How To Train A Cat Not To Scratch You

Provide A Scratching Post

It is important to provide an outlet for claw sharpening in the form of a scratch post, especially if your cat is an indoor cat, or has got into the habit of sharpening their claws inside the house.

Place the post in front of the damaged area, gently wipe the cats paws down the post to leave some scent on it and show the cat what to do. Do this several times when the post is new. If you catch your cat in the act of scratching elsewhere, carry the cat to the post and encourage the animal to scratch there instead. You can also encourage your cat to use the post by sprinkling cat nip on it, or attaching a toy or feathers to the top of the post.

Sneak Attack: How To Train A Kitten Not To Scratch

Dogs dig. Cows chew. Kittens? They love to scratch. This scratching behavior is something they will grow up with, as scratching is a part of a felines natural behavior. But if your wee little one is shredding you and the furniture, its time to figure out ways to curb the excessive scratching.

Your friends at Arlington Animal Hospital are here to give you some helpful suggestions how to train a kitten not to scratch. Yes, it is possible!

Use Furniture Protectors Like Couch Covers Scratch Shields & Sofa Scratchers To Save Your Couch

There are a slew of different cat scratch furniture protectors out there to help you save your sofa. Couch protector covers can not only keep your sofa safe from scratches, but can guard against accidnetal spills as well. Some, like the MTR Pet Repeller Furniture Pad mat, work to deter cats from wanting to scratch up furniture, while scratch protector guards like Furniture Defenders Cat Scratch Sofa Guard prevent cats from being able to get their claws into their favourite parts of the couch: that front portion thats oh-so-irresistible. There are also sofa scratchers in the form of scratching posts and scratch pads that work to protect your sofa even if your cat scratches on them.

These may make it unnecessary to train your cat to stop scratching in specific places, as your furniture is protected. But even if you are going to try to continue on training your cat to stop scratching, they act as a physical guard to save your furniture from cat scratches in case kitty takes some time to understand that scratching up the couch is not a behaviour you approve of. Eventually, if you are planning on training your cat to stop scratching up furniture, you should be able to take these off your sofa without attracting cat claws back, but in the meantime, these are great, and no harm to your cat or your furniture.

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Place The Scratching Post In A Location Where The Cat Wants To Scratch

If your cat enjoys scratching the couch, place the scratching post next to the couch. If your cat enjoys scratching the wall by your front door when you come home, place the scratching post near your front door. Location matters!

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Introduce Favorite Scratching Post

Scratching posts or cat furniture is great to keep your cat busy.

You need to teach your cat that they belong to that specific part of the house and they can scratch it as many times as it wants.

Also, at the same time, make sure your cat knows the difference between your bedroom carpet and the cat home carpet.

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Cat Training: How To Train Your Cat The Easy Way

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When learning how to train your cat, you’ll start with very basic first steps that both reward good behavior and discourage the bad. But can you train a cat the same way you might train a dog? Yes and no. Because they’re highly independent animals, cats might appear aloof or uninterested in following your commands. That doesn’t mean you can’t influence their behavior, though. If you’re patient and consistent, your new kitten or older cat can be trained in no time.

My Top Five Tips For Working With A Grabby Cat:

1. Experiment with lower valued foodHave you ever had trouble concentrating when your favourite food is on the table? Sometimes good food can be very distracting. When people first start training they may think they need to use the best treats. Ideally, we want to use the lowest valued foods to teach the basics, and reserve the best treats for the challenging training tasks, like nail trims. Experiment with different foods for different jobs and find something that brings out your cat’s best behaviour.

2. Use propsUsing props is an excellent strategy to take the focus away from your hands. Working with a target stick can help teach your cat how clicker training works while preserving your fingers. Click for touching the target stick and place the treat on the floor or toss it away from you. My fist bump tutorial is an excellent beginner exercise because your cat learns to target a container .

3. Treats don’t come from the hand that cues themTeach the cat that the treat doesn’t come from the hand that presents the cues. Let’s consider what happens when you teach your cat to target your finger. Initially, you may have a treat in your hand to lure them. Click, before the cat makes contact with your finger and surprise them with a treat that comes from your OTHER hand. “What there are treats in both hands now?!” This exercise will teach your cat that treats come from where they least expect it and encourage them to work even when they don’t see a treat.

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When Do Kittens Learn To Retract Claws

Kittens keep their claws permanently unsheathed for the first 4 weeks of their life. This enables kittens to knead their mothers teats and get milk. Once the kitten is a month old, it can retract its claws at will.

Most kittens will instinctively retract their claws. Cats of all ages understand the importance of protecting the front claws from damage. A kitten will also take its lead from its mother or older felines in the home.

Kittens also learn the importance of retracting their claws through play. Kittens are boisterous and not afraid of rough-and-tumble games with littermates. This can lead to accidental injury if the kitten is not careful.

Kittens, and their mothers, inform each other when claws should be unsheathed. If a kitten hurts a playmate, it will be told so. The kitten will come to understand that claws shouldnt always be exposed.

Why To Do If You See Your Cat Scratching

In the next section we will look at how to train a cat to not scratch. But before we get into that, heres a few things you can do if you catch your cat in the act of scratching.

• Clap your hands: Dont do this too loud as it will frighten them.
• Say NO: In a firm amnner, but not too loud and dont scream.
• Spray them with water.
• Physically remove them from the area.

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Trim Your Cat’s Claws

Though you should never declaw, you may defray some of your cat’s potential for destruction by carefully trimming the razor-sharp tips of her claws. You will find this endeavor to be more easily accomplished by two people one to hold the kitty and one to trim her nails. Though she enjoys other forms of pampering, your cat will probably not find a manicure soothing.

Gently hold your kitty’s paw in one hand and with your thumb on top of the paw and your forefinger on the pad, gently squeeze your thumb and finger together. This will push the claw clear of the fur so it can easily be seen. You will notice that the inside of the claw is pink near its base. This is living tissue that you do not want to cut. Trim only the clear tip of the nail. Do not clip the area where pink tissue is visible nor the slightly opaque region that outlines the pink tissue. This will avoid cutting into areas that would be painful or bleed. The desired effect is simply to blunt the claw tip. Many different types of nail trimmers are available in pet stores, but I find human toenail clippers easy and effective to use.

If by now you’re rolling on the floor laughing because you know your cat isn’t about to let you trim her claws, here are a couple of guidelines that will help make this a possibility: patience and preparation.

For a more detailed explanation and pictures of how to trim your cat’s claws, .

Why Do Cats Scratch

Biting and scratching is a common complaint with new kitten owners. They arent trying to attack you, but are actually being playful. This is a behavior that you will see among kittens when they are learning the ropes of the later role during the hunt. This cat behavior is seen in wild cats as well, as a way to interact with their peers while they learn how to become a skilled hunter.

Sometimes, the behavior can be instigated by the owner who doesnt realize that petting their kittens face, mouth, or other areas cats dont care to be touched. Cats need to have plenty of enrichment and exercise, just like dogs, so this play with me scratch or bite could be a call for your attention.

There are times when a cat will bite or scratch out of fear, pain, or behavioral problems, however this is usually seen in older cats, rather than kittens. However, if you sense your kitten is biting because of a health issue or fear, contact us for an examination.

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Train Your Cat To Scratch Where You Want

Cats have a natural need to scratch. It stretches their muscles, marks their territory, reduces stress, and removes dead layers of their nails. If you dont provide your cat with desirable scratching surfaces and, if needed, train them to scratch where you want, they may choose to scratch the corner of your couch instead! Cats and kittens of all ages can be trained to scratch where you want, some more easily than others. Each cats environment and past experiences play a role in how quickly they can be trained. Here are some suggested steps to train your cat to scratch where you want:

How To Teach A Cat Not To Scratch

The habit of scratching can be very difficult to reverse. This is why we always recommend starting from a very early age so they do not develop the habit. Following the times below will train a cat to not scratch but it may take time so just have patience.

#1 Use scratching posts

Its important to provide a variety of scratching posts in different locations around your house. Scratching posts come in different forms such as vertical, horizontal, wall mounted, and slanted. They also come in different textured materials, so its just a case of finding out which one your cat likes the best.

Youll find that cats love to scratch certain parts of the wall or carpet in the house. If you find this is happening, then place a scratching pad in that same location. If your cats scratching the side of the sofa, the Navaris Cat Scratch Mat Sofa Shield below is a great option for this. It can be drapped over anything in the house including the sofa.

We recently wrote an article called Best Scratching Posts For Cats | Review And Buyers Guide. View the full article here:

#2 Give them something to do

#3 Trim the cats nails

View the full article here:

If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself then it is advised to book in with a veterinarian.

#4 Cover desirable objects

#5 Deter with scent

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How To Train A Cat To Stop Doing Almost Anything

This article was co-authored by Brian Bourquin, DVM. Brian Bourquin, better known as Dr. B to his clients, is a Veterinarian and the Owner of Boston Veterinary Clinic, a pet health care and veterinary clinic with three locations, South End/Bay Village, the Seaport, and Brookline, Massachusetts. Boston Veterinary Clinic specializes in primary veterinary care, including wellness and preventative care, sick and emergency care, soft-tissue surgery, dentistry. The clinic also provides specialty services in behavior, nutrition, and alternative pain management therapies using acupuncture, and therapeutic laser treatments. Boston Veterinary Clinic is an AAHA accredited hospital and Bostons first Fear Free Certified Clinic. Brian has over 19 years of veterinary experience and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. This article has been viewed 1,663,805 times.

You may love your cat more than anything in the world, but there are certain behaviors, such as tearing up furniture, scratching people, and getting into areas you dont want her to access, that are simply unacceptable. You will need to practice patience and persistence to deter your cats bad behavior. With certain adjustments to her routine and the use of correcting techniques, you should be able to stop your cat from practicing bad behavior.

Compassionate Veterinary Care Of Cats

The Cat Clinic of Plymouth, MA is dedicated to the loving and compassionate veterinary care of cats. Services include preventive care and complete medical, diagnostic, dental & surgical care. From wellness examinations to advanced diagnostics including ultrasound imaging, we pride ourselves on offering veterinary services specific to the needs of your feline family member. Our staff strives to provide a quiet, friendly animal hospital specifically with our feline patients and their families in mind.

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Make The Right Choice Irresistible

The best way to make your cat choose the cat scratcher over your furniture or home decor is to make the scratcher irresistible. Cat scratchers made from sisal or cardboard are ideal for sneaking bits of catnip into the folds.

Simply sprinkle a bit of dried catnip onto the surface , and gently rub the herb into the scratcher. As soon as your cat walks past the scratcher, shell be enticed to dig into her new toy to find all the catnipy goodness youve hidden inside.

Other cats may not be as enticed by catnip. If yours is one of those rare creatures, find out what she loves and make it a part of her scratcher. If she likes jingle balls, tie a few to some yarn or twine and use a staple gun to affix them to the top of your scratching post. If your cat prefers to bat around feathers , you can get creative with your scratcher decor.

You dont have to go overboard customizing your cats scratcher. Oftentimes just adding some catnip or silvervine to the scratcher is plenty to get your cat to choose the preferred surface over your beloved possessions.

Redirect Attention Of The Kitten

If the kitty is scratching you continuously then redirecting its attention is very important. Boredom is a major reason behind the continuous scratching or aggressive biting of the kitten. In such a scenario, give them something to play with.

Make sure your kitten active plays for at least 15 minutes with an interactive toy. Teaser toys are great for such training.

You can just use laser light or drag a thread along the carpet that interacts with your kitten. Your cat will chase and pounce on it.

There are some commercially available gloves that come with dangling fingers.

Once you have taught them that your hands or feet are not meant for scratching then you both will enjoy the playing session more.

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Ways To Stop A Kitten From Biting And Scratching

Does your kitty sometimes get carried away and leave you with a sharp bite or scratch?

Though occasional play biting can be expected, its important to teach your pet not to scratch or bite you while they are young. That way, youll still be able to play with your happy, friendly kitty once theyre grown – without the risk of injury!

How To Train A Cat Not To Scarch Furniture Can Be A Real Issue This Is A Real Pet Peeve Of Mine And This Was My Solution Scream At The Top Of My Lungs To Make Them Stop

How to train a cat not to sit on furniture. Johnson sites the possibility of a cat swallowing these, resulting in serious intestinal damage. Keep the cat training sessions short. Whenever you train your cat to do or not do something, focus on positive reinforcement.

If one can train the cats not to use the outdoor furniture, it will not destroy it. When she’s quiet rather than noisy. sit with your cat and play with the new post.

If your cats cruising habit returns, put the mats back. Cats are a creature of habit. You can also crate train a kitten, just like you would a puppy.

When weeks have passed without signs of the cat on the counters, remove one placemat every day until the counter is clear. Listen, if your cat is scratching up your leather couch, but is also scratching up a heck of a lot more, and you want him/her to cut it out and find someplace else to dig his/her claws into, you probably should take the time to train your cat to stop scratching where you dont want those nails digging deep. Cat owners should take advantage of aluminum foil as a means of protecting your furniture from your cats claws.

Training a cat not to do something. I was a monster mom at these moments and lost their trust which i’d worked so hard to get. Mark the moment by either using a clicker or saying something encouraging .

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