| Cat Scratching |
|
Dear Deborah: My husband and I have a bet about whether your great
advice could help our not-so-great cat, a five year old Siamese named
Minou who scratches to come in the front door. We only open the door when she meows and never open it when she scratches because we know we shouldn't reward the behavior we hate. We've sprayed her with water and with vinegar and that didn't work. Any suggestions? Scratch Fever |
| Dear : Siamese cats are believed (by their owners) to be the smartest cats. I have had a lot of experience with Siamese cats because they often torment their owners with annoying habits. You are right to avoid rewarding the behavior you dislike. Unfortunately, redirecting a smart cat to meow, only after he has scratched, continues to reinforce his belief that the scratching is what gets your attention. In fact, he's probably right. A meow alone, even a Siamese meow, will not be loud enough to get your attention as quickly as your cat's tried and true scratch. Create a pet doorbell. Redesign your doorway to provide Minou with an attention-getter you like. (Dog lovers, this will work for you, too.) Try hanging a string of bells on a hook next to the door. When she scratches, ignore her for 15 minutes. Then go outside and shut the door behind you. When she comes, shake the bells and try to involve her. The minute she plays with them, open the door. Repeat this over and over until you replace the bad habit of scratching with the cute trick of ringing the doorbell. Also, try to figure out what type of textures your cat avoids. Most cats will not scratch on slippery, smooth surfaces. Affix a piece of Plexiglas (temporarily) to the area where Minou likes to scratch so that her favorite scratching surface becomes a surface she won't want to touch. And also set up a good scratch post because all cats like to stretch and scratch. |
| For more tips, get Deborah's
book, Good Dog! from your local book store. Deborah also writes for the Family Dog Magazine. Available at Save-On Foods, London Drugs, and in Free boxes everywhere. Send your pet questions to: Fax 604- 732-2088 |