Stop cat scratching
If you keep a bedroom off limits to your cat, it's likely that you're looking for solutions to stop your cat from scratching the carpet, banging on the door, and waking you up early in the morning because of the constant meowing outside the door.
Because your cat is trying to get your attention, it's important to use techniques that do not involve you interacting with them. Here are some methods that can help stop your cat from scratching the carpet and waking you up.
Instructions
1. To stop your cat from scratching the carpet, get a small piece of hall runner from the hardware store. Cut it to fit the doorway so that it covers 6 inches of floor on either side of the door. It is important that you cut it to fit as snugly as possible around the door frame as your cat will try to scratch away at the edges.
2. Use a soft item with a bit of weight (such as a stuffed animal) and throw it at the door when your cat scratches or whines in the early morning outside of the door. The sound will startle her.
3. Try using the Tattle Tale cat alarm. Unbend a paperclip and hook it through the hole on the top of the Tattle Tale and then affix the other end into the carpet next to the door. When the cat scratches the carpet, the alarm will sound. It's important to hook the Tattle Tale to the floor because your cat can easily move the Tattle Tale out of the range of sensitivity.
4. If the door is in a long hallway, you can also use the Sofa Scram as a deterrent to stop the cat from scratching and banging outside of the door. Lay the mat in the hall in front of the bedroom door. If the cat steps on the mat, the alarm will sound. Don't fold the mat in half or the alarm may spontaneously sound.
5. Take a number of elastic bands (only if your cat does not chew or eat elastic bands) and make a rubber band chain. The chain should reach from the door handle to the floor and about 6" under the door. Hang the rubber band chain on the door knob outside the bedroom. Take a long piece of rope and attach it to the end of the chain that is on the inside of the door. Twist 3 to 4 teaspoons on the elastic bands so that they dangle and rattle when you shake the chain. In the early morning, when the cat starts scratching or whining, yank the rope. It will cause the elastic band chain to jump and make the spoons rattle. This will scare off your cat.
6. Put a heat-resistant surface outside of the door, such as a small table. Place a low wattage hair dryer on the surface and plug it into a remote controller that can turn the power on or off. Set the hair dryer to the lowest setting. When the cat starts to scratch the carpet or meow, press the remote button to turn on the power. Do not leave the hair dryer on for longer than 1 or 2 seconds to avoid any fire or heat hazard. Depending on your cat and household, use your common sense to determine whether it is safe to use this or any of the other methods listed in this article. If you're not sure, be on the safe side and don't try it.
7. If your cat is waking you up for breakfast, try buying an automatic pet feeder which dispenses set quantities of food at set times. If you do use a feeder, you must stop feeding your cat yourself (snacks included) so that the cat disassociates you as the source of food.
Tags: outside door, Tattle Tale, band chain, early morning, elastic bands, from scratching, from scratching carpet