Train cat to use scratching posts

Dear Cathy: I have a cat that is clawing the woodwork all over the house. He had even dug out the wood and I had to use filler to fix it.

I’m always sanding, repainting and staining. I have used the spray from pet stores and the doublesided tape. How do we stop this?

I never catch him in the act, so I can’t stop him.

Is he missing something in his diet? — Joan, Canton, Connecticut

Dear Joan: Your cat is normal. All cats must scratch their nails to keep them healthy. If your cat is kept inside, he needs a few cat trees of varying sizes and textures, like carpet, sisal or cork, to scratch instead.

Because your cat has established his scratching preferences, you’re going to have to train him to use the new posts. When you do witness him scratching the wood, use a can of coins or a Pet Corrector that makes a hissing sound to interrupt the behavior.

Next, spray the places you don’t want your cat to scratch with Bitter Apple. Also, use double-sided tape or put aluminum foil over those same areas. Cats hate these textures and will usually try to avoid them once they know they are there.

I know some of these strategies haven’t worked for you yet, but this is to be used in combination with attracting him to the places where you want him to scratch.

To attract your cat to the new cat trees, spray them with pheromones and leave treats at the bottom of the tree for the cat to discover. Your cat will likely be drawn to the tree where he may eat the treat and stretch his claws.

If you see him do this, reward him with another treat or praise. You might even try rubbing a little catnip onto the cat trees to further pull him in the right direction.

It can take time to train a cat to scratch on a different surface, so be patient.