Mary Allen
Thousands of cats do it: they scratch the bedroom door at night. Yours too? Then she’s in good company. The forums are full of posts from desperate cat owners and advice too. But what actually helps?
In order to solve a problem, you first have to analyze what exactly the problem is. Then you try to find out the causes and then you can start working out and implementing a solution.
Actually, it’s easy. The cat scratches the bedroom door at night. Logically, if you have closed them behind you and are probably about to sleep. She may also be screaming or making all sorts of other types of noise. The noise drives you crazy and robs you of sleep, after a while the door just looks sad, which can be really expensive, especially in a rented apartment, and of course, you also feel sorry for your furry friend.
In the corresponding advice forums, the problem is discussed emotionally. Advice is circulating like wrapping the door in aluminum foil, spraying your hallway with pepper, or even using cat repellant spray. But can making your apartment cat’s apartment unbearable be the right thing to do? NO!
It is complicated by the trappings. Does the cat scratch every door at night? Does she scratch on doors during the day? Or just on the bedroom door? Does she scream too? Does she generally riot at night? Or also during the day? Does she have water and food available at night? And a litter box?
Sometimes the solution to the riddle is very simple, sometimes it is more complicated. In any case, the cause of the behavior must first be analyzed in detail in each individual case before action can be taken.
7 reasons why cats scratch at the door
Different day-night rhythm
A common cause of nocturnal disturbances is the different day-night rhythm of humans and cats. The cat is actually a hunter by nature, becoming active at dusk while resting during the day. This means that at night when we are about to go to sleep, she is just about to wake up.
In principle, cats are quite capable of adapting to humans. They are already doing so in many ways. For example, they communicate with humans very differently than with other cats. This also works with the day-night rhythm – but only if the cat has special incentives for it, for example a lot of activity and activity during the day, which then keeps it awake. It doesn’t work so well when she’s alone in the apartment during the day. Then she rests during the day and is accordingly really rested and active in the evening.
Territory
Another common cause is the cat’s territorial thinking. The cat works by thinking in territories. Wild cats fight for a territory, a territory. Any cat entering without permission will be evicted. And she herself may be expelled from foreign territories. What does not occur in their thinking is a constant change. It is incomprehensible to cats when they are allowed to enter an area at times and not at night.
Scratch drive
Then there is the cat’s instinct to scratch. Cats have claws. They not only scratch opponents or unwelcome fellow animals with them, but also various other places such as trees or wallpaper to mark territory, to stretch after a period of rest, but also to wear down the regrowing horny substance, and keep their claws sharp and usable to hold as a weapon.
Behavior learned unconsciously
Another cause, if not the most common, can be learned behavior. This often happens unconsciously. When our cat scratches a door for the first time, we think she’s insanely intelligent and open the door for her. Because she wants out. The cat is really intelligent and learns in this way that doors open when you scratch them.
Loneliness
While cats are fairly independent and often have a strong need for privacy, they also need social interaction. Individual indoor cats in particular have no other social partner than humans. They crave his company when he locks himself up at night. Often they draw attention to themselves like kittens would: they scream. You can find help with this problem in the article Cat meows at night – what to do? Or they just scrape at the door. Because experience tells them that their human reacts to it and gives them the attention they want.
Basic Needs
And then there’s always the possibility that the cat’s basic needs aren’t being met, like water and food, a litter box, or adequate warmth.
Illness
Other possible causes of disruptive behavior are physical illnesses such as thyroid disorders that cause restlessness or discomfort. But psychological problems and trauma that make it impossible for the cat to stay alone can also be the cause. Boredom and lack of exhaustion can also lead to door scratching at night.
First, ensure supply, then clarify health
So before you start training your cat on a large scale, you should first make sure that the animal is doing well. If the cat is to be alone at night, it must of course be ensured that water, a certain amount of food, and the litter box are freely accessible. There should also be a place where the cat is allowed to sharpen its claws – a scratching board or something similar.
In addition, before you start large educational projects, it makes sense to check with the veterinarian whether the animal is healthy.
This can help if the cat is scratching the door
Cat scratches the bedroom door: first, get tired
First you can start a harmless experiment that will even be fun for you and your animal. You should try to play with your cat regularly at night before bed. Hunting games are best suited, for example with the cat fishing rod, which are fun for cats and humans, give the cat variety and exercise and exhaust it a little. These game units should be a quarter of an hour long or of similar duration.
We have summarized the best way to deal with cats and how even lazy cats can be encouraged to play in the following guide: “Keeping a cat busy – useful ideas for activities & lots of tips”.
In addition, the cat should be given something to eat before going to bed. Both can be ways to let the animal start the night a little more exhausted and relaxed. If this is followed by an extensive cuddling unit, you’re sometimes lucky, the cat’s need for contact is covered, it’s also tired and sleeps through most of the night.
Provide scratching opportunities
If the cat scratches on the door, it can theoretically also be because it wants to satisfy its need to scratch. Therefore, make sure that there are enough scratching posts and scratching boards. Consider making these spots attractive to her by touching them with sweaty hands, leaving your scent there. Catnip can also help make scratching opportunities more attractive for your house tiger.
It can also help to place a scratching post or scratching board near the bedroom door if the cat prefers to scratch there. In this way, you can possibly divert the need to scratch from the bedroom door to another scratching opportunity.
Sustainably influence the day-night rhythm of the cat
If the problem lies in the cat’s day-night rhythm, there is no really easy solution. But you can use some tricks. Outdoor cats, for example, are more likely to get used to sleeping at night if they are allowed in at the same time every night. They are then often exhausted from the adventures of the day outside, eat, and slowly shut down.
Indoor cats often use toys, which are now offered in many places, to keep them from oversleeping the day. Feeding them with fumbling boards, for example, can give the fur nose entertaining hours. Caution: Only toys that do not pose a danger to the cat when left unattended may be used!
Loneliness is also often a problem. Cats are not loners, as is so often assumed. They need kitty company and should never be kept alone in the home. In pairs, the cats can interact with each other during the day.
A second cat also has the advantage that the cat’s need for closeness can be satisfied. However, the whole thing only works if the cats have a similar temperament and get along well. Cats cannot be forced into friendship.
Solve the problem with the territory
If the cat scratching is mainly scratching on the bedroom door, territorial training can help. Don’t let your cat into the bedroom anymore. Never. Not even when you’re sick or she’s sick or she’s looking so incredibly cute.
Put the cat out the door with a resounding ‘no’ every time it enters the bedroom. You may have to keep this up for several weeks until your kitty finally understands that the bedroom is your territory from now on. After this period, the cat will probably test from time to time whether it cannot reconquer the area. Especially when you are not there, you should therefore close the door. But once she has accepted the new condition, the door scratching may stop on her own.
The anti-door scratch training
If your cat has gotten used to scratching doors, anti-door scratch training can help. This is done in several steps.
Step 1:
The cat will get used to closed doors while you are around. In this step, you and your cat will be in a room together. In a peaceful moment, close the door and immediately give your cat a treat before it starts scratching. If she scratches immediately, you have to wait until she takes a break. Give her a treat and immediately open the door again.
You repeat this process several times a day. Change the room you take the cat to and the type of reward. One time give her a treat, another time pet her, praise her, or play a little game with her. But only when she isn’t scratching or calling but is calm. Over time, the cat should calm down noticeably when the door is closed and already awaiting its reward.
Step 2:
Now start making the period with the door closed a little longer. Only give the cat its treat after a while. In particular, you should never open the door when she’s scratching but always wait for a moment when she’s quiet. Your cat should learn: scratching doesn’t help. The doors open when I’m quiet. But also: closed doors are nothing to worry about. They’ll get back up all by themselves.
Step 3:
Now it’s time to get to the other side of the door. Close the door of a room your cat is in for a very short time. Open it when your cat is quiet (not scratching or yelling) and reward the cat in the same way as in steps 1 and 2. Again, slowly increase the time the cat is alone.
Step 4:
Step 4 is the easiest and the hardest at the same time. Now all you have to do is stay consistent. In order for the cat to understand that nothing can be achieved by scratching the door, it must never achieve anything with it. That means: Never open a door if the cat is scratching it. Never. Not even if she looks so cute right now or you’re in a hurry or she’s been good for so long or you wanted to get out anyway. Otherwise, you’ll teach her that scratching helps. Cats are masters of manipulation. And in winning power games. Here you should prove you have staying power – for the sake of your night’s sleep and family peace.
Especially at night, you shouldn’t show any reaction at all to your cat’s actions. If you start scolding, she has already achieved a sub-goal: your attention. Especially when you give in and open the bedroom door. But even a moan can be understood by the cat as confirmation. Always remember: your cat is intelligent.
This fourth stage is the hardest because you have to be absolutely consistent. But if you persevere, you can be sure that the training will be successful. So: persevere!
You should definitely avoid these “tips”!
Do not give the cat sleeping pills or tranquilizers. First, you don’t know if she’ll take it, and second, you’re not solving the problem. Agents such as vinegar, pepper, or deterrent sprays do not solve the problem either. They may frighten your cat into temporarily not daring to go to the door – but they will make your entire home, or at least a large area, intolerable for your cat.
Cats have an excellent sense of smell and communicate with each other partly through smells. Think carefully about what kind of signal you are sending with such a deterrent – in the end, you are telling her: I don’t want you. But the animal has no escape route out of your apartment. You shouldn’t put your cat in this desperate situation – especially since it will probably start scratching again after a while because the basic problem hasn’t been solved.
A little more harmless, but also completely useless, are purely mechanical aids such as adhesive tape or aluminum foil on the door or spraying with a water gun. They are uncomfortable for the cat on the claws. However, as long as her problem persists, after a while she will start scratching like before.
Cat scratches the door: conclusion
Your cat is a cat. Try to put yourself in their minds and you can solve a lot of problems. With loving consistency, you can still teach an adult cat that scratching on the doors is absolutely useless and should therefore be avoided. However, you should note that you should never lock up your cat as a punishment – otherwise you will destroy the positive effect of the anti-scratch training.
Do not allow yourself to be tempted to commit any acts of desperation. Don’t get mad at your cat. She is a cat and acts like a cat – independent, proud and consistent. That’s exactly what you like about her, that’s why you brought her into your life. Try to analyze where the problem lies. Make sure the cat isn’t missing anything. Try to make them sleepy in the evenings and ideally match their day-night rhythm to yours. Consistently reserve the bedroom as your territory. Then do anti-scratch training. I’m sure you’ll both get along well afterward.