How do I get my cat to stop scratching my loafers?

How do I get my Cat to Stop Scratching my Loafers?

No matter how much you love your cat, it can be highly frustrating when they start to scratch your favourite possessions, particularly if it’s your attractive pair of loafers. Thankfully, there are ways to stop this behaviour and train your cat to avoid scratching inappropriate items.

Identify the Root Cause of the Scratching

It is important to consider why your cat likes to scratch your loafers in the first place. More often than not, cats like to scratch to mark their territory, as well as to remove old layers of nail material and exercise their claws. Make sure you understand the root cause of their behaviour before taking steps to prevent it.

Provide an Appropriate Scratching Post

By providing your cat with its own scratching post, you are giving them a designated place in which to scratch. Once the post is ready, reward your cat for using it by petting and praising them. You can also rub catnip on the post to make it even more appealing!

Use Deterrents

Sometimes it is necessary to deter your cat from engaging in inappropriate behaviour. Ultimately, this will depend on what works best for your cat. Some deterrents include:

• Food-Based Solutions – Cats generally don’t like citrus or bitter-tasting flavours, so adding a teaspoon of lemon juice onto your loafers may persuade them to avoid the area.
• Alarm-Based Solutions – Scat mats and noise makers produce a loud and irritating sound every time they are touched, which can be an effective method of training.
• Software-Based Solutions – There are now products available that can be connected to your phone and sync with an app, providing you with the power to remotely activate an alarm when it detects scratching.

Patience & Consistency

Just like any animal, it takes time to train your cat and persistence is key. Do not give up as it may take a few attempts before success is achieved!

By following these steps, you should find that your cat no longer scratches your loafers, giving you one less thing to worry about!