How to wean a cat from scratching a wallpaper?

All cats love to scratch furniture or walls - this is a physiological feature that cannot be eradicated, you can only redirect the efforts of the pet in a safe direction. Before weaning a cat to tear a wallpaper with a professional or home-made claw-claw, you need to consider that the approach does not guarantee a quick and desired result.

You will have to try a lot to instill the animal's love for a new subject. This is best done at the stage of raising a kitten. An adult cat, having chosen a particular place, just will not give up its positions, continuing to regularly tear the marked corner.

Reasons cats fight or ignore wallpaper

The ideal solution to the problem can only be found after the cause of its occurrence has been established. In the vast majority of cases, the habit is based on the need to assert oneself or renew nails. Some owners claim that their cat does not allow itself to spoil wallpaper and furniture even in the absence of a claw point, simply because it is well-mannered. There is no such thing in animal life, such passive behavior can be either a good or a negative sign:

1. Psychological reasons. The pet does not pull the wallpaper because it does not feel comfortable. A cat is obliged to mark its territory and most often it does this precisely by rubbing the walls with enzymes that are secreted by the sweat glands on the paw pads. If a kitten is oppressed from childhood, he will not do this.
2. Physiological reasons. The animal simply does not need to update its claws. Most often this happens in case of increased activity of the pet or careful care of the cat's paws on the part of the owners.

In the first case, you will have to do everything possible to make the beast feel comfortable. Without regular sharpening of the claws, he may have health problems. In the second, you just need to support the needs of the animal. From childhood, you can even teach a kitten to such a behavior, provoking him to active games, walking him on a leash. Then he will scratch the bark of trees and toys, leaving the walls and furniture alone.

Approaches to help shift your pet's attention

To get a quick positive result, you need to act simultaneously in two directions. It is necessary not only to draw the cat's attention to an object that he can tear, but also to reduce his interest in the part of the wall that he is used to scratching.

In the first case, you can do the following:

• Initially, we place the claw-tip in the places chosen by the animals, attaching it securely so that the cat has no other alternative.
• We regularly draw the attention of a pet to a new toy, moving it with its paws on a rough surface.
• If the cat does not highlight a specific angle and prefers to tear all the protrusions and even flat surfaces, you will have to acquire a whole arsenal of devices or design them yourself. For this, elements from old unnecessary furniture, boards wrapped with rope, plates pasted with the same wallpaper may come up. After the animal determines its favorite toy, everything else can be thrown away.

Tip: It’s best to give your pet several surface options so that he can determine what he likes to scratch the most. Sometimes providing a more interesting alternative is the only way to save an expensive wallpaper or leather sofa.

• Shop claws are often saturated with substances that attract the attention of cats. When using homemade items, you can make the same bait with valerian or catnip.

To distract the attention of the pet from the product that he constantly vomits, use proven methods:

• If the area allows, it is worth making a rearrangement, covering with massive furniture those areas that the animal constantly tears. In just a few weeks, the cat will forget about his favorite place and everything can be returned to his place.
• If rearrangement is not possible, adhesive tape, netting, foil or film may be used. We paste over the place that the animal regularly fights and just wait. These materials cause discomfort in cats, forcing them to refuse to sharpen claws in a particular area.
• A good result is given by repelling odors. Flavors are best made from products with the scent of citrus, they are pleasant to humans and poorly tolerated by cats.
• In addition to home-made products, you can consider the possibility of acquiring a deterrent system. It consists of a gas spray and a motion sensor. In response to the approach of the animal, a harmless gas is supplied, which does not allow tearing wallpaper without interference.

In the most extreme case, you will have to resort to the option with manicure. The cat will have to be regularly taken to a specialized salon, where silicone tips on its claws will be glued to it. Manipulation is harmless and painless, does not cause discomfort to the animal in the process of manipulation and in life.

Options to restore a favorite place

After the desired result is achieved, it is necessary to consolidate your success in order to restore damaged areas and prevent a new attack from the cat. This can be done in one of the following ways:

• It is best to decorate damaged corners with artificial or natural stone. If you choose the right material, it will be possible to realize the original decorating solution, which will only decorate the apartment. The animal will not be able to tear a similar surface. Even if he tries, there will be no trace left on the wall.
• In extreme cases, you have to paste over the site with new wallpaper. This should be done not only for decoration purposes. The old ones still left traces of cat's secret from sweat glands. It is likely that someday the cat will want to update the old place that she marked.
• A good effect is given by wooden corners, varnished or carefully sanded. True, there is no guarantee that the cat will not like such an innovation and will not divert attention from the claw point.

Despite the fact that surgical methods for solving the problem are practiced today, resorting to them is highly not recommended, even if the cat persistently tears up expensive wallpapers, ignoring all protection methods. By cutting the tendons of the animal or removing the nail elements, you can only turn a healthy pet into a lethargic and depressed person. Which, besides, trying to supplant its discontent with deteriorating physical condition, can begin to gnaw at furniture, shoes, decor elements and even rush at home.

We recommend reading the article: how to wean a cat to tear furniture