stop cats scratching

[tinkerbell99]

hi does anyone know how to stop cats scratching i have two cats and one scratches the walls and has wrecked the wallpaper and the other one scratches my bed iv tried cat repellent spray but its too expensive to use all the time and iv tried to stop them and tell them off when i catch them but they still do it any ideas? xxxxxxx

[mandimoo]

some people have them declawed, but i wouldnt recommend it myself. its natural behaviour. i read what sounded like a good tip.... fix a door mat somewhere for your cat to use as a scratch pad. have you got an 'out of the way' wall you could glue one to? (a doormat, not a cat!)

[tinkerbell99]

gluing the cats to the wall sounds like a good idea lol i have a door mat next to the wall where he scratches and he doesnt bother with it and i tried putting a scratching post next to where he scratches and it worked for about two days then he went back to the wall he might like the feel of the wallpaper on his paws i would never consider getting them declawed as i dont believe in it i think its cruel maybe he might stop when he gets older and use the big scratching pole as hes only 9 months old when i tell them off for scratching the bed and the wall they look at me as if im stupid lol xxxxxxxx

[mandimoo]

theyre funny things arent they? they are quite happy to sit and shed hairs all over your bed or place you sit on the sofa, but buy them a fluffy blanket just for them and they might use it a day or two.... and then you put that nice clean water out for them and they beg to be let outside to drink out of a mucky puddle!

[Querelle12]

You don't want to use repellent. The cat puts its scent on the item it scratches to make itself at home and comfortable. If you put repellent the cat will obviously want to replace its own smell.

An expensive treatment - but effective and you won't need to keep applying it - is a spray you can get from the vet: it contains the same enzymes as the cat is applying, so when they go to scratch they can smell themselves and feel safe - hence no need to scratch anymore.

[Querelle12]

Also, do not tell them off: that will only confuse them - they are carrying out natural behaviour.

If you catch them scratching just gently move them to the alternative post you have set up for them. Do that often enough and it will help.

Always remember, though, it is the cats' home too. Just because you don't want to climb the curtains does not mean that they do not!

[Panic Button]

They are a bit hard to find, but there is a cardboard scratching block impregnated with catnip tht drives them wild. They scratch it to pieces, and have no energy left to scratch elsewhere.

I last found one at the Wood Green Animal Sanctuary shop.

[Panic Button]

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id =41&pf_id=4007

[Panic Button]

http://healingmagichands.files.wordpress.com/2 007/12/cartoon-what-we-say-to-cats.jpg

[meresborough]

Hi not sure how to stop the wall picking but how about trying to put pepper down or something citrus as animals don't li8ke citrus thing.