My cat completely ignores the cactus scratching post I got for him. Is this just how it is, or is there something I should do to encourage him to actually use it? I want to make sure it’s not me doing something wrong! By the way, I recently discovered that it worked better after I cleared some clutter and adjusted its position—with the cactus’s fat arm facing the right way, the cat seems more interested!
4 Answers
Honestly, you can’t make a cat do anything. They go by their own schedule. Just be patient and let them explore the cactus in their own time. It’s all about their comfort, not yours!
It could be a positioning issue. Cats like to have a comfortable spot for their activities. Move it somewhere more open and see if he starts using it when you’re not around. Sometimes they need a little space to feel comfortable with new things!
Cats are notoriously picky! Sometimes they just prefer the box the scratching post came in. It’s hilarious how they often ignore the new fancy toys for something as simple as a piece of paper. Maybe try clearing the area around it. You want to make sure they have a clear path to it because if they feel cramped, they might not use it.
So true! I’ve seen my cat just lounge around on whatever I’m using instead of his scratching post. Cats, right?
One other thing I’ve noticed: if you’re standing near the scratching post while doing other activities, sometimes that encourages them to check it out. They might be more inclined to use it when you’re busy and not directly paying attention to them.
Yeah, I always have to shuffle things around too. Just when you think the setup is perfect, they decide otherwise!