The Best Time to Teach Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post

It can be pretty frustrating when people go out and purchase their pet cats a scratching pole, but their pet continues to scratch the couch or furniture. The big question most pet owners are asking is, “Why won’t their cat use the scratching pole?”

People can stop stressing or worrying now since in this article; we will take a closer look at some tips on how to get these felines to use the post, and soon this problem will be just a thing of the past. Training these animals to use these posts is very important.  So, how can pet owners encourage their furry friends to use these things?

Start when these cats are still kittens

The saying “Start them young” may also be applicable to your furry friends. It is a matter of Katze an Kratzbaum gewöhnen or getting cats used to the scratching post. Of course, this simple tip may be redundant for some pet lovers unless they have time-machines, but they should introduce their felines to these poles while they are still young kittens, as young as possible. It is a lot easier to teach desirable behaviors from the start instead of trying to modify undesirable behaviors when the cat is already old.

Since felines usually stick with the same grazing object, when taking new kittens or cats at home, it may be an excellent idea to ask to take the pillar they are currently using as well, if it is possible to do so. It will also serve as familiar objects for these animals to have in their new environment.

Use the right height

One reason felines like to do this activity is that they love to stretch their spines. Owners need to make sure that they get a tall pole that they can use to stretch out and reach upon. If the grazing pillar is awkward and short, your furry friend may not use it at all.

Make sure it is tightly secured

Is the pillar sturdy, or does it move around when cats use it? Either secure these things down, purchase one with a solid and sturdy base, or purchase one that is both heavy and large enough not to move when felines use it. Not many kittens or cats will enjoy using these things that do not offer them any resistance when being used and wobble around.

Try various textures

Cat lovers can purchase pads and posts made from various materials like:

  • Sisal rope
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Carpet

Corrugated cardboard and sisal ropes tend to be pretty popular choices among feline lovers. Some behavior experts also discourage using carpet-made pillars as they believe it can confuse felines. But every circumstance is unique, and each cat is an individual. They will have their own individual preference. Maybe the cat does not like the texture their owner has chosen for them, and they prefer something new.

The Best Time to Teach Your Cat to Use the Scratching Post

Try various angles

Different felines prefer different angles. Some cats like to stretch and scratch on horizontal surfaces; some prefer to reach something on vertical surfaces, while other felines prefer something in between. Owners can try:

  • Uptight pillars
  • Inclined scratchers
  • Flat pads that the owner can lay on the floor

Emulate what the animal is currently scratching

If people are not sure what pole their pet would prefer, they can try to copy what they are currently scratching. Pay close attention to what angle and texture they seem to prefer. If the pet likes to scratch the carpet, their owner could try horizontal scratchers, or if they love to do this deed on the walls of the house, owners could try using vertical ones. There are scratching poles that are designed to adjust their angle according to the feline’s preference. It can either be rested against the property’s walls or can be laid flat on the floor.

The “one each plus one” rule

For every feline inside the house, pet lovers should have at least one pole, and they need to have additional ones on top of that. Scratching is one way for cats to mark their territories to feel safe and secure. If there is only one pole and other felines have already marked it, the other ones may not use it and will mark other items on the house or areas instead, like the couch, television set, or the wall.

Placement is very crucial

One reason why these animals do this activity is that they are marking their territory. That is why do not hide these pillars out of the way, not at the beginning. These animals need to be in prominent locations; that is why homeowners need to place them in an area where the cat currently chooses to scratch.

People can move them in their preferred spot more discretely once the pet is consistently using the pillar. Aside from that, owners need to spot where their cats like to sleep or nap. They can put a pole there, as these animals usually want to have a scratch after they wake up from their snooze. Another excellent location to put these things is next to the door that leads outside. It is perceived as their territory boundary.

Make it a good and positive experience for them

When people want to introduce a new scratching pillar to their cat, they can try placing delicious treats on and around it and rubbing catnip over it to pique their interest. People can get less messy catnip spray formulas and shower their poles in potent catnip oils. Cat lovers can also try using a fishing-rod-kind toy to play with their furry friend on and around the post. Encourage these animals to pounce on the new toy so that their claws will land on the pillar.

They will soon realize how good to sink their paws and claws into it. Whenever the cat is using this thing, tells them what a good pet they are. Experts also recommend that pet lovers use positive reinforcement, as well as clicker training methods to teach their furry friends to use these pillars.

Clicker training can be an inexpensive, fun, and easy way to teach these animals to use their pillars or pad. It is also an excellent way to spend some time bonding with them. To learn how this training method works, we recommend investing in positive reinforcement behavior books and other reading materials related to it.

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