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Getting cat to use scratching post?



 
 
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  #21  
Old November 17th 03, 07:12 PM
Annie Wxill
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wrote in message
...
I'm the one who has considered bringing in a stray, and did not want
to declaw her.

Before I commit to letting her in full time, I've been letting her in
for short periods (an hour or so), supervised.

I bought a sisal scratching post, and one of those cardboard
horizontal scratching pads.

When she comes in, she goes straight for my recliner and starts
scratching it.

I gently pick her up and set her next to the post.
She hasn't used it once.

But 5 minutes later, she goes back and scratches the chair.

I can't let her live inside until I can trust her.
How do I train her to scratch the post?


Mitch,
Thank you for continuing to care for this cat. Believe me, you can have both
the cat and unshredded furniture, but it will take some adjustment for both
you and the cat. Some accommodations will be temporary on your part.

You say that the first thing the cat does after entering the house is to
head to your recliner for a scratch. This is probably because the cat is
excited and happy to be inside with you. When we come into the house, our
cats usually greet us and then scratch one of our conveniently located
posts, at which time, we lavishly praise them. From time to time, we join
them and scratch a little on the post ourselves to reinforce the behavior.

Your problem may be the location of the scratching post. When the cat comes
inside, does she have to pass the chair in order to get to the post? I
suggest that at least for now that you make the location of the post more
convenient than the chair to the entrance she uses to your house. This may
involve moving the post, the chair, or both. I know that it seems like a lot
of trouble, but once you get the kinks worked out, you will be rewarded more
than you ever imagined and you can put some things back the way you want
them.

You can make the post more attractive by rubbing a little catnip into the
sisal.

In addition to making the post more convenient, you can take some temporary
measures to make the chair less attractive. A product called something like
Sticky Paws is a tape that you put on places where you do not want the cat
to scratch. Also, you can use Feliway (on the chair, not the cat), which is
a behavior modification spray. If you use Feliway, you may find that the
cat rubs her face on the chair. This would be a normal reaction. Perhaps
an Internet search would lead you to some non-toxic sprays that are
unattractive to cats. Be careful to make sure that the product label
specifically not toxic to cats. They are sensitive to many chemicals.

Now, when the cat comes inside, you go to the post and make noisy scratching
sounds while calling to her. She is very likely to join you.

If the cat still goes to the chair, continue to pick her up and take her to
the post and initiate a scratching session.

She should catch on pretty quickly.

Good luck.
Annie


  #22  
Old November 17th 03, 07:12 PM
Annie Wxill
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


wrote in message
...
I'm the one who has considered bringing in a stray, and did not want
to declaw her.

Before I commit to letting her in full time, I've been letting her in
for short periods (an hour or so), supervised.

I bought a sisal scratching post, and one of those cardboard
horizontal scratching pads.

When she comes in, she goes straight for my recliner and starts
scratching it.

I gently pick her up and set her next to the post.
She hasn't used it once.

But 5 minutes later, she goes back and scratches the chair.

I can't let her live inside until I can trust her.
How do I train her to scratch the post?


Mitch,
Thank you for continuing to care for this cat. Believe me, you can have both
the cat and unshredded furniture, but it will take some adjustment for both
you and the cat. Some accommodations will be temporary on your part.

You say that the first thing the cat does after entering the house is to
head to your recliner for a scratch. This is probably because the cat is
excited and happy to be inside with you. When we come into the house, our
cats usually greet us and then scratch one of our conveniently located
posts, at which time, we lavishly praise them. From time to time, we join
them and scratch a little on the post ourselves to reinforce the behavior.

Your problem may be the location of the scratching post. When the cat comes
inside, does she have to pass the chair in order to get to the post? I
suggest that at least for now that you make the location of the post more
convenient than the chair to the entrance she uses to your house. This may
involve moving the post, the chair, or both. I know that it seems like a lot
of trouble, but once you get the kinks worked out, you will be rewarded more
than you ever imagined and you can put some things back the way you want
them.

You can make the post more attractive by rubbing a little catnip into the
sisal.

In addition to making the post more convenient, you can take some temporary
measures to make the chair less attractive. A product called something like
Sticky Paws is a tape that you put on places where you do not want the cat
to scratch. Also, you can use Feliway (on the chair, not the cat), which is
a behavior modification spray. If you use Feliway, you may find that the
cat rubs her face on the chair. This would be a normal reaction. Perhaps
an Internet search would lead you to some non-toxic sprays that are
unattractive to cats. Be careful to make sure that the product label
specifically not toxic to cats. They are sensitive to many chemicals.

Now, when the cat comes inside, you go to the post and make noisy scratching
sounds while calling to her. She is very likely to join you.

If the cat still goes to the chair, continue to pick her up and take her to
the post and initiate a scratching session.

She should catch on pretty quickly.

Good luck.
Annie


  #23  
Old November 18th 03, 12:06 AM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wendy" wrote in message
...
You can also try that sticky tape stuff on the recliner. My new girl

was
going to town on the stereo speaker. I put sticky stuff on that and

got one
of those cat trees/scratching posts wrapped with the rope over the

weekend
and she hasn't messed with the speaker since. I sprayed the cat tree
liberally with cat nip spray (don't know if that did anything or

not). By
the looks of the sticky tape it shouldn't be a problem to remove

when I'm
sure the cat is well established with the appropriate things to

scratch.

Wendy


All great advice. I pin aluminum foil (you could tape it, too) to the
places they like
to scratch. They hate it and will not touch it--and you sure can tell
that they have
not been there. After two weeks of a funny looking chair, you can take
the foil
down because the cat will be trained.

Meanwhile ... everyone offered this same advice the first time around,
no?



  #24  
Old November 18th 03, 12:06 AM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wendy" wrote in message
...
You can also try that sticky tape stuff on the recliner. My new girl

was
going to town on the stereo speaker. I put sticky stuff on that and

got one
of those cat trees/scratching posts wrapped with the rope over the

weekend
and she hasn't messed with the speaker since. I sprayed the cat tree
liberally with cat nip spray (don't know if that did anything or

not). By
the looks of the sticky tape it shouldn't be a problem to remove

when I'm
sure the cat is well established with the appropriate things to

scratch.

Wendy


All great advice. I pin aluminum foil (you could tape it, too) to the
places they like
to scratch. They hate it and will not touch it--and you sure can tell
that they have
not been there. After two weeks of a funny looking chair, you can take
the foil
down because the cat will be trained.

Meanwhile ... everyone offered this same advice the first time around,
no?



  #25  
Old November 18th 03, 12:06 AM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Wendy" wrote in message
...
You can also try that sticky tape stuff on the recliner. My new girl

was
going to town on the stereo speaker. I put sticky stuff on that and

got one
of those cat trees/scratching posts wrapped with the rope over the

weekend
and she hasn't messed with the speaker since. I sprayed the cat tree
liberally with cat nip spray (don't know if that did anything or

not). By
the looks of the sticky tape it shouldn't be a problem to remove

when I'm
sure the cat is well established with the appropriate things to

scratch.

Wendy


All great advice. I pin aluminum foil (you could tape it, too) to the
places they like
to scratch. They hate it and will not touch it--and you sure can tell
that they have
not been there. After two weeks of a funny looking chair, you can take
the foil
down because the cat will be trained.

Meanwhile ... everyone offered this same advice the first time around,
no?



  #29  
Old November 18th 03, 08:41 AM
Katra
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Posts: n/a
Default

Rub the scratching post with fresh catnip. ;-)
I can guarantee that will get a good response from most cats!

I grow my own...... so always have access to it.

K.
--
^,,^ Cats-haven Hobby Farm ^,,^ ^,,^


"There are millions of intelligent species in the universe, and they are
all owned by cats" -- Asimov

Custom handcrafts, Sterling silver beaded jewelry
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...s&userid=katra
  #30  
Old November 18th 03, 08:41 AM
Katra
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Rub the scratching post with fresh catnip. ;-)
I can guarantee that will get a good response from most cats!

I grow my own...... so always have access to it.

K.
--
^,,^ Cats-haven Hobby Farm ^,,^ ^,,^


"There are millions of intelligent species in the universe, and they are
all owned by cats" -- Asimov

Custom handcrafts, Sterling silver beaded jewelry
http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAP...s&userid=katra
 




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