How do I get my cat to stop scratching my sneakers?
How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching Your Sneakers
Cats are naturally clawing animals, so it’s not surprising that they love to scratch and claw at shoes, especially sneakers. Unfortunately, this can be a nuisance for cat owners who don’t want their beloved footwear to get ruined.
Fortunately, there are a few simple things you can do to protect your sneaks from your cats’ claws.
Train Your Cat
Train your cat to scratch appropriate items, such as a scratching post or cat tree. Give your cat plenty of positive reinforcement when it scratches in the right spot and redirect it to the scratching post when it tries to scratch your shoes.
Provide Alternative Scratching Surfaces
Encourage your cat to scratch items other than your sneakers by providing them with plenty of alternative sources of scratching. This can include rope toys, boxes, scratching boards, and more. Keeping these alternative scratching surfaces around will help your cat get the same satisfaction it gets from scratching your shoes without ruining them.
Apply Deterrents to Shoes
There are a variety of products you can use to deter your cat from scratching your shoes. These can include sprays and gels that smell bad to cats (e.g., citrus or menthol scents), sticky substances (e.g., double-sided tape or aluminum foil).
Clip your Cat’s Nails
Regularly clipping your cat’s nails will help reduce the damage it can do to your shoes. You can do this yourself using some cat nail clippers or bring your cat to the vet for a professional trim.
Relocate Your Shoes
Relocate your shoes to an out of the way place where your cats can’t reach them. You could try storing them under the bed or in a closet so your cats won’t be tempted to scratch them.
Patience and Consistency
Remember that it takes time, patience, and consistency to train your cats not to scratch your shoes. Be consistent in rewarding your cat for scratching appropriate items and diverting its attention away from your sneakers. With enough work, your cat will learn to scratch the right items and leave your shoes alone.
Remember, the above tips can help protect your sneakers and keep your cat’s claws happy at the same time!
