Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Become a credit card member today!Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!APPLY NOWLearn More About Petco Pay Benefits
Sticky Paws Cat Training & Behavior
Get It Today
Related Articles & Questions
- New Pet
Prevent Cat Scratching: Tips to Protect Furniture & Redirect Behavior
Unwanted scratching can become a nuance, but your cat's scratching is a completely normal behavior. Learn how to stop cats from scratching places you don't want them to - like your beloved reading chair.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
Cat Social Anxiety: Recognize Signs & Help Your Stressed Cat
Learn all about what social anxiety looks like in cats and how to address it.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
Why Your Cat Hates the Litter Box: 5 Reasons & Easy Solutions
Cat stop using their litter box? Read the top 5 reasons your cat may be avoiding their litter box and how to address the problem with solutions like self-cleaning litter boxes.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
- New Pet
Your Cat's Best Life: Feeding, Health, Behavior & Home Guide
Learn how to care for your cat, recommended diet and grooming care. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
Is Your Cat Anxious? Spot & Solve Feline Separation Anxiety Guide
Learn all about what separation anxiety looks like in cats and how to address it.
Updated on October 29th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
Is there any other way to train a stubborn old cat, he's about 10 and seems to never get the hint. since he was two I've tried using spray bottles, treats, and even bonking him in the head on his butt (gently of course). Nothing has worked.
Hello and thanks for using Boop by Petco! It may be helpful for you to provide more details as to what behavior you're trying to correct in Sabbath. As you have found out spraying with water and tapping or hitting never work. These punishments can actually make things worse and are not recommended. Positive reinforcement and consistency are key in any training. A Feliway diffuser may help you as well. Again, depending on the behavioral problem there may be different solutions so more details are helpful in Sabbath's case. If you are running into problems a consultation with your veterinarian or even a boarded veterinary behaviorist will help. They can even discuss behavioral medications if necessary.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
I am looking for a spray or something to keep my cat from climbing and scratching on certain places/ furniture in the house. What do you recommend and know that really works?
You can try double-sided sticky tape on surfaces that you don't want her to scratch or climb on - most cats don't like the feel of it on their paws, and will avoid these areas. But, it's also very important to provide her with alternatives for scratching and climbing or else she will continually try to use your furniture and countertops, as these are both normal behaviors for cats. She needs tall cat trees and high ledges or other resting places to climb up to and lay on, as well as a variety of good surfaces for scratching - scratching posts should be tall and sturdy, ideally with a rough texture such as sisal rope rather than carpet. Most cats will readily leave your things alone if you are providing appropriate alternatives :)
Updated on August 12th, 2025
- Food & Nutrition
How do I keep my kitten from jumping on to me? She jumps up whether I’m sitting or standing and latches on with her claws so I have tiny holes all over my legs, arms, and stomach. She also attacks my food when I’m eating and will even grab it out of
Training cats is complicated. You can certainly look into books about cat behavior or even about cat training but they are not wired like dogs. Regarding the rough play behavior, sometimes this behavior can be related to boredom, anxiety or a desire to play roughly. There are a few things you can do which may help. Try enriching his environment. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and really make sure to get Andromeda running. During the play time, if she seems like he wants to play rough, try to encourage her to wrestle with a stuffed animal. You may also try feeding her from a food puzzle and/or hiding food around the house for him to find. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with behavior. The climbing behavior will generally stop and when she does th
Updated on August 12th, 2025
- Health & Wellbeing
My cat will not stop scratching our new stair carpet. He did it with the old ine too. We have posts and mats for him but he prefers the stairs. Anything we can do to stop him?
Cats will scratch where ever they see the opportunity. Unfortunately, it is not always where we want them scratching. I would encourage him scratching appropriate areas by attracting him with food, treats and/or catnip on/near his posts. Cats hate if sticky things touch their feet. Often just a piece of tape (made into a loop with the sticky side out) placed in the corners will stop them from scratching the carpeted stairs. Some stores sell specially made double sided sticky strips as well. I would recommend giving those a try.
Updated on August 12th, 2025
- Training & Behavior
My cat will not stop obsessively scratching the carpet no matter what I do. She is neutered, she will remove caps, she will rip up aluminum foil, I put scratching posts on every single area she scratches and she moves them. I am hopeless right now an
I am sorry to hear about your problem with Nala! I would consider trying the product Feliway Scratch, which encourages your cat to scratch on a desired location via use of pheremones and scents your cat can smell https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/feliscratch-by-feliway . I would also consider getting a variety of different styles of scratching posts. Some cats prefer different materials (cardboard, wood, carpet, rope), and some have a preference in orientation of the post (horizontal, vertical, slanted) or preference of orientation of fibers, so you may need to try a few different styles to find what Nala wants! I would recommend reading this article by veterinary behaviorst Sophia Yin for more tips: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/june-is-adopt-a-cat-month-training-your-new-cat-not-to-scratch-furniture/ . If you want to make a deterent, I would probably try citrus, as I don't think lavender would deter, but I am not sure how effective this would be or if it could stain your ca
Updated on August 12th, 2025
