Wanted: cat scratching post

[Julie H.]

Does anyone have a cat scratching post sitting around that's not being used? I have a new kitten that's about to ruin our Persian rugs and couches, chairs, etc...:dunno:

Thanks!!

[Vet-To-Pet]

There are some very inexpensive scratching "posts" that are actually made out of corrugated cardboard cut into strips & laid on it's side in a shallow box---they're sold for about $5 or so in most pet stores. They sometimes come with catnip which is supposed to be sprinkled down into the corrugated grooves & entice the kitten/cat to play with it.
Another cheap scratching post is a piece of firewood, with the bark still attached. Cats out side naturally use tree bark to scratch their outer nail sheaths off, and many will use a chunk of wood placed inside for them to use (you might try the catnip 'lure' with this, too.)
Hope this helps.
Smiles,
Paula
Does anyone have a cat scratching post sitting around that's not being used? I have a new kitten that's about to ruin our Persian rugs and couches, chairs, etc...:dunno:

Thanks!!

[lilmatty]

Does anyone have a cat scratching post sitting around that's not being used? I have a new kitten that's about to ruin our Persian rugs and couches, chairs, etc...:dunno:

Thanks!!

Often a scratching post just reinforces that scratching is ok. Best to discipline the cat when it happens. This'll be a good time when it's still young.

[lilmatty]

Often a scratching post just reinforces that scratching is ok. Best to discipline the cat when it happens. This'll be a good time when it's still young.

Let me say a little more on this as a 30 year cat veteran and current slave to 15 of them.

Cat scratch posts are usually made of cloth and that reinforces in their mind that cloth things are ok to scratch. There goes the furniture.

Something that works pretty well is the tree wood idea. We nail a piece of tree cutting down to a board and let them at it. Not only are there groovy smells on it but they do like to scratch on it and leave the furniture alone. Another option is a cardboard box. A great kitty container! Best when you let it 'season' outdoors for a while.

[psarahg]

You might try calling Pick of the Litter on Piner Rd. in Santa Rosa -- it's a thrift shop that supports Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County. They have good prices on new posts, and sometimes have used ones. I vehemently disagree with messages advising you not to get a scratching post; if cats have a post they like, they can be trained to use those instead of the furniture. Cats MUST scratch, so it's not a matter of stopping it but re-directing it. In addition to corrugated cardboard posts (which are the least expensive you can buy), another favorite is a post made of sisal (rope). Many cats are more attracted to sisal than to carpeted posts. The other thing to pay attention to is whether your kitten prefers to scratch vertically or horizontally (although it sounds like the baby is doing both). There are cardboard and also sisal posts that lie on the floor, and some cats are more drawn to those than the vertical ones. In conjunction with getting a post, you might also look for a product called "Sticky Paws" --- it's basically wide two-sided tape that you put on the furniture that the kitty keeps going to. They don't like the feeling under their paws and they stop returning to that area.


Does anyone have a cat scratching post sitting around that's not being used? I have a new kitten that's about to ruin our Persian rugs and couches, chairs, etc...:dunno:

Thanks!!

[Moon]

I've got a scratching post you can have; however, the reason it's going unused is that it's too wobbly for my cat friend to feel comfortable using.