Cats are wonderful pets that bring great joy to the owner's home. These curious creatures love playing, hunting, and socializing with their kindred and humans.
But occasionally, a cat can exhibit scratching behavior that, if normal to them, is unpleasant to their human family. A similar habit occurs when the family sleeps, and scratching sounds start behind the closed bedroom door. Indoor cats which remain strictly indoors may display such destructive behavior and may need adjustment if there is no harmony within the household.
Below we will review why your cat scratches your door, the eight fastest means to stop your cat's behavior, and some tips to help train your cat to stop scratching at the door.
Why Do Cats Scratch Closed Doors?
The reason behind your kitty scratching a door is unique to each cat, so you should take note of the behaviors to understand what your feline friend is trying to communicate about its feelings.
Let's take a look at common cat behaviors:
Cats Sharpen Their Claws
The main reason for cat scratches is physical; a sharper claw and a thinner nail are necessary for the growth process of your kitty. Cats often scratch and express emotions such as excitement, pleasure, or stress. Keeping track of such behavior is crucial to understanding cat emotions correctly.
You can verify this piece of information in Scratching 101: Understanding Why Cats Need to Scratch by Cat Healthy.
You can also find out the best white cat breeds in 26 Of The Best White Cat Breeds by Ulti Best Products.
Cats Are Territorial In Nature
Suppose you allow your cat to roam freely about the house with access to every room. But, it suddenly encounters a closed door one day. Your feline pet will become frustrated as it can't access its playing area.
Cats are essentially territory-oriented animals. They often rub on furniture to leave stale smells, and scratches achieve this effect. You can read up on the territorial nature of cats in "Why Is My Cat Territorial?" by Cat Friendly Homes.
It would be best if you didn't shut the door to your home and the room because this will create a problem for your pet. Cats who scratch at the door are trying to access rooms belonging to them.
Cat Boredom
When your cats are most awake at dawn, you can often find them hopping around your house while you are asleep. All feline friends are known to be curious, active creatures. It's easy to scratch at doors to grab your attention.
You can also read up on why cats snore a lot in the Ultiblog article Reasons for Cat Snoring and What You Can Do About It.
Some Cats Display Separation Anxiety
Your cat sometimes wants to follow you everywhere - even behind a closed door. Without a pet owner, the cat will often have destructive behavior, such as scratching at spots they shouldn't scratch. You can learn about separation anxiety in cats in Can Cats Have Separation Anxiety? by PetMD.
Overall, cats prefer scratching as it's normal and cognitive behavior. However, you may find the scratching irritating since you're trying to get a good night's sleep.
Why Does My Cat Constantly Scratch At My Door?
Sometimes, cats scratch the door to feel the texture of the door. Scratching removes the outer shell of the cats' nails, and it helps them mark objects with scent glands on their paws. You can confirm this assertion in Scratching on furniture and carpets by International Cat Care.
You can change your cat's focus by using simple alternatives like cat trees, scratching posts, or cat toys.
How Do I Stop My Feline Pet Cat From Scratching The Door At Night?
There are simple steps you could follow to stop your cat from scratching the door frame. Precisely, you can follow the tips below:
Make The Door Less Attractive
You can cover your front door with adhesive or aluminium foil to prevent cat scratching. You could also use cardboard boxes or bubble-wrap sheets. This method might not stop them completely. Alternatively, putting something near the entrance of your bedroom, such as a tray of rocks, will block the cat's entry.
Place Scratching Post or Cat Tree
How can scratcher posts be helpful? Simple, it will keep your cat busy, and it won't think about the door. [prove your statement]It would help if you made it accessible by using multiple posts, whether horizontal or vertical, and the length should give the cat the best opportunity to compete.
Make sure you secure the scratching post as much as possible. Cats use this for territory identification, so you shouldn't set the scratching post in the wrong place. If the scratching post does not work, try using a cat tree. Place the cat tree close to the cat's bed to enable it play and sleep without your involvement.
You can also learn how to stop your cat from tracking litter in Ultihow's How To Stop Cats From Tracking Litter: 7 Proven Methods.
Play With Your Cat and Feed It Meals
You can feed your cat in a variety of ways. The benefits are after having a few minutes of play before eating—the more time you spend playing with cats at dinner, the better the benefits.
Playing with a cat is the same as hunting for dinner; your feline will exert its energy at play.
You can read up on how to play with your cat in the Hepper Blog Play With Your Cat the Right Way: 8 Mistakes to Avoid.
Less energy means fewer scratches, meowing, and so on. Wild cats instinctively hunt before eating, which a per cat also replicates. When the cat is hungry, it playfully tracks its prey and must come back to sleep for the rest of the time.
Discover the best treats for your cat in Ultiblog's The Highest Ranking Cat Treats
Distract The Cat With Catnip
Catnips are a common and harmless herb in the mint family. Cats are drawn to volatile oil/sugars plants produce. A whiff of catnip generally catches cats salivating and purring for ten minutes or more.
You can find the best catnip sprays in the Ultiblog Product category Buy The Best Catnip Spray.
Put Sticky Tape On The Door
Scratching becomes uncomfortable for cats by attaching double-sided tape at the door. The cat is unlikely to appreciate the sticky feeling. You can purchase unique products online or use regular double-sided tape as an alternative.
Also, you could consider installing the cat entrance, which will give you peace of mind. The cat can roam as it pleases. Learn how to fix a cat flap in a screen door in the Siyanda blog How to Install a Cat Flap in a Screen Door.
Consider Relaxing Remedies
You can stop your feline from scratching the door by calming it down with relaxing remedies.
- Attract your feline with the new luxurious cat bed you purchased. The calming marshmallow bed is the best choice that some feline owners recommend, as it encourages your kitty to massage their claws into the soft material to de-stress.
- Sprinkle catnip on one room with another.
- Spray cat-repelling essential oil. Cats hate oil odors like citrus, cinnamon, and rosemary.
- Install Veterinary Medicine
Another alternative is installing veterinary medicine diffusers that stop your cat from attacking your bedroom door and other furniture.
Create A Standard Bedroom Routine
We are sure you have no intention of putting your pet on until midnight each morning; instead, it is wise to find out where your pet sleeps to avoid causing separation anxiety. However, many believe cats to be somewhat distant.
Cats become incredibly attached to their owners, and you should always choose whether your pet should stay in your room or sleep in their bed. If the kitten is pulling at the door and you want the cat to have their bed, you can put it outside the room.
How Do You Train A Cat Not To Scratch?
Although normal to its kind, your cat will display particular primitive behavior, which annoys you. You brought about the cat's behavior because you didn't notice its bad behavior in the past.
Another reason your cat may act in such a manner is that cats are animals; even though felines are domestic, they will still act instinctively like every other animal.
Below are hacks for controlling your cat from scratching:
- Increase the number of toys your cat has. Set up the toys like a hunting ground for the cat to attack. The toys can include catnip mice, stuffed animals, and other available fun items.
- Trim down the kitty claws. You can do this by using a guillotine set of clippers for cats. You should only trim the tip of the nail to avoid declawing. A sanction for declawing is active in many countries, including the US. The Humane Society of the United States reveals why it's bad to declaw a cat in Declawing cats: Far worse than a manicure.
- Show your discomfort. You can show your pain when your cat gets too rough. You could voice it out or move away from the cat.
- Your cat will learn that scratching makes you uncomfortable and slowly change its ways,
- Give your cat lots of positive reinforcement. When a human undergoes training, they look for positive reinforcement outside their internal motivation to accomplish their goals. The same applies to cats. You should give your pet cat lots of praise and treats when it does the right thing.
- Supply a decent number of scratch posts. As your cat ages, it will need to keep scratching since it's part of its evolution. In addition to being a territorial gesture, scratching removes the old sheath from the nail. Without the scratching post, your cat will start scratching at the door.
- Teach your feline commands. Once your cat can trust you, teach it commands like sit, come, lie down, stay, and so on. Your cat will see that you are the one in control and not the other way around. You can learn how to train your cat in the article 7 Essential Cat Training Tricks Your Kitty Can Really Learn by Daily Paws.
Conclusion
Remember that your cat scratching at your bedroom door means it needs attention. Interpreting your cat's behavior will help you see its needs and how you can resolve them.
Applying negative reinforcement will not stop your cat from scratching at the door. Instead, it will further damage your pet-owner relationship, making it rebellious.
Using the simple tips above will demand tolerance and steadiness, consequently improving the house's happiness for everyone.
FAQ
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0="h2" question-0="Do Cats Hate Aluminium Foil?" answer-0="Foil has unique properties that make cats lose their heads upon first contact. Foil creates a high-pitched crinkling sound when you move, bend or step on it. Since cats are sensitive sounds, cats hate aluminium foil." image-0="" headline-1="h2" question-1="Is It Cruel To Use A Spray Bottle On A Cat?" answer-1="No, spraying your cat is not cruel. Your kitten won't associate its lousy behavior with you spraying it with a spray bottle. The cat will likely run away at the feint of you carrying the squirt bottle of doom towards her. But, your cat will understand that your action is the cause of its behavior. The downside to using sprays excessively involves your cat taking to its heels every time it comes in close quarters with a bottle gun." image-1="" headline-2="h2" question-2="Does Trimming A Cat's Nails Help With Scratching?" answer-2="A cat lets its nails remain retracted to keep them sharp until needed. Still, the nails become too long after some time and won't retract completely. Thus, it would be best if you trimmed the sharp curvy tips of your cat's claws on all fours twice a month. Trimming a cat's nails will reduce scratching at the door and scratching furniture, carpets, and fabrics." image-2="" count="3" html="true" css_class=""]
