Encouraging a cat to scratch

[8bit]

One of our cats seems reluctant to scratch his claws on a scratching post. He won't really scratch anything else such as carpets, sofas etc. so that's not the problem, it's that his claws are very sharp so he occasionally gets stuck on things like our clothes, the carpet etc. if he's been treading.

We've got a couple of those activity center things with bits for them to scratch, dangly playthings on strings etc. and the other one will scratch on that but this one never seems to exercise his claws, even in places he's supposed to. Anything we can try to encourage this? I really don't want to have to start clipping his claws if it can be helped.

[paintman]

Their front claws will be very sharp as that's how they are intended to be.
Scratching posts etc don't blunt the claws. They help the cat to shed the old worn claw sheaths - you'll occasionally find them stuck in the post covering - & expose the new sharp claw underneath.
Ours also occasionally get a claw caught.

[Ilikebeaver]

With our cat we put the scratching pad next to him. Scarred it myself to show him what it was for and then lifted him on to it and gently held his paw to make him scratch. I only did it the once and he was busy scratching away.

Once he went outside and used a log or branch of a tree, his claws soon went blunt

[Mubby]

just buy a new stair carpet and they will soon get scratching!

[AdiT]

Mine doesn't scratch either and won't be encouraged to. I chucked all the posts/pads out in the end 'cos they were just cluttering the place up.
His nails get very long as a result and I just cut them when he starts having trouble getting caught on stuff.

[Simpo Two]

Cat's claws shouldn't be clipped IMHO. As said they are always sharp, the thing is that they retract (usually!). I have never managed to persuade any of my cats to scratch in designated locations; mine currently likes decking and carpet. On the odd occasion that she does get 'hung up', eg in a jumper, she's not really stuck - eventually she remembers to retract and off she goes.

[AdiT]

Have you ever had a cat that didn't scratch though?

The claws get very long; Too long to fully retract. With the curve on them hook into stuff and fail to unhook when the cat retracts them. Trimming the tip solves that. I do only cut the tip off though. He has the normal tapered claw then from where the point would be a long curved needle like point. It's just that needle point I cut. It's fine enough in diameter that it's still pretty sharp after.

Mines a rescue that someone let outside one day... and then moved house. As a result he refuses to leave the house and won't go near an open outside door; He's not falling for that trick twice. I suspect he used to scratch outside.