Q: One of my cats likes to scratch upright on wood. She will not use a scratching post I’ve tried all kinds of them rubbed catnip on them etc. She likes to scratch door frames. Now that I am renting it’s something I need to address. Ideas? A: The answer is part persistence and part cat psychology. Scratching is normal feline behavior. It's part exercise and part "marking" behavior. Your cat stretches has a nice vigorous scratch and leaves the spot marked as "his".
First a question: what type of scratching posts do you have? Are they carpeted or made with sisal? Are they as sturdy as a door frame or do they wobble when your cat uses them?
Here are some suggestions on how to curb your cat’s behavior:
Provide scratching posts and place them in locations where your cat likes to linger - by a sunny window for instance. - Provide a sturdy scratching post that mimics the vertical appeal of the wood.
- When your cat uses the scratching post give positive praise or food rewards.
- The proper placement of the scratching post is an important part of redirecting your cat's scratching behavior. Place the post next to an area your cat likes to scratch. It can then be moved gradually to a location of your choice as your cat develops acceptable scratching habits.
- Deter your cat from scratching a specific area by applying double-sided tape. Cats do not like the feeling and therefore may resist the temptation to scratch in that area.
Scratching is a natural behavior so blocking the cat's access to one area willsimply encourage him to scratch elsewhere.
The key is understanding that your cat has a “fetish” for upright sturdy wooden surfaces and the best way to keep her from attacking your doorframes is to provide her with a similar surface to safely scratch on. Catsare picky; they know what they like and what they don’t and they aren’tgoing to change their minds to appease their owners. | 
