Dog Community

Cat Scratching Post

Posted : 6/14/2006 8:37:52 PM

I accidentally purchased a cat scratching post on ebay (my first time on ebay and I had no idea what i was doing). I t cost $60 and should have RRP for 199 so I did get a bargain. However my cat wont go near it. Any ideas on how ot make her understand what it is or do some cats just not like them? This is my first cat ever so i'm a bit clueless. She is an 8yr old DSH who is over weight and doesnt really do much but sleep and eat. I take her out with me to run about but she doesnt do much but sit by the door waiting to go back in.

jensw

Posted : 6/15/2006 3:05:48 AM

What is it like? Sturdy? Carpet or sisal rope? How tall? etc.

You might have to show her how to use it. Scratch at it yourself. She might imitate you and then realize she likes it. Or you can try rubbing it with catnip.

Brian Berry

Posted : 6/15/2006 9:01:06 AM

Try rubbing it with catnip or one of your cat's favorite treats (to get the scent on the scratching post). I did this and it worked great, teller loves his scratching post[

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marynh

Posted : 6/15/2006 10:39:33 AM

catnip spray works pretty well too - less messy.
I find my cats prefer the sisal posts over carpetted

papillon806

Posted : 6/15/2006 1:07:39 PM

I too recommend a catnip spray...works great!

Kara

Posted : 6/15/2006 4:36:09 PM

If you want to have some fun with her, you could always try playing with her with one of those keychain type red lasers. All my animals love to chase the laser around, even my 13 year old cat loves it. It would probably also help her shed some weight.

As far as those scratching tree thingies, sounds like you did get a deal, they are so crazy expensive! My cats would never use them though. For scratching they LOVE the cardboard type scratchers like these:

http://www.cosmicpet.com/detail.asp?col=1&id=2

As far as getting her interested in the one you bought, the catnip spray will probably work really well!

hayley018

Posted : 6/15/2006 8:42:08 PM

thanks for the ideas guys. What is catnip? I did put her favourite treats on all the levels but she just jumped off. It has three levels. It is 95cm high. The first is a hiding hole covered in carpet. Then there is some rope stuff on a pole to scrath at, then a flat level covered with carpet then another pole for scrathching then a final level with carpet.

I scratched at it while she was watching and then got her paws and started scratching but she pulled away and hisssed

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 6/15/2006 11:23:47 PM

Hayley - keep at the exercise of showing her how to scratch. You don't want to be too forceful about putting her paws up there, but try to make a ritual of it. I used to run to the post when we first got it and talk very animatedly and run my fingers on the sissal (rope) and talk to my cat the whole time. It only took me a few days to train various cats at various times that this was the place we scratch. With Benito, it became a much loved ritual - as soon as I came home from work he'd try to catch my attention and lead me to the cat tree and show me what a good boy he was - he'd stretch and scratch and I'd coo and pet him.

We can't really indulge in that routine anymore because the dogs are even needier when I get home, but we still manage to play out our little game when the dogs are playing in the yard every now and again.

hayley018

Posted : 6/16/2006 12:14:25 AM

thank you. I will try it again. I havn't tried since because I thought it might f upset her, but I will keep going and tell you how it goes

pofi_pasquale

Posted : 6/16/2006 8:14:17 AM

Put more emphasis on the demonstration -maybe don't even try to put her paws up there till you've shown her a few more times. She might just catch on by watching and join you sooner then you would expect!

inne

Posted : 6/19/2006 11:28:05 PM

I bought my cat a pretty, new scratching post and he didn't want to have anything to do with it. I did the catnip spray and demonstrating and everything I was about to throw it out. But after a month of it just sitting there he started to use it and now he loves it, so don't worry if your cat doesn't take to it right away.