My cat won't use his scratch post?

Question

I put catnip on it, and he don't even care about it. What do I do?

Answer 1

I, too, had this problem. We had a scratching post and the cat would never scratch it. We would put them by it and nothing happened. Now she just scratches the couch. I don't know how to make it scratch it.
Try this advise from http://www.catscratching.com/#prefer

Remember that an important part of scratching is the cat's desire to mark a territory, so a scratching post should be in an area that's used by the family, not hidden in a back corner. After a time you can move the post away to the periphery of the room, but you'll need to do this gradually.

Initially, put the post where your cat goes to scratch. This may be by a sofa, a chair or wherever Kitty has chosen as her territiory, and you may need more than one post to cover her favorite spots. Security is a major factor in making the post appealing to your cat. If it topples or shakes, she won't use it. It should either be secured to the floor or have a base wide enough and heavy enough to keep it stable.

Encourage Kitty to use her post with clever enticements. Feed her and play with her by the post. Rub dried catnip leaves or powder into it. Make all the asssociations with the post pleasurable. Reward her with a favorite treat when she uses it. Have her chase a string or a toy around the post or attach toys to it, which will result in her digging her claws into it. Eventually she will learn to love it and regard it as her own. It's also a good idea to put a post where Kitty sleeps. Cats like to scratch when they awaken, especially in the morning and the middle of the night. If space permits, a scratching post in every room of the house is a cat's delight. The most important place is the area of the house in which you and Kitty spend the most time. I have many sisal posts in my house, yet often in the morning my cats line up to use the one in the living room.

If at first Kitty is reluctant to give up her old scratching areas, there are means you can use to discourage her. Covering the area with aluminum foil or double-sided tape is a great deterrent. These surfaces don't have a texture that feels good to scratch.

Remember too that Kitty has marked her favorite spots with her scent as well as her claws. You may need to remove her scent from the areas you want to distract her away from. You will find pet odor removers in pet stores and many supermarkets as well.

Cats have an aversion to citrus odors. Use lemon-scented sprays or a potpourri of lemon and orange peels to make her former scratching sites less agreeable to her.

If Kitty still persists in scratching the furniture, try squirting her with a water gun or a spray bottle set on stream. Another option is a loud whistle or other noise-maker. You must employ these deterrents while she is scratching for them to be effective. The point is to establish an aversion to the spot you don't want her to scratch.

TRY THIS FROM: http://www.moggies.co.uk/catguide/html/spost.html
Most pet stores offer a variety of scratching posts, but you can easily construct one of your own by covering an appropriate piece of wood with carpet, tree bark or coiled rope. If you use carpet, make sure it is not the deep-pile kind; the fluffy surface can't offer enough resistance for your cat's claws. The post may be mounted on a wall or made freestanding by attaching it to a sturdy wooden base.

Answer 2

I have three scratching posts (all gifts). Mine doesn't touch them. She prefers the cardboard box type that sit on the floor. I have them dotted about my house and she is always using them. I think some cats just prefer this type to the upright ones. Since getting them, she only scratches the furniture when she wants attention. The little minx does it while looking at me and knows it is wrong. Have linked to an example. Larger pet shops sell them for between £4 - £5. I bought a few cheaply in the Ikea Sale a couple of years ago and as I have so many, they are still going strong. Sadly they don't make them anymore. She also likes cheap coir doomats too, so I have a couple of those.

Answer 3

I spent more money on scratching posts, than I care to remember. Baited them with catnip, catnip spray, etc. Even bought one that cost me almost $200 that looks like a tree, complete with large padded laying down areas. They prefer the woodwork and the recliner. That's just cats.

Get your vet or groomer to show you how to trim your cat's nails correctly, and keep them trimmed. This will help keep the damage down.

Answer 4

This might sound silly, but show your cat how to use it. I have 2 cats, my younger cat took to the post right away but my older one it took some time. If I saw him scratching something I would pick him up and bring him to the post and take his paw to scratch the post with. I had to do this a few time sbut he eventually picked up the habit. I know it sounds crazy, but it worked for me! Just be sure to do it while he is in the process of scratching so he understands.

Answer 5

There are quite a few cats that really don't care about catnip... like mine.

This is the way I got my cat to pay attention to his post:

1) Play, play, play, play, play with your cat by and on the post.

2) Treats, treats, treats, treats, treats - give them by and on the post. It may take a little bit of time to find a treat that drives your cat wild (if nothing else, Petco sells straight out dried fish).

3) Put his claws on it yourself and praise like hell.

If you make the post one of the best possible places your cat can be, it is more likely he will want to be by it, rub his face on it, and put his claws on it.

Answer 6

The darnest thing about cats is that they each seem to have preferences from what they eat to what they scratch. Some cats like to scratch carpet; others like wood; others like sissal rope; others like cardboard; some even like to scartch rubber tyres (my cat!). When it comes to getting kitty a scratching board, perhaps the best thing is to observe first what kind of surface kitty likes to stretch claws on... then get that kind of scratching post. I have 2 cats. The younger uses all the scratching posts I've provided but the older one turns up his nose at them and would rather scratch the door matt; rubber tyres; and the trunk of trees when we go walkies. No matter how "enticing" I make the scratching posts, my older kitty simply despise them! So, there you go.

Answer 7

Try a plain cardboard box! They love them and love to scratch them. If your cat likes catnip put some of that in their, but don't try to force it in there. Try scratching on the box and coax it in.

Answer 8

Have you clipped your cat's claws? Using nail clippers works. Dulling them a bit drives my cat crazy and he instantly goes for the post. Plus by dulling them it can reduce damage to your furniture while you try to get him to use the post. You need to keep up on it though about once a week. If it continues to be a problem you can always get your cat declawed, some people consider it like seriously inhumane but it is better than giving up the cat to possibly be euthanized.

Answer 9

Yeah, my two do the same thing, i put double sided tape on my couch yesterday, but i most of got crappy tape cause i had to get marsking tape to tape the double sidded tape on to the couch...:) lol
Now my older one is trying to pick it off, They both know not to scratch the couch, and they like look at me to see if im watching,, they know it!! im going to try and put some pepper on my couch soon, atleast it doesnt stink like that citrus stuff, i wouldnt want to sit on my couch either !!

and the catnip, i did that yesterday and all mine did was roll around on the base...

i need help too?

Answer 10

My cat won't use a stand up scratching post, no matter how hard I tried to get him to. I got one that is made of corigated cardboard and it lays down on the floor. He loves it. I got it at walmart, but I know most pet stores carry the same or simaler item.