Author Topic: Training cats to use a scratchpost  (Read 5121 times)

Offline Littlebobo

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #16 on: May 12, 2007, 16:30:45 PM »
I have the scars to prove it!  Lets just say there'll be no wearing shorts or short skirts for me this summer (not that I usually wear them anyway - my legs tend to frighten small children).

 :rofl:

That made me larf ..mine reflect sunshine and are somewhat scary !!
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Offline Lottie (Team Svartalfheim's)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #15 on: May 12, 2007, 15:43:48 PM »
She's using it now! Bilbo sprayed up it earlier and then she sprayed up it and is now using it!  ;D I'm so glad she's finally using it as it was beginning to worry me a bit as I'd never known a cat not to scratch. I noticed today when she used it just how tall she is! She's not much shorter than Bilbo!
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Offline Catjane

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2007, 10:45:58 AM »
Dunno if this is any help, Lottie, but my friend's cat Tigger doesn't much like vertical scratching surfaces (might be something to do with him being a very big cat) and at first he didn't even scratch the carpet!  (he was four when my friend got him).  We found tho, that he absolutely LOVES scratching on sample squares of carpet!  Weird huh?  He adopts them as his own (he has several around the house) and never even sits on the floor - only on his 'mats'!!  He also 'fights' them when he gets the skits, so they're an all-round benefit!  Cheap too!

Offline Susanne (urbantigers)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #13 on: May 11, 2007, 10:05:50 AM »
I have the scars to prove it!  Lets just say there'll be no wearing shorts or short skirts for me this summer (not that I usually wear them anyway - my legs tend to frighten small children).

Offline CurlyCatz

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2007, 10:03:14 AM »
uh huh..voice of experience do i detect  :rofl:

Offline Susanne (urbantigers)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #11 on: May 10, 2007, 23:03:32 PM »
When the sheath drops off it reveals a nice, sharp claw underneath  ;D

Offline CurlyCatz

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #10 on: May 10, 2007, 22:33:35 PM »
yep it does help remove the sheaths admittedly but me reckons susanne is right it sharpens them more than anything  :evillaugh:

Offline Kittybabe (Ruth)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #9 on: May 10, 2007, 21:58:24 PM »
Lexy loves her scratching post, but still sharp. I do notices extra sheaths left behind most of the time. Its what I hoover up.

Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2007, 21:11:58 PM »
No it doesnt blunt their claws but gets the sheaths off and I think that makes them a bit less long but mine also scratch outside.

Offline Susanne (urbantigers)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2007, 20:57:10 PM »
I always thought scratching actually sharpened the claws and that it was walking on hard surfaces that blunts them (hence indoor cats needing them trimmed more often than indoor/outdoor cats).  Mine use their scratching posts a lot and it doesn't seem to blunt their claws.

Offline CurlyCatz

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2007, 20:43:28 PM »
does anyone actually find scratching posts blunten cats claws anyway ?? Cody uses is several times per day but i still have to clip his razor sharp claws on a regular basis.

Offline Gill (sneakiefeline)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2007, 20:36:42 PM »
I sprayed cat nip when I got one for kocka and apparently if you put there claws on it and help em drag em down the post, it helps............so I read somewhere.

I also have some flat scratching mats that lie on floor and mine like those too.

Apart from Kocka all the others knew exactly what they were for and they scratch trellis and wood outside BUT Sasa likes the stairs carpet too  >:(

Offline Lottie (Team Svartalfheim's)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2007, 15:46:10 PM »
She's not using anything at all! She just doesn't seem to scratch. I mean it's good she's not destroying my carpet or furniture but it seems odd to me that she doesn't scratch anything at all as Bilbo and Tigger love to have a good old scratch on the post.
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Offline forever_missing_my_boys(Lisa)

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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2007, 15:45:52 PM »
What is she using at the moment?

I sprayed catnip on things they were allowed to scratch and a repellent on things they arnt allowed to scratch now they don't scratch the sofas or furniture anymore but they do shred the wallpapper.

 :evillaugh: :evillaugh: :evillaugh: :evillaugh: mine are wallpaper shreaders too !

and theyve ruined our sofa over the years  :evillaugh:

thats a good idea cc about spraying the things they r not allowed to scratch with repellent  and the things they r allowed to scratch with catnip spray  :evillaugh: :evillaugh:

im gonna have to try that when we get our new leather 3piece suite  :sneaky:
« Last Edit: May 10, 2007, 15:46:31 PM by forever_missing_my_boys(Lisa) »
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Re: Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2007, 15:33:56 PM »
What is she using at the moment?

I sprayed catnip on things they were allowed to scratch and a repellent on things they arnt allowed to scratch now they don't scratch the sofas or furniture anymore but they do shred the wallpapper.

Offline Lottie (Team Svartalfheim's)

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Training cats to use a scratchpost
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2007, 15:23:34 PM »
This may be a really silly question but how do you train a cat to use a scratchpost??

Miss Boopy had a small post at her breeders that she never used and now she's home she's got a small one in her 'safe' room and then the big ones in the rest of the house and she won't use any of them. As a result of not using a scratchpost she has very sharp claws. I've tried spraying feliway on them and rubbing catnip on, scratching on it with my nails whilst she watches and she's seen Bilbo using it but she shows no interest in them at all.
She hasn't scratched the carpet, door frames, furniture or anything yet but I'm a bit worried as I've never known a cat not to use a post at all.
I don't know if it is relevent but she's 10 months old.

Any advice would be great, thanks!
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