If you have a cat and a sofa you will probably need a scratcher to prevent the last one from being torn to shreds. You don't need a particularly large or expensive one, with cheap and homemade options you can make a fantastic scraper.
In this article on our site we give you the keys to teaching a cat to use the scratching post, whether it is an adult or a puppy, everyone can learn although at a different pace, of course.
Stop suffering for your furniture and fabrics and once and for all teach your cat to use the scratching post, here we go:
Choosing the right scraper
You should know that there are many different types of scratching posts on the market, finding the ideal one for your cat is not always easy, but with a few tricks you will be able to know which is the most suitablefor him.
Make a homemade scratching post
To start training your cat to use the scratching post you will need to make or buy one. There are many types and varieties of scratching posts but remember, it doesn't matter if you get a cheap one that you find on sale, your cat will be happy with little.
However you should know that you can do a lot with very little, on our site we have a very complete article in which we explain how make a homemade scraper step by step. You will find in the post all the tips to carry it out and the necessary material.
How to teach him to use the scratching post
Scratching is an ancestral and innate habit that cats carry out. It not only serves to sharpen their nails, with which they must hunt their prey, it also serves to impregnate the furniture with their body odor. It's one more way to mark your territory
It is important to teach our cat to use the scratcher if we want to prevent our furniture from ending up destroyed, frayed and broken. The great majority of cats learn on their own to use the scratching post but in other cases we should not guide our feline to do so. Here are some helpful tips:
- Where to put the scratching post: If your cat seems to have a predilection for scratching a specific piece of furniture or sofa, that will be the ideal place to place it.
- Encouraging your cat to use it: Hanging a ball, duster or mouse from the scratching post will be a great way to encourage your feline to approach and handle the new object, to which he will go out of pure curiosity and fun.
In principle, your cat should begin to use the scratcher naturally since for them the fact of filing their nails is pleasant and very beneficial.
What if he doesn't want to use the scratching post?
Some cats seem to refuse to use the scratching post you have lovingly brought them. Don't despair, your cat needs more time to understand how it works, nothing happens, it's normal. If your cat doesn't seem to be at all interested you can use a few tricks:
- Impregnates the scratching post with its scent: Rubs its blanket against the scratching post so that your cat feels it as its own and has the instinct of rubbing against it.
- The cat grass trick: If your cat seems to like catnip, don't hesitate to place it near the scratching post and even rub grass against it.
- Join the game: In the previous step we advised you to play with the scratching post and the cat at the same time. In this way, not only do you have a good time together, but you also encourage him to use it and relate to it in a positive way.
- Use Postive Reinforcement: Every time you see him approaching or filing his nails on the scratcher you should congratulate him. A piece of frankfurter, a few caresses or kind words will be more than enough for your cat to understand that you like it.
- Don't let him scratch the furniture: If your cat is still a puppy, when you see him scratching another piece of furniture you should pick him up and take him directly to the scraper.
- Get another scratcher: Sometimes they don't like the design of the scratcher itself. You can get one that can be attached to the sofa to simulate the same shape and prevent it from destroying your furniture.
Follow these tips more or less regularly and always with a lot of patience and love, something that all animals need. Being rough, using physical force or not spending enough time educating our cat is a serious mistake, keep that in mind.
