How To Stop Cat From Scratching Door? 9 Expert Tips

Cats scratching at doors can drive their owners crazy. The constant scratching and meowing when a door is closed can damage the door and disrupt your peace. But why do cats scratch doors, and how can you stop this aggravating behavior?

Cats scratch for various reasons - to groom their claws, mark territory, relieve stress or boredom, and get your attention. When a closed door separates them from their desired location, scratching is one way they protest being left out.

While a natural behavior for cats, excessive door scratching can’t be tolerated. In this article, we provide 9 expert tips to stop your cat from shredding your doors and help redirect its scratching instincts in a positive way. Let’s dig in!

Why Do Cats Scratch Doors?

To understand how to stop this behavior, you first need to know why it happens. Here are some common reasons behind door scratching:

Attention-Seeking

Cats scratch doors to get your attention, especially when you’re in another room. If you respond by opening the door, you reinforce the behavior.

Separation Anxiety

Scratching from loneliness or anxiety when separated from you or other pets. It’s a plea to be let in and reunited.

Boredom

Lack of stimulation leads to destructive behaviors like door scratching for entertainment. Cats need active playtime every day.

Escape Attempt

A closed door traps your cat somewhere it doesn’t want to be, so it tries scratching its way to freedom.

Marking Territory

Cats scratch to mark an area as theirs. Doors can represent territorial boundaries.

Claw Maintenance

Scratching removes old outer claw sheaths. Rough surfaces like doors help sharpen claws.

Stress Relief

For anxious cats, scratching releases frustration and calms them. It’s like a massage for their paws!

Now that you know why your cat might be demolishing your doors, let’s cover how to stop it.

9 Expert Tips to Stop Cats Scratching Doors

1. Ignore the Scratching

Don’t give your cat what it wants by opening the door or otherwise responding when it scratches. Stay quiet and wait for the scratching to stop before letting it in. This teaches your cat that scratching doors won’t get rewarded with attention.

2. Discourage with Smells

Use scents your cat dislikes, like citrus or mint essential oils, around the door to repel scratching. Try a small piece of orange or lemon peel on the floor by the door. Or spray the door with pet-safe anti-scratch sprays containing deterrent odors.

3. Apply Double-Sided Tape

Attach strips of sticky double-sided tape to the lower part of the door where your cat scratches. Cats hate the texture under their paws. After a few encounters, your cat will learn to avoid the door. Replace the tape periodically as needed.

4. Give Your Cat a Manicure

Trim your cat’s nails regularly to blunt the sharp claws responsible for scratches. Use cat-safe nail clippers for a DIY home pedicure. Capped nail tips are another option. Shorter claws do less damage to doors.

5. Play More with Your Cat

Make sure your cat gets active playtime every day to release pent-up energy. Bored cats often scratch destructively. Entertain them with wand toys, chase games, treat puzzles - anything to wear them out mentally and physically. A tired cat is less likely to attack your doors.

6. Give Your Cat a Scratching Post

Provide appropriate scratching outlets like posts and scratch pads. Place them right by doors prone to scratching. Reward your cat for using its post - this teaches it where to scratch instead. Vertical scratchers work best to satisfy scratching urges.

7. Try Cat Calming Pheromones

For stressed cats, synthetic pheromones mimic natural facial scents that provide comfort. Available as sprays, diffusers and collars. Place pheromone dispensers by scratched doors to help relax your cat and curb the urge to claw. Consult your vet first.

8. Rule Out Medical Causes

Sudden destructive scratching could indicate an underlying medical issue. Have your vet examine your cat to rule out causes like dental pain, arthritis, infections or parasites that elicit scratching. Treating health problems may stop related scratching.

9. Consider Environmental Changes

If your cat scratches to escape a room, give it more opportunities to freely roam the house or install a microchip cat door. If it scratches from anxiety when alone, provide a safe enclosed space when you’re away. Adjust its environment to reduce scratch triggers.

Conclusion

While scratching doors is a common cat problem, there are ways to curb this undesirable behavior. Be patient - it may take time for your cat to break the scratching habit.

With consistency using deterrents, more exercise and enrichment, and rewarding good behavior, you can protect your doors and redirect those claws!