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Training Your Cat To Use A Scratching Post
Investing in a cat scratching post can save your sofa from being shredded. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It helps them keep their claws trim and it is part of their territorial marking and communication. If you do not provide a proper place for your cat to scratch, something will become your cat’s favorite place to scratch.
Cats need to be trained beginning at a young age to scratch on a scratching post. If this hasn’t happened, there’s still hope. Encourage your cat to claw at the scratching post and offer rewards as it is used. Make it a positive experience so your cat will return often to scratch.
5 Tips for Training Your Cat To Use A Scratching Post
- Replace the scratching post when the rope is worn and appearing “ratty” or “ropey”.
- Brush the cat scratching post with a stiff brush to remove and loosen hair and dirt. If you have a vacuum with attachments, you can vacuum the entire tree to remove hair and dirt. With or without a vacuum, the next step should be removing anything left behind by using a disposable lint roller. (Wide tape will work too).
- If your cat has made a mess on the cat scratching post, you can spot clean it using pet safe products such as a pet safe disinfectant or a pet odor neutralizer.
- Apply natural catnip spray once a week or every other week. You can also hang catnip filled toys on the cat scratching post.
- Be sure the cat scratching post is in an area of the home where you actually spend time. The cat isn’t going to frequent a place where nobody spends time such as a spare bedroom or basement.
If the cat scratching tree is too dirty to clean, it may just be time to replace it. If your cat has lost interest in the scratching post, maybe it is time for a change. If this is your first time looking for a cat scratching post, the options of cat furniture seem endless from DIY kits to moderate scratching poles to castle like scratching posts. If it’s time for a new cat scratching post, remember your cat needs to stretch its whole body upward, so the cat scratching post needs to be tall enough. Check out the article about “Selecting The Perfect Cat Scratching Post for our Purring Feline” for more tips as you select the perfect cat scratching post.
