Q: We have two very spoiled and unruly young cats, a Himalayan and a Persian. They both scratch the carpet despite no lack of scratching posts in the house. Any suggestions for retraining? Also, neither will cuddle with me if the other is around. Is this some kind of kitty peer pressure?

A: Observing how and what your cats scratch, then providing the same concept in a scratcher, is a good place to start. Because the cats scratch the carpet, it appears that they like to stand horizontally and scratch on something soft (rather then rear up and scratch on a vertical surface). Providing scratchers that lie flat or slightly angled on the ground, covered in carpet or cardboard, may be your best bet.

Train them by showing them the scratchers, rewarding them with a treat when they use it, or sprinkling catnip on the scratcher (many cat scratchers come with a small packet just for that purpose).

Remember, not all scratchers are created equal. Whether horizontal or vertical, good cat scratchers should be sturdy, well maintained and an appropriate size for the cat. Cats need to feel that they can get their claws into the scratcher, so that when they pull back, they get appropriate feedback. Cardboard, wood, carpet and sisal rope scratchers are available. You may need to experiment to see what they like best.

Regarding "kitty peer pressure," it may not be far from the truth. Cats residing in a household form hierarchies that guide the interactions between them and family members. One cat might be dominant in terms of interaction with you, which could explain why the other cat does not join. If both cats get adequate time with you and there are no aggressive interactions between them, the arrangement does not seem to be a problem.

Rachel Boltz, DVM, is a feline specialist at Adobe Animal Hospital in Los Altos. www.adobe-animal.com.
