How to Train Your Kitten to Use a Scratching Pole

Scratching is an instinctive behavior in cats. They scratch to mark their territory and to help them shed their claws. Your kitten will arrive knowing how to scratch. However, if you don't want your kitten to choose her own scratching surface which will undoubtedly be the most expensive piece of furniture you own, followed closely by your most expensive piece of clothing then you need to train her from the beginning to use the scratching pole or post youve purchased for her.

Before you buy a scratching pole, spend a few minutes thinking about what your cat wants and needs in a scratching pole. The pole has to be tall enough that she can extend to her full length. This may not be much for a kitten, but consider how large your cat will be when fully grown. The pole has to be absolutely secure so that she can scratch at it to her heart's content, without it shaking or toppling over. If it falls so much as once, shell abandon it all together. In addition, the surface needs to be textured and shred-able. Posts covered with sisal twine are a good choice, as are corrugated cardboard and the underside of carpet.

Once youve chosen an appropriate scratching pole, your next consideration is location. Surprisingly, you may find that having more than one scratching pole encourages your cat to use the poles preferentially and saves your furniture. Try keeping a pole near your cat's bed and near her favorite scratching locations. You want a scratching pole where you spend the majority of your time, as your cat wants to mark her territory near you.

Make the scratching pole as attractive to your kitten as possible. Attach toys to it, or try sprinkling it with some dried catnip. Place one of her favorite treats on the top of the pole or reward her with a treat when you catch her playing with the pole. Some cats knead when theyre being petted if your kitten or cat does this, try petting her near the scratching post, which will help develop positive associations between the scratching post and emotions of happiness and affection.

While youre making the scratching pole as enticing as possible, do all you can to make the other scratching sites as unappealing as possible. For example, remove her scent by using a pet odor remover. Also, make the surface unpleasant to scratch by covering it with a soft blanket, aluminum foil, an acrylic shield or double-sided tape. You can also try squirting your kitten with a water bottle from behind when you catch her scratching where she shouldnt be. And because cats dont like citrus odors, try using a citrus spray or potpourri near her former scratching places.

If youre starting with a kitten, you have the advantage in that she may not have already developed bad scratching habits. Follow the advice about making the scratching pole enticing and you may never even need to use the advice about making another scratching area unappealing.