How do I get my cat to stop scratching my clothes drawers?

How to Get Your Cat to Stop Scratching Your Clothes Drawers

Cats are notorious for scratching things around the house and when they start to target your clothes drawers, it can be a huge nuisance. To get your cat to stop scratching on your clothing drawers, there are a few strategies you can try.

Negative Reinforcement

When your cat approaches your clothing drawers and starts to scratch, try to interrupt them by clapping and making loud noises. Your cat should quickly back away and, over time, may come to associate the sound with the undesired behavior of scratching on your drawers.

Positive Reinforcement

Instead of trying to deter your cat from your clothes drawers, you can also encourage them to go somewhere else instead. Get some cat-friendly scratching materials such as a scratching post and place it near the drawers. Try to engage your cat with the scratching post by using a laser pointer or toy and reward them with treats when they use the scratching post.

Redirecting Activity

Cats often like to scratch on clothing drawers because it provides them with physical and mental stimulation. To provide them with this in another way, try to find some interactive toys they can play with. Puzzles and feather toys are great options and will help to keep your cat’s mind occupied and away from your clothing drawers.

Cat-Proof Your Drawers

If all else fails, you can try to temporarily cat-proof your drawers. Things like double-sided tape, foils, and odorous products may make your drawers unpleasant for your cat and they should be less likely to approach them. You can also install a physical barrier or gate to separate the drawers from the cat.

Conclusion

Stopping your cat from scratching your clothing drawers can take time and patience, but it can be done if you employ a few of these strategies. Negative reinforcement, positive reinforcement, redirecting activity, and cat-proofing can all be used to help keep your cat away from your drawers.