We've recently adopted a cat from an elderly neighbour who couldn't look after him anymore. He's been living with us full time for a month or two, had been visiting us every day for a few months before that.
We've never had a cat before and are having a little problem with him scratching the spines of books of books and records. Is there any way of deterring him from doing this? We get up and stop him each time but he keeps on doing it, usually returning to it within a few minutes? We let him scratch the doormat which he likes, we have bought a scratching post too but he has yet to use it. We let him out when he asks, except for at night as we live on a main road, but he doesn't want to a lot. As it's gotten colder he wants to stay in, will stay out for usually less than an hour each day. He's well fed, has access to a litter tray that he uses and that we clean regularly, and we play with him with a laser pointer. Is there any advice a more seasoned cat lover can offer?
Btw, he sleeps in the living room and presumably doesn't do it at night or any other time we're not around as there's been no damage as yet. I suppose there would be if he was just left to it with no one to stop him. And we also have a five month old baby, but this is obviously not new to him. I don't think that he misses his old home as he didn't get much fuss there and spent most of his time around ours anyway (his previous owner knew about this and was happy with it, btw! In fact when he does go visit them we get a text to let us know, and he doesn't seem to go back there a lot anymore when he goes out.)
Here he is, nicking DS bumbo chair :)
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The litter tray
Is it possible to prevent cat from scratching things?
swinkle · 06/12/2017 19:12
Either don't have things or don't allow cats near things! 
Put him on scratching post when he starts?
Catnip on the scratching post may entice him to it!
Tbh I don't think there is anything you can do, cats need to scratch. If they're out more then obv they're scratching stuff outside more, if at home more then the reverse. Providing lots of alternative things for them to scratch is a good idea, but I don't think you can really stop them from scratching what they want to scratch when you're not there to interrupt it. I think it's part of owning a cat, especially an indoor cat or one that stays indoors most of the time, that various things in your house will be scratched to hell. You should see the state of my parents' sofas . The scratch post is right next to it but they obviously find the sofa more satisfying as generally choose that instead.
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