How to train a cat to a scratching post

Sharpening your claws on carpet, furniture or walls is a favorite pastime for many cats. The main desire of the owner at the same time is to keep the property safe and sound. About how to accustom a cat to a scratching post and consolidate the skill – in this article.

Why does a cat need a scratching post

Claws mean a lot to cats: with their help, they hold prey, climb trees, defend themselves from the enemy during a fight. They need regular care, and the scratching post will be a good helper in this. It will suit:

• for sharpening claws;
• for sipping after sleep;
• to relieve tension during stress;
• to mark territory with paw pads.

Of course, you can wean a cat from damaging furniture if you regularly trim its claws or scare it away with unpleasant odors. But it is better to buy a scratching post for your pet.

Which scratching post to choose

When choosing an accessory, it is important to pay attention to the following criteria:

1. Manufacturing material. It can be twine, jute, sisal, carpet or pressed cardboard. Synthetic materials are not very popular with cats because of the static electricity generated, which scares them. 
2. The shape of the scratching post: a post, a couch, a ladder, a vertical or horizontal board, or a surface with an inclination.
3. The base of the claw point. It must be wide and stable. 
4. Environmental friendliness. So that the scratching post does not have sharp toxic odors and poorly processed elements. An animal can get poisoned or injured while turning its claws.
5. The presence of cool chips in the form of houses, playgrounds, toys on strings. 

The cat will like the play complex of several posts, a house and a hammock. Planks braided with a rope have maximum mobility and look neutral in the interior. You can please your pet and make a scratching post with your own hands, using some improvised means.

When and how to start accustoming a cat to a scratching post

Little kittens easily learn new skills. Therefore, you should start doing it at an early age. To understand how to teach a kitten to a scratching post, you need to draw his attention to the accessory. To do this, you can periodically play with the baby next to the column or board and use them during the game. But in order for the cat to understand its purpose, you can show it with an example – to “scratch” it yourself. It is not recommended to take the kitten by the paws and defiantly scratch the scratching post with them. He may be frightened and no longer approach her. 

There are several rules on how to accustom an adult cat or cat to a scratching post in 1-2 weeks:

1. You can lift the front paws of the cat and put them on the scratching post. She will reflexively release her claws and cling to her. A smell will remain on the surface, which will further attract it.
2. You can smear the top of the scratching post with catnip or valerian tincture. 
3. You can praise and treat the cat with your favorite treat. A positive result is fixed by pleasant emotions. If the scratching post is high, you can leave something tasty at the top so that the cat wants to climb up there. 

The owner needs to be persistent – as soon as he sees that the cat is sharpening its claws in the wrong place, he must take it to the scratching post. It is best to put or hang it in the usual place for pet entertainment, but away from the sofa or chairs. 

The cat does not immediately master the desired skill and may continue to damage carpets, sofas and wallpaper. You should not scold your pet for this – he quickly forgets why he was punished. You can treat surfaces with a special repellent spray, cover furniture with covers until the animal learns to sharpen its claws in the right place. The more attentive the owner is to his pet, the faster he will get the desired result.