How do I get an old cat to learn to use a scratching post?
Monday, November 30th, 2009 at
7:21 am
How do I get my older cat to learn new tricks, so to speak? He’s 7 years old, and was never taught to use a scratching post, so he just scratches up anything he can find.
We bought a carpet lined scratching post, but he hasn’t done much but look at it funny. We’ve tried putting toys on top and around it, putting catnip on it, giving him treats when he almost thinks about using it, things like that. We haven’t tried the spray catnip yet, but plan on doing that soon.
Another note, he’s vicious and his claws hurt, lol. So it’s tough to really put his claws on the scratching post or anything like that.
Filed under: Cat Scratching Post
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The older the cat, the harder to teach him new tricks
Use positive re-enforcement when he uses the post, negative when he scratches anywhere you don’t want him to (couch) – a water spray bottle’s a nice gentle way 
You can spray stuff on the places you don’t want him to scratch too; most pet stores have a ‘cat repellent’ spray that cats don’t like, spray your couch with some of that. Eventually (if at all) he’ll get used to using the post. ALSO: we found placing our cats claws on the post DID work – it acquaints them with the texture and the notion that standing on their legs to scratch isn’t such a freaky idea after all.
Catnip. Also, put him on the carpeting and pet him, he’ll prob start kneading ie clawing. Also try play8ing with bits of string on the carpet, when he plays he’ll be more likely to catch on to it.
Don’t try and put his claws onto the scratching post like you need to show him how to, that’s almost insulting to him and can very well put him off it entirely. He knows exactly how to scratch.
Good luck.
You can try scratching it yourself with your fingernails. He might get the idea by watching you. And the catnip spray sounds like a good idea too.
You won’t. Either they use it or will not. Of all the cats we’ve had, could never get anyone to use a scratching post. Those things are manufactured to make you buy them. A cat, especially an older one will scratch wherever. Doubt if you can do anything about it. You can use all the catnip you want. He’ll just hang around the post, get high, and claw up the sofa. Catz! We’re lucky. We have a deep-pile carpet in the living room so the one cat we have that is not de-clawed prefers to dig into the carpet without much harm. Unfortunately she likes to go after the woodwork around the doors occasionally. Good luck. By the way, 7 is not too old to declaw, which is barbaric, but either the cat or the furniture has to go. Nasty choice. P.S. Good luck trying to sell the scratching post in a garage sale. You’re stuck with it. Next stop, the dump.