How do I get my cat to stop scratching my dress shoes?
Keep Your Cat From Scratching Your Dress Shoes
If your dress shoes are a constant target for your cat’s scratching, it can be a worrisome and expensive problem. There are some steps you can take to convince your cat to leave your shoes alone.
Keep Shoes Out of Reach
The most important step is to keep your shoes in an area your cat can’t access or can’t see. If they are out of sight, they probably won’t become a target. Don’t leave your shoes lying around especially if they are on the floor. Consider:
- Keeping shoes in closets with the door closed
- Placing shoes in a different room, such as a closet
- Placing shoes in the hallway rather than a bedroom
Cover the Shoes
If your cat still finds its way to the shoe, you can put something on top of it that your cat will dislike. Think about using something with a strong smell, such as a citrus-scented repellent spray or cayenne pepper. Consider other options such as:
- Double-sided sticky tape
- Plastic sheeting
- Aluminum foil
Provide an Alternative
It is important to provide your cat with an alternative to scratching. If your cat has a scratching post or something similar, it will have a safe place to scratch and no longer be tempted by your shoes.
In addition to providing a scratching post, you can give your cat other items they can scratch such as cardboard scratchers or even just a cardboard box filled with catnip.
Reward Good Behavior
If your cat scratches something other than your dress shoes, reward them for it. You can use treats or toys to entice your cat to use the scratching post instead of your shoes.
Make it Unattractive
If you catch your cat scratching your shoes, make an unpleasant sound to make them stop. You can also squirt your cat with water or spray them with the citrus-scented repellent mentioned earlier. This can help to make the shoe a less attractive target.
By making the shoe unattractive, keeping them out of sight, providing an alternative, and rewarding good behavior, you should be able to get your cat to leave your dress shoes alone.
