So far so good, but what can we do when cats like to scratch things that we want to keep undamaged, like furniture, curtains, pillows and carpets? Of course, you adore your kitty and want to solve the problem as peacefully as possible, so no one will get upset – especially not your little furry friend! Do not despair, there is a way of preventing him from destroying your new fancy furniture. With affection and a little patience, you can train your kitty to use a cat scratching post.

First of all, you have to decide what kind of cat scratching post to buy. In my previous post I wrote a short description of the main types of cat scratching posts – check it out and choose what’s best for you and your kitty! Pick a scratching post stable enough for your cat to be able to climb it without toppling it over. Its surface should be suitable for scratching – it may be wooden or covered with a special material like sisal or carpet. Your kitty has to enjoy sticking her claws into it! There are so many types of scratching posts available on the online market! All you have to do is go online and choose your post depending on your budget and the available space in your apartment. I know that the perfect post for you is out there, waiting to become your kitty’s favorite toy!

I already wrote some basic things on how to teach your cat to use the scratching post. Here are some new tips:

As you probably know, cats have original personalities. They do only what they want, when they want it. Don’t try to train a cat like a puppy – it will never work. Cats don’t do things if you force them. Imagine that your kitty is a little spoiled child – extremely sweet and terribly stubborn. If you make it hard for him, he will do exactly the opposite. But it you teach him with love, attention and a positive attitude, he’ll be brilliant at what he’s doing before you know it. The same strategy works with cats – be patient and train your kitty step by step to use and enjoy her new scratching post.

As I wrote above, cats scratch to mark their territory. If your cat has already a favorite place to scratch, transform this habit into a new useful one – install the cat scratching post near the old scratching spot. For example, if your kitty’s favorite pastime is scratching your living-room center sofa, put the post near it. Then, when you’ll see that she started to use the post on a regular basis, begin moving it a little every day towards the place you want. But don’t hide it in a dark and lonely place – cats like to socialize and be around people, they will simply not use the post if you install it in the back storage room.

If this strategy doesn’t work immediately, don’t despair! Many cats need an individual approach, so don’t be afraid to be creative and investigate what your kitty enjoys doing most. Then, use her favorite activities and especially her playful mood for training her to use the cat scratching post!