helps .

Answer 6

You know what my cat does that too. What you can do is pick your cat up while its claws are out from behind and move it to the scratch post and gently take its paws and make it scratch the post.

Answer 7

purchase or make a scratching post. Place it near the place he scratches. When you see him scratching were he shouldn't be, scold (gently) and place him in front of the real scratching post. Take his paws and simulate scratching, while praising him, maybe even a small food treat. It will take awhile but soon you can train her to use the post. Once she gets the idea, move the post in steps to the permanent area.

Good luck

Answer 8

First Buy a Turbo scratcher, Keep it sprinkled all the time with cat nip. He will fall in love with it, Keep his claws trimmed I Find a regular nail clipper works better than a cat clipper ,it is more cat friendly.I have three cats and have allways had cats in my life,Your cat is not actually sharpening his claws, he is trying to shed the outer nail( top Layer)..Cover the arms of your furniture with throws let them hang to the floor then they wont try to use the arms..........

Answer 9

I suppose you have bought scratching posts for your cat. I suggest spraying your cat with a water gun when it scratches where it does not belong. Be sure to congradulate your pet for scratching the correct places though.

Answer 10

please dont declaw the babie it would be defencless, if it was ever away or lost, your fluffy pet would be a puffy mess. Buy or make a carpeted scratcher for your cat and they love privacy too so make an area so it can escape for its solitude. Cats are not my prefrence but I hav ehad several because of my age and my children and now my great neice and nephew and my grand kids, cats are defenatly self absorbed so it needs toys and exercise, not couch potatoes after dark! good luck Debbie D