How to stop my cat from scratching the cabinets/cupboards?

Question

My female cat will always sharpen her claws on the cabinets and cupboards and drawers and I have tried many times to get her to stop. I usually use a squirt gun to stop her, but she continues to do it. She even has her own cat barn complete with a scratching post. How can I get her to stop ruining my drawers?

Answer 1

I use a trick that comes from Behavior Modification (a form of psychology). This completely worked on my cat when he was scratching the carpet and the furniture in our newly refurnished apartment. Buy a spray bottle (they're like, a dollar at Wal-Mart). Use it EVERY time you see your cat scratching the cabinets. Then, correct her. You say she has a scratching post? Take her directly to the scratching post when you catch her doing wrong. Something I got for my cat was a cardboard scratcher ($6 at Wal-Mart) that has catnip in it. He LOVES it. Whenever I caught him scratching the furniture, I sprayed him with the spray bottle. Then, I corrected him. I took him directly to his scratcher. If he used it, I praised him (petting and soothing voice) and afterwards he received 3 kitty treats. If he uses the furniture, he gets sprayed and corrected. If he uses his scratcher, he gets petted and treats. Also, keep the spray bottle within reach on the cabinet for easy access. Hope this helps, and if you have any questions, let me know!

Answer 2

check out http://www.softpaws.com

They sell claw caps, they are humane, cheap and effective.
Other than that, say NO when she does it somewhere she must not, grab her softly from the neck like a mama-cat, and put her on her scratching board and say her, and encourage her to scratch there. Using the squirt bottle without giving her an alternative can't work!

Answer 3

I gave up on trying to stop my cat (she scratched up my nice couches and dining set I just bought last year and cost me $5000 to get!!)

My suggestion is probably to make sure her nails are trimmed so that they aren't over grown. Also you can put double stick tape on the places she tries to scratch (cats don't like sticky stuff touching their paws).

Good luck!

Answer 4

The most likely answer is she needs the tree scratcher, you can get this at your pet supply store or an area feed store. Some cats do not take to the carpeted scratchers, they are not natural feeling. Try not feeding your cat in the kitchen , make the feeding area in the utility room or other area.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

unfortunely cats have a mind of their own. I don't care how many times or what you try to prevent a cat from doing this or that, it's like it goes in one ear and out the other.

Answer 8

Why Do Cats Scratch?
It's normal for cats to scratch objects in their environment for many reasons:

To remove the dead outer layer of their claws.
To mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent -- they have scent glands on their paws.
To stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws.
To work off energy.
Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it's unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.
Training Your Cat To Scratch Acceptable Objects
You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive and convenient from your cat's point of view. Start by observing the physical features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cat's scratching preferences:
Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas and areas near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
What texture do they have -- are they soft or coarse?
What shape do they have - are they horizontal or vertical?
How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
Now, considering your cat's demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard or even a log). Place the acceptable object(s) near the inappropriate object(s) that she's already using. Make sure the objects are stable and won't fall over or move around when she uses them.
Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.
Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.
Should I Punish My Cat For Scratching?
NO! Punishment is effective only if you catch your cat in the act of scratching unacceptable objects and have provided her with acceptable scratching objects. Punishment after the fact, won't change the behavior, may cause her to be afraid of you or the environment and may elicit defensive aggression. Used by itself, punishment won't resolve scratching problems because it doesn't teach your cat where to scratch instead. If you do catch her in the act of scratching inappropriate objects, remote punishment is best, in which you do not directly interact with her. Ideas for remote punishment include making a loud noise (using a whistle, shaking a pop can filled with rocks or slapping the wall), throwing a pillow at her or using a water-filled squirt bottle. If punishment is interactive, she'll learn to refrain from scratching in your presence but will continue to scratch when you're not around.

How Do I Trim My Cat's Claws?
To help keep them sharp, cats keep their claws retracted except when they're needed. As the claws grow too long and become curved, they can't be retracted completely. You should clip off the sharp tips of your cat's claws on all four feet every week or so. Clipping your cat's claws will also help prevent them from becoming snagged in carpets, fabrics and skin. Before trimming your cat's claws, accustom her to having her paws handled and squeezed. You can do this by gently petting her legs and paws while giving her a treat. This will help to make it a more pleasant experience. Gradually increase the pressure so that petting becomes gentle squeezing, as you'll need to do this to extend the claw. Continue with the treats until your cat tolerates this kind of touching and restraint. It may take a little longer if she's not used to having her legs or paws handled. Apply a small amount of pressure to her paw, with your thumb on top of her paw and your index finger underneath, until a claw is extended. You should be able to see the pink or "quick," which is a small blood vessel. Don't cut into this pink portion, as it will bleed and be painful for your cat. If you cut off just the sharp tip of the claw, the "hook," it will dull the claw and prevent extensive damage to household objects and to your skin. There are several types of claw trimmers designed especially for pets. These are better than your own nail clipper because they won't crush the claw. Until you and your cat have become accustomed to the routine, one foot a day is enough of a challenge. Don't push to do all four at once, or you'll both have only negative memories of claw clippers!

Answer 9

put double sided tape where she scratches (it works great with my cats) they have special tape just for this purpose that won't mess up your furniture...and try putting cat nip on her scratching post so she will be attracted to it

Answer 10

Take her to a vet and have her declawed, if she is an indoor cat, she really has no need for them.