Question:
I have a beautiful one-year-old English chinchilla who is constantly scratching, mainly on my couch (which he is ripping into threads), but also on the carpet. He does have a scratching pole and lots of toys to play with, but he prefers the furniture.
I have tried a number of different products on the market and nothing seems to work. He is an indoor cat (he does not go outside at all, as he is afraid of going outside and I prefer him inside).
Could you please help, since I have run out of ideas? Is there perhaps a certain plant which cats dislike that I could place in different areas? I was told that cats dislike the smell of lemons, but my cat seems to love the smell.
Teresa Zerafa, via e-mail.
Answer:
Dear Teresa,
Cat scratching is perfectly normal behaviour, but not very acceptable when it’s on our furniture or carpet. It’s also not the easiest problem in the world to solve, but it is possible to do so if you understand why they do it. And believe it or not, it’s really not to annoy you, as annoying as it is!
Cats need to condition their claws, but they also do it to mark their territory. And the more anxious cats are, the more they feel the need to do it. Having a scratch post is essential, but you need to ensure it is tall enough so that as an adult he can stretch right out when using it. Sometimes cats also need to be taught how to use a scratch post. Try spraying some catnip on it or putting food treats on it, so he gets a reward every time he uses it. You can even hang toys off them to make them more inviting.
Cats have scent glands between their toes and actually deposit scents where they scratch, so they come back to that familiar smell. You can try spraying something offensive to cats (there are commercial products around) or talk to your vet about pheromone therapy (sprays or vaporisers) to make the cat feel more comfortable and less in need of marking their territory. Other medications may be used after an assessment by your vet if the anxiety issues are severe enough.
Blocking access to the areas he’s scratching helps break the cycle. Cover the part of the lounge or carpet with some heavy plastic — they don’t like the feel of this under their feet and it’ll also protect your furniture. You can distract him if you catch him red-pawed with clapping or a squirt of water, but don’t scold him after the event. This will only confuse him or make the anxiety worse.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
