Cat scratching doors

[Littlefinger]

This isn't really a sexual question, but I've been asking several other forums I frequent and decided to place it here as well.

I got a cat about 9 months ago and it was hard at first adapting to her in our household. But we've generally gotten through all the big bumps and now everything is fine. Except this one thing: she scratches at doors.

There are two rooms in the back section of the house that we always keep the doors shut. The one room is a guest room where I keep old artwork and boxes of junk. The other is the bedroom. For probably the first week or so when we had her, we let her into the bedroom, but that changed when she refused to let me sleep and kept getting into stuff. So, after the first month, we kept the bedroom door closed constantly as well.

She is NEVER let into either of the back rooms under any circumstances and we've done pretty well with keeping her out of them by accident. And yet, now, 9 months living with us, at least 3-7 times a day, she will wander into the back hallway and scratch at the bedroom or guest room doors.

I keep a spray bottle filled with watered down vinegar and spray at her every time she does it - vinegar so that when she licks herself, she associates the bad taste with the behavior; it was advice I got from somewhere else. It has gotten to the point where, when I hear her doing it, all I need to do is get up and she comes slinking back in here looking guiltily up at me like she knows she's done something wrong.

It's getting to be ridiculous and I really want her to cut it out but I have no idea what more I could possibly do to deter the behavior. Any suggestions and advice would be extremely helpful, especially since she tends to do it at night as well, when I'm too tired to get up and spray her cute, yet stupid, little ass.

--Mordeth

 

[Quoll]

You could try rubbing some Vicks or similar mentholated product on the doors where she scratches. Most cats detest the smell ( I would do a test first, some are the complete opposite and go nuts over it).

 

[Epmd607]

Yeah, cats aren't very good at changing behaviors based on penalties. You let her in, now she thinks that's part of her domain, and cats are always needy so they like your warm company, and for some reason there's a pesky door in the way. We have two cats, one is about the age of your cat and the other is ancient. Both will wait at the closed bedroom door, only the older cat will ram it and scratch at it. I've never seen the spray bottle actually work against a cat, they'll just come back later and keep coming back for whatever reason. If you keep your bedroom door open during the day and let the cat in, at night it might be easier keeping it out. But a better remedy would be to move it to a cat room or a different part of the house at night when it starts knocking at your door. It won't like it, and it might learn its lesson better that way, that it's actually going to be removed from you if it's trying to get thru the door. We put our cats outside at night if they scratch and are noisy, they seem to like it. Unfortunately both will whine at the window of our bedroom if they don't want to be outside anymore and that can be just as irritating. So, if you live in an area that permits it, basically any suburban or country setting, your cat is old enough to be outside. If you introduce it to outside adventures now it probably won't run away.

 

[rosebud_6]

our cat does this too

our cat seems to like pawing the mirrored wardrobe doors at about 4am. someone told me it's because they like the feel of it against their paws, others told me that they're curious as to what's behind there, and another told me it's their way of getting your attention - to do something that they knows annoys you.

try ignoring it maybe? or opening the door and letting it in so it can see what's behind the door and then hope it looses interest?

 

[PertPerth]

I don't close doors for that very reson! Even when I shower (or go to the toilet when no one else is in the house.) If a door is closed, he'll want it open. It's just what cats do!
If you keep the doors open and the room is "borning", you'll find that your cat won't go in there. It's the same with my guest room - he never goes in there...but if the door is closed, he scratches non stop!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rb8aOzy9t4

 

[cryforme1v]

There is actually a spray that you can get from your local pet shop that isnt dangerous to animals or kids. You can spray it on wires / doors / anything you dont want the cat getting into and they will stay away from it. To us it smells like apples, but they cant stand it. Here is the link to all of the "kitty repellents."
I dont know what all your wanting your cat to stay away from besides the doors/door frames.
http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_productlist_Nav_207_N_23+140.aspx?CoreCat=LN_Shopping_CatSupplies_RepellentsandTraining

Hope this helps!

 

[fire_breeze]

My cat does this all the time. She really really wants to get into the linen closet, despite the fact that she owns every other room. I may call out to her, but otherwise, I let her. Yes, it's annoying, but it's honestly not worth my time or effort. She does it less and less, only when she's bored and thinks that she can scratch her way into the world's more boring room. Remember, cats aren't as trainable as dogs are.

Unless she's doing damage to the door, I'd say ignore her. Don't even bother with the vinegar/water bottle because they won't work - maybe move so she knows that behaviour is no-no, but seriously? You don't own the cat - she owns you, and if this is the way that she keeps herself entertained, then so be it.

 

[Adrraiya]

Cats are curious by nature...
so, when something is closed-off it becomes an item or place of greater interest

Spray bottles work for some cats some of the time... I would not have put vinegar in it because if the spray bottle works for that cat, then it would work as straight up water.. I am not faulting the use of vinegar, I am just saying it is non-necessary.

It seems in your cats case, they associate the negative effect with your presence... IF you see them doing it, and you get up, then you might spray them

Now... as it relates to pawing at the door...

Bitter Apple spray on the surface will work for most dogs & some cats...
You can buy it at the pet supply store or you can make your own if you know anyone who has a horseapple tree (osage-orange tree... those round green things that look rumpled like a brain)... wear gloves in case you are sensitive, cut one fruit into chunks & pour enough water to cover & have a couple of additional inches.... bring to hard boil... let simmer for @ 30 minutes.... then allow to cool.... use this in your spray bottle... but not on your cat (DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR CAT), apply it directly to the item you want the animal to leave alone.

Another option is to put a small amount of powdered/crushed red pepper into some water... bring to a boil, allow it to cool & put that in spray bottle (DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR CAT)... and spray the surface that you want the animal to avoid...

another thing that cats hate is sticky stuff on their paws.... you could put up some double-sided sticky tape but be careful about it peeling off the paint.


No matter what method you use.... you still have the cat's natural inclination to be curious & with that, the possibility that none of these methods will work.

 

[cryforme1v]

you can make your own if you know anyone who has a horseapple tree (osage-orange tree... those round green things that look rumpled like a brain)... wear gloves in case you are sensitive, cut one fruit into chunks & pour enough water to cover & have a couple of additional inches.... bring to hard boil... let simmer for @ 30 minutes.... then allow to cool.... use this in your spray bottle... but not on your cat (DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR CAT), apply it directly to the item you want the animal to leave alone.

Another option is to put a small amount of powdered/crushed red pepper into some water... bring to a boil, allow it to cool & put that in spray bottle (DO NOT PUT THIS ON YOUR CAT)... and spray the surface that you want the animal to avoid...

On a side note of these 2 home made remedies - DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE SMALL KIDS!
they can have severe allergic reactions to horseapple or if they touch the red pepper on the wall, it can burn them if they touch their mouths or eyes afterwards.
great ideas tho if you dont have small children.

 

[evercurious]

Oh man, my roomie's cat drives me nuts, and I'm so happy that you all have the same experience. I don't understand what her issue is! You spray her with the bottle, but she just keeps doing it and doing it and doing it!

But she sure is cute though, and the house is a lot better with her around.

 

[warrior queen]

Remember, cats aren't as trainable as dogs are.

every cat i've ever had has been trained to almost the same level as my dogs.
my current cat sits, stays, understands 'no', has a purpose built play-and-scratch area so she doesn't go elsewhere (like furniture), and will not touch her food until we say the 'eat' command.
she also comes in when called, every time.
and, here's the kicker - we've even got her playing fetch with a beany-ball!
cats most definitely can be trained - it just takes a lot more patience and persistance (and an irresistable food reward! like liver).

 

[Adrraiya]

On a side note of these 2 home made remedies - DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE SMALL KIDS!
they can have severe allergic reactions to horseapple or if they touch the red pepper on the wall, it can burn them if they touch their mouths or eyes afterwards.
great ideas tho if you dont have small children.

Good Point... thanks for adding that