Changing the cat’s location every time is not gonna help you because they will find another location. You need to look for something strong and feasible solution. But where you gonna get that? Obviously, from this article only! Here are some of the working tips that I suggest to every cat parent.
Why Do Cats Scratch Doors?
Scratching is the natural instinct of the cats, so you want them to be doing it for the benefit of their health. If you give them a bit of a manicure, they won’t have to scratch the couch aggressively to get out the old claw sheet.
A few more points lead to a cat scratching the door:
1. Marking Territory
Cats are territorial, so when it comes to marking their territory as their own, they have a scent gland in their paws, and so when they’re scratching on things, they make sure all the cats around them know this is their spot.
2. Sharpening Claws
Cats need to sharpen their claws from time to time. Scratching will remove the dead claws husk, this keeps their claws healthy.
3. Seeking Attention
Cats are highly attention seekers by nature. They always seek attention from their owner, ignoring might help you. Scratching is a way to get a response from you, especially if they want food or access to a room.
4. Relieving Stress or Boredom
Cats get bored and they are nocturnal at night. They become highly active and they are owner of their own. So they start scratching the couch, door frame, etc.
How to Stop a Cat from Scratching the Door
1. Get a scratching Cat Post
Invest in a good scratching post and make sure it’s the height of your cat and sturdy so they can get a good scratch and stretch in. You can also place the scratcher near the places where they scratch to distract your cat.
2. Trim Cat’s Claws
Trimming cat’s claws regularly. The other reason cats scratch is to remove the dull outer layer of their claws. If they are squeamish, take them to the vet.
3. Scratch Deterrent Pheromone Product
The reason I’m recommending this rather than Bitter Yuck is because it works flawlessly. In fact, vet clinics all over the world use this. Sensing this pheromone makes your kitty calm, relaxed, and stress-free.
It helps in marking their territory and stops them from scratching.
You can use Feliway whatever but it’s a diffuser. It is completely odorless and humans can’t sense it. You have another option catnip (some sort of herb), it works the same as Feliway. Cats only need to sniff it as it is not edible.
Pheromone products are available in three forms: Spray, diffuser & herb.
4. Anti Cat Scratching Tape
It is best for protecting upholstery or furniture. The reason why it works so well is because it has a sticky surface. It doesn’t feel very good under your cat’s paws. It’s not harmful, not going to scare your cat, and not going to hurt your cat, but it is going to make the surface unappealing to them. So, when you put this over your sofa or even on your carpet your cat’s going to come into the contact with it and then instantly it’s just no longer of interest to them.
There are some drawbacks that you can not use it with any kind of leather or rexine material, it will just rip off the outer layer. Another problem is attracting dust, as it’s so sticky. With time, you need to change it looks so dirty.
If you want to avoid that issue of the tape getting kind of dirty, I would recommend going with single-sided scratch deterrent tape. This will have a smooth exterior plastic surface which as I mentioned earlier is also going to deter your cat from scratching.
5. Cat Claw Caps
You can wear your kitty claw caps at night. This is what I prefer. Don’t forget to trim their nails before making them wear. Using claw caps is a far better option than declawing.
6. Ssscat Automatic Spray
It’s basically a motion activated can of compressed air and it quite startling so when your cat goes in front of this can it’s going to shoot out a blast of this compressed air and it will startle your cat and they will eventually become conditioned to kind of not go into that place and so this can deter your cat from using that area and it can encourage your cat to seek out a new place to scratch.
This isn’t my preferred method for deterring and redirecting this behaviour. This will make your cat’s life more unstable and this method is expensive too.
7. Scratch Mat
I want to recommend a scratch mat, you can place the mat where your cat is scratching. In this, you’re not changing the cat’s place. You’re covering it up and letting your cats do whatever they want to do.
It works best on the floor, is inexpensive, easily available and last longer than other options. This product has a great success ratio, which I found in the reviews plus my kitty’s personal experience.
8. Interactive Toys
Give them interactive, engaging toys before you sleep or place them where they scratch. This will make them busy for hours and When they are done with playing, they will go to sleep. If they scratch because they want to play, this does work otherwise you need to look for other solutions.
9. No Chewy Spray
Spray this on those spots where your cat scratches. When your cat is going to scratch, he/she gonna taste something bitter and leave that place automatically. It’s totally safe, no harmful chemicals. You can find it by the name of bitter yuck.
Some DIYs
Here are some tried and tested inexpensive DIYs you can try before exploring market-ready stuff.
1. Thumbtacks
It’s a great DIY idea that I got from Reddit and works amazingly on the door. Now, your door has been damaged. Before the condition becomes worse, put thumbtacks on the door so, whenever your cat tries to scratch, she won’t be able to do so.
2. Tin Foil/Aluminium Foil
There is a problem with thumbtacks that you cannot put them everywhere in case you can. It can destroy your furniture by making small holes, so its alternative is aluminium foil or tin foil, whatever you have. You can cover all places or spots with foil the only con is it will look ugly. This DIY technique is more successful and easily available in every household.
3. Put Jingle Bells
You use collar jingle bells to put on your cat’s neck. It will make them confused, and they are always busy figuring out. If your cat is less intelligent, it will take nearly round 2 weeks to understand, even if you can put these bells on the door knob.
4. Spray Unpleasant Smell
Cats don’t like the smell of rosemary, thyme and lavender oil, especially if it’s coming from their paws. You can infuse thyme in water and spray it on the furniture or where your cat scratches a lot.
5. Loud Noise
Take a jar full of coins and shake in front of the cat whenever they try to scratch. This will make the kitty go away and she will understand that every time I do this, my owner will make loud a noise so, I shouldn’t do it but sometimes this goes the opposite. Initially, cats will go away but later, they can become violent or not get affected.
6. Fix Cat Routine
This tip is a little bit hard to perform, but it’s also the most ignored tip. You need to fix the cat schedule.
- 3 time meals a day. Gap should be 6-8 hours between every meal.
- Put dry food and water out always because if they feel hungry they can have their snacks. But everyday put less and less food.
- Play atleast 1 hour before going to bed and 1 hour middle of the day.
You just need to make their energy balanced.
Last but not least….
After trying all the possible ways and your kitty still scratches, banging & meows at night then it’s recommended to take your kitty to the vet. A vet can resolve this issue by prescribing medications. This should be your last step and it happens rarely that cat wouldn’t stop doing it after applying all these methods.
Some Inhumane Tips (Not Recommended At All)
These are some inhumane tips that I don’t recommend but are available in the market and people use them. I won’t explain it. You can simply do a Google search.
- Electric mat
- Spiked mat
- Declawing
- Shock collar
People should understand the difference between unpleasant and painful. You should not give them pain, just to stop them from scratching.
FAQs
Q1: Can I use declawing to stop my cat from scratching?
Ans. No, declawing is a painful and unnecessary procedure that is banned in many countries. It can lead to long-term health and behavioural problems.
Q2: How do I know if my cat is scratching due to anxiety?
Ans. Look for other signs of stress, such as excessive vocalization, hiding, or litter box issues. Scratching paired with these behaviours often points to anxiety.
Q3: Do all cats scratch doors?
Ans. Not all cats scratch doors, but most will scratch something. It depends on their personality, environment, and level of stimulation.
Q4: How long does it take to train a cat to stop scratching the door?
Ans. With consistent effort and the right approach, most cats respond to redirection and positive reinforcement within 2–4 weeks.
Q5: Can scratching damage my door permanently?
Ans. Yes, over time, repeated scratching can strip paint, gouge wood, or weaken the door structure. Acting quickly is key to minimizing damage.
My Final Words
Let the cat make their decision on their own, it’s a lot friendlier to the cat. I have never tried ignoring them because I couldn’t resist myself to go to the kitty until she is not calm but ignoring them will work for a few days then cats become use to it and continue their business.
All these tips are working. Rest it depends on your cat, how they react to it in the longer-term. Do they understand or ignore them?
That’s about it, I hope you found this article helpful. Please go ahead and leave your tips for getting cats to stop doing that unwanted scratching in the comments.
See you in the next article!