Top 10 Tips - How Do I Get My Cat to Use Their Scratching Post?

all cat posts cat scratching

Top 10 Tips - How Do I Get My Cat to Use Their Scratching Post?

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In this article, I explain exactly how to get your cat to use their scratching post. All the best and most reliable tips are amalgamated into one place, right here.

Photo Credit: Jennifer C

It can be very frustrating when you go out and buy your cat a scratching post but they continue to scratch the furniture. "Why won't my cat use their scratching post!?" I hear you cry. 

You can stop worrying now because I am here to share with you my top 10 tips on how to get your cat to use their scratching post and soon this dilemma will be a thing of the past.

At the same time as training your cat to use their scratching post, it may also be necessary to discourage and prevent them from scratching what they are not meant to. If you need help with this then I recommend that you also read my article on how to stop your cat scratching the furniture or carpet, which provides useful tips on how to protect your home from sharp claws. 



So... how do you encourage your cat to use their scratching post? 

1. Start during kittenhood. Of course, this tip may be a little redundant for some, unless you have a time-machine, but it is best to introduce your cat to their scratching post while they are still a kitten, or as young as possible. It's much easier to teach a desirable behaviour from the beginning, rather than try to modify an undesirable behaviour later on. Since cats often stick with the same scratching object, when taking a new cat or kitten home it may also be a good idea to kindly ask to take the scratching post they are currently using as well, if it is appropriate to do so. It will also serve as a familiar object for them to have in their new home.  

2. The correct height. One of the reasons cats like to scratch is so that they can stretch their spines. Make sure you get a tall scratching post that they can use to really reach up and stretch out on. If the scratching post is short and awkward they may not use it. 

The SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is the perfect scratching post. 
It is excellent quality, sturdy and tall. For the lowest price and 
to see 5-star reviews go to Amazon.

3. Make sure the post is secure. Is the scratching post sturdy or does it move around when they use it? Either secure the scratching post down, buy one with a sturdy base or buy one that is large and heavy enough to not move when they use it. Not many cats will enjoy using a scratching post that doesn't offer them any resistance when they use it and just wobbles around. 

Cat trees are big, heavy and sturdy. They also provide excellent 
environmental enrichment. Go Pet Club Cat Trees are my favourite 
and you may be surprised by the low prices found on Amazon. 

4. Try different textures. You can buy scratching posts and pads made from different materials, such as:

• Sisal rope, with my favourite being the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post  
• Corrugated cardboard, with my favourite being the Catit Style Scratcher
• Carpet, such as the Classy Kitty Carpet Scratching Post

Sisal and corrugated cardboard tend to be the most popular choices amongst the feline community. Some behaviourists also discourage using carpet posts as they believe it can be confusing for the cat. However, each circumstance is unique and every cat is an individual and will have their own personal preference. Perhaps your cat doesn't like the texture you have chosen for them and they would prefer to try something new. 

The Catit Style Scratcher is made of corrugated cardboard. It is low cost
and even comes with a bag of catnip! It is a popular 5-star item on Amazon.

5. Try different angles. Different cats prefer different angles. Some like to scratch and stretch out on a horizontal surface, some prefer to reach up on a vertical surface, while others prefer something in between. You can try:

• Upright posts, such as the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching post 
• Inclined scratchers, such as the Fat Cat Big Mama's Scratch & Play Ramp 
• Flat pads that you lay on the floor, such as the Catit Style Scratcher 

The Fat Cat Big Mama's Ramp could be the purfect
angle for your cat. It comes with catnip, an attached
toy and is a popular 5-star item on Amazon.

PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge,
for cats who love angles.
This is a popular 5-star item on Amazon.

 

6. Imitate what they are currently scratching. If you are not sure what scratching post your cat would prefer then try to imitate what they are currently choosing to scratch. Pay attention to what texture and angle they seem to prefer. If they like to scratch the carpet you could try a horizontal scratcher, or if they prefer to scratch the walls, you could try a vertical scratcher. The SmartCat Bootsie's Scratcher is a brilliant invention as it's angle can be varied according to your cat's preferences and either be laid flat on the floor or rested against the wall. 

  

The SmartCat Bootsie's Scratcher is high-quality and affordable.
It can be laid flat on the floor or against a wall as it has rubber feet to 
stop it sliding. Alternatively, it can be permanently secured to the wall.

7. The '1 each plus 1' rule. For every cat you have in your home you should have one scratching post, then you should have an extra scratching post on top of that. Scratching is a way of cats marking their territory in order for them to feel secure. If there is only one post and it has already been marked by one of your cats, the others may not use it and will choose to mark other places in the house instead, such as your sofa.    

8. Placement is key. One of the reasons a cat scratches is because they are marking their territory, therefore don't hide scratching posts out of the way, not at first anyway. They need to be in more prominent locations so, for now, place them in the spots where they are currently choosing to scratch. You can move them somewhere more discrete once they are consistently using them. Also, do they have a spot where they like to nap? You can put a scratching post there too as cats often like to have a scratch when they wake up from a snooze. Another good location to try is next to the door that leads outside as it may be perceived as territory boundary.   


9. Make it a positive experience. When you introduce your cat to their new scratching post try placing delightful treats, such as Friskies Party Mix, on and around it as well as rubbing irresistible catnip over it to peak their interest. You can get no-mess catnip spray formulations, such as KONG Naturals Catnip Spray, and shower their scratcher in potent catnip oil.  

You can also try using fishing-rod-type cat toys, such as the Cat Charmer or Da Bird, to play with them on and around the scratching post. Encourage them to pounce on the toy so that their claws land on the post. They'll soon realise how good it feels to sink their claws into. Whenever they are using their scratching post tell them what a good kitty they are!

Cat Charmer is a #1 best seller
on Amazon

Da Bird is a popular 5-star item
on Amazon 

I also recommend using positive reinforcement and clicker training techniques to teach your cat to use their scratching post. Clicker training can be an easy, inexpensive and fun way to teach your cat to use their scratching post. It is also an excellent way to spend some bonding time with your cat. To learn how to clicker train your cat I recommend investing in a positive reinforcement behavior book, such as Naughty No More by Marilyn Krieger. 

Clicker train your cat to use their scratching post with the
book Naughty No More, available on Amazon

10. Rub their paws on their scratching post. As long as doing so doesn't upset your cat, you can gently rub their paws on their post while giving them lots of praise. The main benefit of doing this is that it leaves some of the secretions from their paw scent glands on the post, which will hopefully encourage them to scratch it next time they get the scratching urge. 

BONUS TIP! Please read how to stop your cat from scratching the furniture or carpet if you need tips on how to protect your home from sharp claws while your cat is in the process of learning to use their scratching post. 

Top 10 Tips - How to Stop Your Cat Scratching the Furniture or Carpet

all cat posts cat scratching

Top 10 Tips - How to Stop Your Cat Scratching the Furniture or Carpet

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In this article, I share with you a variety of effective and cat-friendly techniques that you can use to keep your cat from scratching the furniture, carpet, curtains and whatever else they may be getting their claws into. 

It is really important to understand that scratching is a natural behaviour and you will never be able to completely stop your cat from scratching. It allows your cat to maintain their claws and mark their territory via the scent glands on their paws as well as the visual scratch marks. Also, many cats simply enjoy it, whether it is part of their morning stretch routine or to help with a bit of stress-relief. 

Cats need to be discouraged from scratching what they are not meant to while at the same time encouraged to use their scratching post. Therefore, I highly recommend that you read how to get your cat to use their scratching post in conjunction with this article. Eventually, they should be consistently using their scratching post and you won't need to use any of these cat scratching prevention techniques. 

Naughty cat...! Caught in the act!

Photo Credit: Andreanna Moya

So... how do you stop your cat scratching what they're not supposed to?

1. Restricting Access. To save the furniture you love it may be best to restrict access to certain areas of the house or to only allow supervised access while your cat is still learning to use their scratching post. Perhaps it may be worth putting the rug or the chest or drawers they have realised feels good to rub their claws across into temporary storage until you are confident they have learnt to use their designated scratching areas. 

2. Double-Sided Sticky Tape. As most cats do not like having sticky paws you can cover any areas you don't want to be scratched with transparent double-sided sticky tape. It is fairly inconspicuous and therefore shouldn't be too noticeable. They may attempt to have a little scratch but once they realise their paws have become inconveniently hindered and the place that they once scratched is now attempting to stick to them, they will most like do the sticky walk of shame and go elsewhere. You can either buy an item such as Ve-ge Double Sided Transparent Tape or a purpose made product such as Sticky Paws. 

You can also try using Aluminium Foil or Masking Tape to cover any areas you do not want to be scratched, get creative! Keep problem areas protected until your cat is consistently using their scratching post.

Sticky Paws is a clever and inconspicuous way to stop your cat 
scratching the furniture. For the lowest price visit Amazon.

For more information on how Sticky Paws work please watch the video below:

3. Cat Scratch Sofa Guards. Cat Scratch Sofa Guards are sheets made from clear vinyl that conform to the contours of any sofa. They are both an unobtrusive and permanent solution. Unlike the sticky tape, they will also not collect hairs. 

These Cat Scratch Guards are high quality and easy to attach to 
most sofas. They also have excellent reviews on Amazon.

Please watch the video below to see how to apply the sofa guards:

4. A Large Throw. Why not simply buy a large, inexpensive blanket, such as the Luxury Fleece Blanket by Bedsure that is both low-cost and high-quality, to drape over and protect your furniture until you have effectively trained your kitty to use their scratching post. 

Protect your furniture with this Luxury Fleece Blanket while your cat is
still in training, available for an extremely low price on Amazon.

5. Cat Deterrent Spray. Some people find that cat deterrent sprays do not work, it may simply be that they are not effective on some cats or it may be because they are not being sprayed frequently enough. To be effective sprays need to be applied every 24 hours until the scratch habit has been broken. One of the best cat deterrent sprays, that also comes with an 180-day satisfaction guarantee, is Claw Withdraw Cat Deterrent Spray, which you can spray on your furniture or carpet. 

Remember to use cat deterrent sprays every 24 hours or they may
not work, for the lowest prices I recommend Amazon.

6. Pet Odor Eliminator. Since one of the reasons that cats scratch is to mark their territory you must remove their scent from the furniture, so that they won't be tempted to 'top-up' when it starts to fade. Citrus Magic Pet Odor Eliminator is my favourite product to use. It scores extra bonus points because of the citrus smell it leaves behind, which most cats hate. Use a good odour eliminator on all the surfaces that your cat currently scratches.

Citrus Magic eliminates odours and repels cats with its citrus smell.
For reduced prices and 5* reviews visit Amazon.

7. Trim Their Claws. Regularly trimming your cat's claws may help to slow down the damage caused to your furniture and carpets. Make sure you buy high-quality and easy to use nail clippers, such as the Pet Nail Clippers by Shiny Pet. Cats claws are round and therefore these clippers with their curved edges are much more comfortable to use as they apply pressure evenly around the nail. 

Shiny Pet Nail Clippers are eco-friendly and 100% guaranteed.  

They have a 5-star rating as well as the lowest price on Amazon.

If you want to learn how to have your kitty purring while you trim their nails then I highly recommend that you watch the beautiful and amazing video below:

8. Soft Claws. This solution is often a last resort. Soft Claws are nail caps that cover your cat's claws so that they can't scratch your furniture. They come in a variety of colours and, yes, they make your cat look like they are wearing nail polish! They are easy to apply and last for 4-6 weeks. 

Although unusual Soft Claws are becoming increasingly
popular and have excellent reviews on Amazon.

9. Declawing. Please do NOT declaw your cat. The last joint in each toe is severed. How would you feel if someone literally chopped off the ends of your fingers so that your nails were completely removed? It is a painful procedure that can result in a variety of complications, such as continual bleeding or ongoing pain. Some animal behaviourists report that it can also lead to behavioural problems, such as aggression and anxiety. Cats need their claws for climbing, defence, balancing and grasping, so please leave them be.

Declawing - Wikipedia Commons

10. Avoid Punishment. Shouting, loud noises, spraying water and motion sensors are all forms of punishment, which can be confusing for a cat that is simply carrying out a normal behaviour. Punishing a cat can also create anxiety and damage your bond with them. They may also just learn to just scratch when you are not there, and so the problem has not been solved. 

Rather than punishment, I would recommend using positive reinforcement and clicker training techniques to stop your cat scratching the furniture. More can be learnt about these methods in Marilyn Krieger's book Naughty No More. Clicker training is a fun way to teach your cat to not scratch the furniture while spending some bonding time together.

Naughty No More, use positive reinforcement to stop your cat 
scratching the furniture, available on Amazon.

BONUS TIP! You can't completely stop your cat scratching so you need to provide them with the purrfect scratching post and it must also be purrfectly placed. Please read my tips on how to get your cat to use their scratching post for more information. Once they are consistently using their scratching post it should (hopefully) not be necessary to continue using the above techniques to protect your furniture.