Why dosen't my cat play with the stratch post I've bought him?

Question

I'm trying to get my cat more active beacuse he's lazy

Answer 1

Cats are individual and like different materials to scratch and play on.

Most scratching posts are too short for the cat, they need to be able to use it when fully stretched out, standing on their back legs with their front paws above their head.

Make him work for his food, that's good exercise.

Hide his food around the house, move his food bowls around, put kibble in various hiding spots around the house or use paper towel centers (cardboard), twist one end, fill it with dry food and twist the other end, then give it to him, it will amuse him trying to get the food out.

You can put a table tennis ball inside a shoe box, tape the lid shut and put a hole slightly smaller than the ball in the sides, he should spend hours trying to get the ball out and will toss the box around and wrestle it. You can suspend other mixed material toys in a larger cardboard box and cut small holes in the sides so he will try to get the toys.

Paper grocery bags are great, leave some of these around for him to play in. Table tennis balls for him to bat around or for you to throw to him are good, these fulfil the stalk hunt and kill instinct as are other toys of different textures, door knob hangers and Fishing Rod Toys are useful. Ribbon or feather wands which you can make yourself easily are usually a hit. You lead the exercise, interactive play helps bonding and is great exercise for your cat.

You can leash train him and take him for walks, it's good for both of you.

Answer 2

Different cats like different textures. Some prefer the carpet-covered stuff, some the rope, etc. Mine love the cardboard kind (especially with some catnip sprinkled over it). But while this might help your furniture, it won't make your cat more active. For activity, you have to play with him - get an interactive toy. Favorites in my house are chasing around the laser pointer and trying to catch crumbled pieces of paper and old milk carton rings that I flick across the room. They like this cheap stuff better than any expensive toy.

Answer 3

Depends upon age and if spayed or neutered. When cats are spayed and neutered their energy levels drop. They can go from hyper to lap cat. If your cat is over 8 months old and you have had him or her in a carpeted house for those times then bought a scratch post with carpet covering, he or she won't view that as a scratching post just another part of the floor. They usually scratch on Trees, raw or natural wood, or things that are rough. Cat scratching posts of Cardboard, those covered or wrapped in Rope and twine are better than the carpet covered ones.
His or her laziness depends upon what type of toys they play with. My cats Ginger and Chrissy (both sisters who are 9 months old) have different toy tastes. Chrissy chases anything that has bells or makes noise. Ginger only deals with large rubber bands, stretchy and not noisy things. So both of them playing with the same toy is rare. Then maybe you need to be the one playing with him. You're not his owner you're his buddy, pal, staff,and step parent. Cats have Staff... Dogs have owners

Answer 4

if your cat's been habituated to be lazy because he's old, then you're out of luck i would imagine. if he's 7yrs or older, for example, you probably shouldnt expect too much from him. however, if he's young and relatively fit, he should be playful. If he's habituated playing with one thing and you want him to stop and use the new post instead, you can incentivize him to use the new post by sprinkling it with cat nip, or giving him treats while he's using it, and then squirting him with a water bottle or startling him when he's scratching the surface you dont want him to scratch (like shaking two pennies in an altoids can or something that spooks him). eventually he'll figure out that good things happen when he uses one, and switch.

ps. i have a tree and two posts and they both get used, my black leather couch is still in perfect shape :)

Answer 5

It could be becuase the material the scracth post is made of is not that attractive to your cat. Some cats prefer carpet; others like cardboard; still others like sissal rope... or matbe he just does not know it is for scratching.
Rub some catnip on it. Then take your kitty to smell it and guide his paws to scratching motions on the scratch post. Hopefully he'll take on.

Answer 6

Cats can be such punks, can't they. Try some catnip. Either dried, sprinkle it around, or a spray. Even fresh, just break some off and rub it on the post.

I gave up on cat beds, not one every got used!

Answer 7

because scratching up your leather couch is much more exciting.

seriously....i have never met anyone's cat that actually played with scratch posts. they're a waste of money in my opinion. you should get him some more toys - or one of those fake birds on the end of a string, so that you can run around the house with it and your cat can chase it. cats love those.

Answer 8

Because it would rather scratch something that is forbidden. I used to spend money on cat toys. Now, I just let them play with paper bags, old sweat jacket hood string, dollar store toy jacks, and large bouncy balls. They also like to get into hair ties, tape, any paper that I need, and my one likes to chew on electric cords. Thank God that she has never gotten hurt. I love my cats, and I have learned that most cat products /toys are for the owners benefit. If you want your cat to play more, play with him.

Answer 9

well i have a cat too. He hates the ones I buy too. My advice is make one yourself. Get a piece of carpet or rug and nail or staple it to a wooden post. Then you have a good scratching post. It worked for me.

Answer 10

Try putting cat nip on the post and sit down next to it.