Scratching Post Question

Tindi18 · 10-19-2004, 10:38 AM

Once a friend of mine was given a scratching post from a friend of her moms. They tried to get their cat, Neo, to use it, but he just refused. My friends mom then concluded that a cat won't use a scratching post unless they have thier scent on it. I this true? [I need to get a scratching post for my cat.]

ospunkyo · 10-19-2004, 04:40 PM

I don't think that's true. If you bring a "pre-loved" scratching post into your home for your cats, they might react badly to the scratching post because it has another cat's scent on it - if you're really unlucky, they might start spraying. You can't force a cat to use a new or used scratching post...you can encourage them and show them how to scratch it, but that's about it.

I inherited a used scratching tree from a friend, and sprayed it down with a urine emulsifier before I brought it into the house in an attempt to get rid of the other cat's scent. My cats still sniffed that thing up and down - and then were not terribly interested in it. My newest cat LOVES it - even though it has other cat's scents on it.

Best bet would be to get a new scratching post for your cat, show him how to use it, and praise him when he does.

Jeanie · 10-19-2004, 04:56 PM

You could try sprinkling some catnip in and on top of it, and see if that helps. I guess he smells the other cat. I wish you luck.

Tindi18 · 10-19-2004, 05:51 PM

ok i knew that my best bet would be to just get a new one. We were gonna get one a while ago, but it wasn't tall enough for my cat to kind of hang on its side, so we didn't get it

10-19-2004, 10:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
Tindi18 Cat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 266	Scratching Post Question Once a friend of mine was given a scratching post from a friend of her moms. They tried to get their cat, Neo, to use it, but he just refused. My friends mom then concluded that a cat won't use a scratching post unless they have thier scent on it. I this true? [I need to get a scratching post for my cat.] __________________ ~Alexandra Cats were once worshipped like gods. They never let us forget that.

10-19-2004, 04:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
ospunkyo Tom Cat Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 475	I don't think that's true. If you bring a "pre-loved" scratching post into your home for your cats, they might react badly to the scratching post because it has another cat's scent on it - if you're really unlucky, they might start spraying. You can't force a cat to use a new or used scratching post...you can encourage them and show them how to scratch it, but that's about it. I inherited a used scratching tree from a friend, and sprayed it down with a urine emulsifier before I brought it into the house in an attempt to get rid of the other cat's scent. My cats still sniffed that thing up and down - and then were not terribly interested in it. My newest cat LOVES it - even though it has other cat's scents on it. Best bet would be to get a new scratching post for your cat, show him how to use it, and praise him when he does. __________________

10-19-2004, 04:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jeanie Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 38,899	You could try sprinkling some catnip in and on top of it, and see if that helps. I guess he smells the other cat. I wish you luck. __________________ Jeanie http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com A dog, I have always said, is prose; a cat is a poem. ~Jean Burden

10-19-2004, 05:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tindi18 Cat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 266	ok i knew that my best bet would be to just get a new one. We were gonna get one a while ago, but it wasn't tall enough for my cat to kind of hang on its side, so we didn't get it __________________ ~Alexandra Cats were once worshipped like gods. They never let us forget that.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
CatForum.com Advertisement