How to Stop Cat Scratching: Tips for Door Scratching

If you’ve ever had a cat that scratches at the door, you know how frustrating it can be. Stopping a cat from scratching the door can be a multi-faceted process that involves making changes to your cat’s environment, training, and possibly using deterrents or other management techniques to discourage the behavior.

This article will cover information from animal behaviorists and other cat experts about why cats scratch at doors and what you can do to stop the behavior. By looking at both environmental and behavior-based solutions, you’ll learn everything you need to know to stop door scratching for good.

Offer Suitable Scratching Surfaces and Training

Offering suitable scratching surfaces and training your cat to use them can help redirect their natural scratching behavior away from doors and other household surfaces. Cats scratch for a variety of reasons, including removing old nail husks, marking territory, and stretching their muscles, so it's important to offer alternatives that meet these needs.

The best scratching post is tall, at least 31 inches high, sturdy, and covered in sisal fabric or another rough material that allows cats to dig in. Woven sisal is the best choice because it shreds easily and won't become sharp over time. Sisal rope can interrupt the scratching motion, so it's best to avoid it. Angled or horizontal cardboard scratchers can also be good secondary options.

Place the main scratching post near the areas where your cat is already scratching, such as doors or windows, to help redirect them when the urge to scratch strikes. Having a variety of posts and scratchers in different rooms can also help keep things fresh.

Use positive reinforcement by giving treats or praise when your cat uses the new scratcher. You can also try sprinkling catnip on the post at first to attract them to it. However, never punish your cat for scratching inappropriately, as this can lead to stress and avoidance. Instead, calmly redirect them to the scratching post each time you catch them scratching elsewhere.

In time, with patience and consistency, your cat will learn that the new scratching posts are an acceptable way to express their natural instincts. As one pet parent reported, after providing a tall sisal post, their cat's destructive scratching was reduced significantly through redirection. Dealing with this issue head-on can help keep the peace in your home.

DIY and Budget-Friendly Options

Making a DIY cat scratching post is a great way to save money while giving your cat a long-lasting, personalized scratching option. According to Daily Paws, you can make a sturdy post with materials like plywood, wood posts, and sisal rope.

To make the post, cut a 2'x2' plywood base and attach a 32-inch tall 2x4 post to the center. Then, wrap the post with 50 feet of sisal rope, securing it with wood glue and nails. Finally, cover the base with a carpet square that matches your decor. This basic post can be easily customized to fit your home's style and your cat's needs.

Meanwhile, Dream a Little Bigger explains that a DIY scratching post is a budget-friendly, long-lasting option that can be made in several different sizes to accommodate different spaces in your home. However, it's important to use safe, non-toxic materials and make sure the post is properly secured to avoid tipping and injury, as noted by Purina.

Deterrents and How to Stop Door Scratching

RexiPets explains that deterrents like double-sided tape or essential oil sprays can be used to make the door less appealing to your cat. These deterrents work by making the door an unpleasant place to scratch due to the texture or smell. The Humane Society of the United States also suggests that you place alternative scratching surfaces, such as a sturdy scratching post or cardboard scratcher, near the door to help redirect your cat.

That said, it's important to stay away from punishment, which can either reinforce the behavior or stress your cat out. Instead, use positive reinforcement by giving your cat treats when they use the scratching posts. As Pawtle Australia notes, environmental enrichment, such as increased playtime, puzzle feeders, or more cat furniture, can also help reduce the boredom and stress that leads to door scratching.

The Humane Society also notes that keeping your cat's nails trimmed can help minimize the damage if they do scratch at the door. By using a combination of deterrents, positive reinforcement, and environmental enrichment, you can help stop door scratching while still meeting your cat's needs.

How to Protect Your Doors From Cat Scratches

Protecting your doors from cat scratches is important, especially when you can't be there to monitor your cat. There are a number of options for protecting your doors, including door shields, vinyl coverings, and scratch-resistant films.

Panther Armor claims that their transparent door and window protectors offer the best coverage and are made for permanent application, providing the most effective protection against pet scratching. The Cardinal Gates Door Shield is another option that can help protect your doors from cat scratches.

These door protectors come in different levels of ease of use, durability, and transparency. Some, like the Protecto Pet Scratch Protector, even come with a custom-cut knife that allows you to cut the flexible vinyl sheets to the exact size of your doors.

To get the best results, you'll want to use these in combination with deterrents like double-sided tape or essential oil sprays. It's also important to regularly maintain and replace these products to ensure that they continue to protect your doors from scratches.

What to Do When You're Not Home

When you're not home, it's important to make sure that you're doing everything you can to stop door scratching so that the behavior doesn't continue. According to RexiPets, one way to do this is to keep your cat in a room or area that has scratching posts and other enrichments that can help keep them occupied.

You can also use deterrents like double-sided tape or door protectors to make the door less appealing to scratch, as recommended by Pawtle Australia. In addition, make sure to provide your cat with interactive toys, puzzle feeders, or food-dispensing toys that can help keep them busy.

The Humane Society of the United States notes that it's also important to make sure that your cat has gotten enough exercise, play, and attention before you leave. This can help make sure that they don't get bored or start to exhibit attention-seeking behaviors like scratching the door. By making sure that you've met your cat's needs before you leave, you can help make sure that they don't damage your home while you're gone.

Conclusion: How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching the Door

While scratching is a normal and necessary part of a cat's life, it can be a nuisance when it comes to your doors. Cats scratch to remove dead nail husks, mark their territory, and stretch, but if they're scratching your doors, it can lead to a lot of frustration for you as a pet owner.

Stopping door scratching will require a multifaceted approach. First and foremost, you'll need to make sure that your cat has appropriate scratching surfaces. This means investing in tall, sturdy posts that are covered in sisal or another rough material. You'll also want to place these posts near the doors your cat is scratching to help redirect their behavior. Positive reinforcement training, in which you reward your cat for scratching the approved posts, can also be helpful.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, you can build your own scratching post using materials like plywood, wood posts, and sisal rope. This will allow you to create a post that's tailored to your cat's needs while protecting your doors.

In addition to providing scratching posts, you can also use deterrents like double-sided tape or essential oil sprays to make the door surfaces less appealing for scratching. Increasing environmental enrichment, such as playtime, puzzle feeders, and cat trees, can also help reduce boredom and stress that may be contributing to the behavior.

If you're going to be out of the house for an extended period of time, you can also try confining your cat to a specific area that has scratching posts and other stimulating toys to help prevent door scratching. Finally, you can also protect your doors with shields, vinyl coverings, or scratch-resistant films to help minimize damage.

If the scratching persists or your cat exhibits signs of stress, it's best to consult a veterinarian or animal behaviorist for further guidance.