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Cat keeps scratching Leather sofa?
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Our rescue Cat keeps scratching the leather sofa leaving little minute holes. She has scratch poles which she wont use, she has toys, she has time outside but still keeps doing it. This is leading to one very upset owner. Can anyone give advice on how to curb this behaviour?
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I'd suggest sprinkling catnip around her scratching posts - it worked with my rescue cat - he uses it all the time now. When you catch her using the sofa firmly say no and lift her away from it. If you repeat this action often enough it should eventually work. If you're not there to watch her I'd suggest shutting the door of the room with the sofa in it so she can't get in there unless you are also in there. Good luck.
you have to make the pole more attractive to use than the sofa. Where is she scratching at, area? vertical or horizontal? is your post vertical or horizontal? where are things located? I assume the couch is in an open area and where's the post? In a corner, backroom, off to the side so people don't see it? Cats have a preference for the area and position they scratch. Just because the post is in an area convienent for you doesn't mean the cat likes it. Make the couch correct her, DON'T hit her on the nose, she will start to be afraid of your hands or will attack you for doing so, this is a rescue cat, it's background may not be known so we don't know which they will do. This is kinda long so I will need to split it...
Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it's unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.
1. You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive and convenient from your cat's point of view. Start by observing the physical features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cat's scratching preferences:
*Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas and areas near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
*What texture do they have -- are they soft or coarse?
*What shape do they have - are they horizontal or vertical?
*How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
2.Now, considering your cat's demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard or even a log). Place the acceptable object(s) near the inappropriate object(s) that she's already using. Make sure the objects are stable and won't fall over or move around when she uses them.
3.Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
4. When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.
5.Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.
Hope this helps you. ~/:\~
*What texture do they have -- are they soft or coarse?
*What shape do they have - are they horizontal or vertical?
*How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
2.Now, considering your cat's demonstrated preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard or even a log). Place the acceptable object(s) near the inappropriate object(s) that she's already using. Make sure the objects are stable and won't fall over or move around when she uses them.
3.Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up. Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub or other unpleasant odor. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.
4. When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.
5.Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.
Hope this helps you. ~/:\~
Thanks all for advice. The post is in the hallway but it also has other things attached to it maybe she doesn't like it??? Will try her on another scratch post and hope for the best. Will also be moving it to another place where she does the most scratching. Hopefully this will work out ok in the end!!!!!
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