Improving an Unscratchable Cat Scratcher?
January 24, 2022 6:53 AM Subscribe
I bought this cat scratcher although from another site. The cat has diligently tried to scratch it several times, but the frame is wire, and his natural scratching technique almost immediately results in his nails getting stuck in the poly wicker weave. Is there any way I can improve it for him — and prevent him from scratching (in a recent development) wood furniture?
The cat scratcher had a roughly 75% popularity rating on the site where I bought it, much as it does on the Refined Feline. Like many of the reviewers there, I gave it a go because I was desperate to get rid of pricey cardboard, and I longed to improve the view at the end of my bed, which is the only place to put a scratcher in this apartment. By then, I had already given the cat a remarkably sturdy fake oriental runner from Ikea, which doesn't seem to show scratches — and I figured with this new sculptural scratcher, he'd be set.
But, alas, stuck claws are not the result he's looking for. And although I'd weaned him off my fabric furniture a while back with the use of no-scratch tape, I've recently been noticing him scratch on the side of my bureau and a paneled wall after eating or using the litter. I read somewhere that he's trying to dispel the scent of his activities in an effort to improve his "invisibility cloak," and that it's a sign of trust for him to do in in front of me. Although I'm intrigued by this theory, if not outright flattered, I want him to stop scratching on finished wood.
Does anybody have any tips on how (1) to make him cease and desist on wood, and (2) to improve the scratchability of the poly-wicker scratcher as a non-handy person?
The cat scratcher had a roughly 75% popularity rating on the site where I bought it, much as it does on the Refined Feline. Like many of the reviewers there, I gave it a go because I was desperate to get rid of pricey cardboard, and I longed to improve the view at the end of my bed, which is the only place to put a scratcher in this apartment. By then, I had already given the cat a remarkably sturdy fake oriental runner from Ikea, which doesn't seem to show scratches — and I figured with this new sculptural scratcher, he'd be set.
But, alas, stuck claws are not the result he's looking for. And although I'd weaned him off my fabric furniture a while back with the use of no-scratch tape, I've recently been noticing him scratch on the side of my bureau and a paneled wall after eating or using the litter. I read somewhere that he's trying to dispel the scent of his activities in an effort to improve his "invisibility cloak," and that it's a sign of trust for him to do in in front of me. Although I'm intrigued by this theory, if not outright flattered, I want him to stop scratching on finished wood.
Does anybody have any tips on how (1) to make him cease and desist on wood, and (2) to improve the scratchability of the poly-wicker scratcher as a non-handy person?
If you have access to Ikea, return that scratcher and get this chair. Natural materials rather than polyrattan, so healthier and more tempting for claws, plus no wire frame. And multi-use at the foot of the bed, with a not much bigger footprint than the scratcher (20 inches) - the cat uses the sides, you use the seat for sitting or storage. I've seen several stand up to multiple cats for a decade or more.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:03 AM on January 24, 2022
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:03 AM on January 24, 2022
Response by poster: @Laura in Canada — Yeah, I'm on the catnip thing. I think it made him more diligent, but it didn't improve his results.
@I claim sanctuary — That precise chair is actually my office chair (also in my bedroom). Like the cat, I love wicker, and this long predates the cat's presence. Another reason I bought him his own wicker was actually to discourage him from scratching mine. I actually have two wicker chairs in the room...
posted by Violet Blue at 7:11 AM on January 24, 2022
@I claim sanctuary — That precise chair is actually my office chair (also in my bedroom). Like the cat, I love wicker, and this long predates the cat's presence. Another reason I bought him his own wicker was actually to discourage him from scratching mine. I actually have two wicker chairs in the room...
posted by Violet Blue at 7:11 AM on January 24, 2022
I don't see how there's anything you can do to poly wicker weave to make it more suitable. As a plastic it probably doesn't have the right amount of give. The surface has to allow itself to be damaged somewhat for the claws to be able to pass through. I have a few of those tall cat trees covered in carpet & sisal rope & that seems to work for them.
posted by bleep at 7:18 AM on January 24, 2022
posted by bleep at 7:18 AM on January 24, 2022
Best answer: We bought a tall scratching post for our nitwit cat and it was originally wrapped in some sort of woven mat which she quickly destroyed. I rewrapped it with sisal rope and it seems to be holding its own just fine now. Is that an option? I picked it the rope from a big-box store and it was pretty inexpensive. In my case, I used hot glue to attach it every so many windings (instead of staples or anything obnoxious/dangerous).
posted by jquinby at 7:19 AM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jquinby at 7:19 AM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Another reason I bought him his own wicker was actually to discourage him from scratching mine. I actually have two wicker chairs in the room
Maybe I'm just bad at training cats (probably true), but I find that once a cat equates a certain material with scratching fun, all other instances of that material become fair game. They don't know the difference between their scratching post and your beloved chair. For that reason alone I'd try to return this or just eat the cost, and get a sisal scratching post.
posted by coffeecat at 7:40 AM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Maybe I'm just bad at training cats (probably true), but I find that once a cat equates a certain material with scratching fun, all other instances of that material become fair game. They don't know the difference between their scratching post and your beloved chair. For that reason alone I'd try to return this or just eat the cost, and get a sisal scratching post.
posted by coffeecat at 7:40 AM on January 24, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It won't look as cool, but wrapping the whole thing in sisal rope over spray upholstry adhesive might be worth a try. At the very least, it will add another half cm of claw-friendly stuff to get through.
posted by eotvos at 8:21 AM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by eotvos at 8:21 AM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
Maybe you could get plastic wicker for yourself? You'll have the look you like, and your cat has a healthy outlet :)
posted by amtho at 8:27 AM on January 24, 2022
posted by amtho at 8:27 AM on January 24, 2022
Best answer: Have you tried placing it on its side? Sometimes that allows for better "claw dynamics" related to the ability to retract. (Rather than stretching up and clawing down) one of my wood-loving kitties adores a good scratch on a half log sortof thing made from a fallen tree log piece.
posted by mightshould at 9:05 AM on January 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by mightshould at 9:05 AM on January 24, 2022 [3 favorites]
Maybe get one of those round floor ones with the ball in the track around it and cardboard in the middle that you can put catnip under and change out when its too scratched? Those seem to be a hit with many cats (I have 4 now and have had at least 2 all my life).
posted by meepmeow at 4:51 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by meepmeow at 4:51 PM on January 24, 2022
We tried a cedar cat post but no luck, even though one of our cats loves to scratch the heck out of every painted door frame in the house. In general they like sisal, but their favorite is a combo ramp/furniture thing that has replaceable cardboard scratchers. The cardboard is a bit messy but you can get a 2-pack for $5 and they are double-sided. I can't find a link though.
posted by freecellwizard at 6:21 PM on January 24, 2022
posted by freecellwizard at 6:21 PM on January 24, 2022
A cat behavioral specialist told me that the scratcher really needs to be sturdy when they scratch. I got my cat a really cute lil cactus, and it wobbles and falls over -- he hates it. That's apparently why they like chairs and such, because they won't move.
posted by fillsthepews at 10:51 AM on January 25, 2022
posted by fillsthepews at 10:51 AM on January 25, 2022
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posted by Laura in Canada at 6:57 AM on January 24, 2022