We have no entryway closet so I bought a shoe rack cabinet to store shoes in by the door. Unfortunately, it also doubles as a cat scratcher due to the material. Any ideas on how to protect this or stop the cats from scratching it before they tear it apart?
You might reach out to Kristi Noem. She can probably tell you how to make sure it never happens again.
Sorry I wasn’t much, um, any help.
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After they get a couple hits off it, you won’t even need to turn it on.
you can by sheets of double sided clear sticky tape that is made for cat scratching. Cats won’t scratch sticky tape. Its clear, but yes, you will notice the tape, but shoudl stop any scratching. Amazon has it. I use it on my couch corners and other likely spots to stop cat scratching.
Also, if you don’t have one already, get a good cat scratching post…ie give them an alternative.
This one I have and eveyone else that has used it is great. Cat’s love this sisal material:
cat post: Amazon.com
sticky tape: Amazon.com
Regular double sided tape works too.
This might not work for your situation, but is great for keeping them off counters.
PetSafe Ssscat Spray Deterrent - Pet Valu
Get rid of the cat? Simple solution
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This!!! Why tolerate an animal destroying your home?
Hi Triocd,
I am confident you will be able to solve the scratching issue. Using things like double sided tape, cat deterrent sprays or placing a good scratching post nearby usually helps a lot. Protecting your cabinet while redirecting your cats’ behavior can work really well with a little patience.
If you try these tips, I am sure your cabinet will stay safe from scratches soon. Good luck!
You can try rosemary or rosemary oil as well. Friend had a problem with cats peeing on the planter on her porch, and this was suggested to her. It worked perfectly. Plus if you buy rosemary you can always use half to make rosemary butter for steaks. It’s win-win
Big thing is, provide your cat alternative scratching areas. Scratching posts, scratch pads, etc. Cats don’t learn by negative reinforcement as well as positive reinforcement, so encouraging them to scratch on the designated posts or pads you provide probably works best.
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How do you encourage a cat? We have plenty of scratching posts around the house, yet they strongly prefer to use our furniture. We haven’t covered it all with double sided sticky tape but nothing else has worked for long. I have put blue masking tape on the top edges of my Stickley walnut dining room chairs that they thought were good for chewing…but the tape looks like crap of course. I’m definitely not in the market for any new furniture for now.
When you catch them scratching the furniture, move them to a scratching post and reward scratching there with treats or play or pets. When your cat choses the scratching posts by themselves, again, praise, pet, give treats, etc. Make sure the scratching options are in places the cats like to be and with you, rather than tucked away out of sight.
I had a little luck with some of the spray deterrents as well.
rubbing catnip flakes all over the scratching posts helps with initial adoption.
or can use catnip sprays.
i got the family rescue cat when we divorced about a year and a half ago. Never really a fan, but he’d got used to me being home all day. Distractions and alternatives have worked ok, although i still wouldn’t get any furniture that i would be massively upset if the cat scratched. Ikea tops. Can still have nice stuff with a cat - but not too nice