Teaching your cat to use a scratching post
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Cats make wonderful companions with their quirky behaviors and unique requirements, one of which is the urge to scratch. Cats may scratch for several reasons: to keep their claws sharp, as an exercise that stretches their body, and to mark their territory, not only visually but through scent glands located in their paws.
Even though it’s an important behavior for cats, it can result in ruined furniture, which is a common complaint among cat owners. One way to fix the problem is to teach your cat how to use a scratching post, a wonderful solution that can save your furniture.
Understanding the Importance of Scratching
Before delving into the training process, it’s crucial to understand why cats scratch. A recent issue of the “Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery” states that scratching is an evolutionary behavior and not a behavioral issue. It serves several functions, from claw maintenance to muscle stretching and stress relief. If you can understand that scratching is a natural behavior, you can start looking into how to train with the right approach.
Choosing the Right Scratching Post
First things first: before you start teaching your cat to use the scratching post, find one that’s going to be appealing to your cat. You will want to consider a few of these things when choosing one:
- Height and Sturdiness: The scratching post should be high enough for your cat to stretch out fully, usually 30 inches for regular-sized cats or taller if you have a large cat like a Maine Coon. It should also be very stable as a wobbly post can discourage your cat from using it.
- Material: Sisal fabric or rope is often used to cover most scratching posts. In fact, a survey found that sisal-covered scratching posts are the most popular for cats.
- Location: Placement of the scratching post is key. It should be placed in areas where your cat spends most of his time. Most cats like to scratch right when they wake up, so putting a scratching post near where they sleep is helpful.
Training Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post
After you’ve found the right scratching post, you can begin training your cat to use it. Along with being patient and consistent, here are some useful tips to get them used to using it.
- Use Catnip: Most cats are very easy to tempt with catnip. You just rub the catnip on the scratching post to attract your cat and he or she will likely start using it. About 70% of cats are responsive to catnip. If your cat is in the 30%, don’t be dismayed and try our other tips.
- Positive Reinforcement: Each time your cat uses the scratching post, immediately reward it with a treat or with some affection. This will help reinforce the behavior of scratching the post, leading your cat to associate the scratching post with good things.
- Make It a Fun Place: Hang your cats favorite toys on or around the post to make it more attractive. This may encourage your cat to climb, bat, and scratch at the post. When they start associating the post with play and fun, they’re more likely to use it.
- Redirect Inappropriate Scratching: If you find your cat scratching inappropriately, take the cat and place the item you want him to scratch under his paws. You can also lift and place their paws on the post to mimic the motion they should make. Avoid shouting at your cat or even disciplining them, as it will only make them more nervous and likely to scratch, but not in front of you. Avoid punishing or shouting at them for scratching.
Keeping Your Cat Engaged
Your cat may get bored with the scratching post if it gets too used to it, and it may start craving a new texture such as a piece of furniture. Bring in new scratching posts from time to time, adding new ones with different textures to keep them engaged. You could also experiment with changing where you put the post. Watch how your cat reacts to new textures and positions, seeing which piques his interest the most.
Teaching a cat how to use a scratching post is easy. Once you understand its needs, choose the right post, and use positive reinforcement, your cat will enjoy using its scratching post. Following these steps will help save your furniture and keep your cat happy and content by allowing it to follow its natural tendencies.
Remember, the virtues of success are patience and consistency. Your cat will get used to the new scratching post and start to consider it as a favorite piece of furniture.
