I brought this subject up last Thanksgiving. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...rcy+scratching
Since then, the scratching has turned into a more defined attention-getting behavior. At 4:30 in the morning, every morning, when Darcy wants to be fed, she starts in scratching the walls, the mattress, the closet door, basically anything within reach.
We have tried:
Squirt bottle - she shrugs her shoulders and says, "who cares?"
Scat mat - she knows what it is and will scratch where it isn't
Picking her up by the scruff of the neck like a momma cat might and growling at her - so kill me, I grew up as a dog person
Shutting the door with her outside - she Ows and scratches louder
Feeding her later at night - doesn't make a difference
Playing with her all evening - doesn't make a difference
Giving her mild sleepy pills (suggested by vet) - still didn't work
I am about at wits end trying to change this behavior. I have thought about putting the knobby office runners down, but like the scat mat, she would just find a different location to scratch...she is crafty that way.
If I just give in and get up and feed her, I feel like I am encouraging this behavior.
Any other suggestions?
Since then, the scratching has turned into a more defined attention-getting behavior. At 4:30 in the morning, every morning, when Darcy wants to be fed, she starts in scratching the walls, the mattress, the closet door, basically anything within reach.
We have tried:
Squirt bottle - she shrugs her shoulders and says, "who cares?"
Scat mat - she knows what it is and will scratch where it isn't
Picking her up by the scruff of the neck like a momma cat might and growling at her - so kill me, I grew up as a dog person
Shutting the door with her outside - she Ows and scratches louder
Feeding her later at night - doesn't make a difference
Playing with her all evening - doesn't make a difference
Giving her mild sleepy pills (suggested by vet) - still didn't work
I am about at wits end trying to change this behavior. I have thought about putting the knobby office runners down, but like the scat mat, she would just find a different location to scratch...she is crafty that way.
If I just give in and get up and feed her, I feel like I am encouraging this behavior.
Any other suggestions?