How to Handle Cat Scratching Problems in an RV

Easy Ways to Prevent Cat Scratch Damage in a Motorhome or Trailer

Nov 10, 2009

Cat scratching in an RV can cause damage and discord between the cat and its owner. From cat nail caps to water-filled bottles, many solutions are available.

While it can be delightful to take cats in an RV, the animal's natural clawing behavior can make for trouble with its owner.

In the wild, cats scratch to keep their claws worn down and to remove a transparent layer that is part of claw growth. In a motorhome, this natural instinct can cause severe damage. Fortunately, cat-owning RVers who wish to avoid harmful cat scratching do have several options.

What to do About Cat Scratching and Damage in an RV

Any size RV can hold a cat scratching post. In medium to large motorhomes there is usually room for a sisal post with a carpet base. Even the smallest RV can accommodate inexpensive scratching posts made from a block of catnip-laced corrugated cardboard.

Problematic cat scratching is also eased by keeping the cat's claws trimmed. The cat is held firmly but gently so that the claw may be clipped in one quick motion. The cut should be kept above the pink part of the claw. Clipping scissors may be bought in any pet store; for the nervous, groomers and vets also clip claws – at a price.

Deterrents to Cat Scratching Inside the Motorhome

If the cat does not use its scratching post, it may be necessary to train it not to scratch. A squeezy bottle filled with water or a garden mister works well. The average cat dislikes loud, sudden noises as much as it hates being damp, so rattling some coins in a tin can be an effective deterrent.

However, cats are smart and associate such deterrents with their humans. They may simply wait until the RVers leave before attacking the furniture again. If so, trouble spots may be covered in aluminum foil, tape or even plastic sheeting. Carpets and upholstery alike can be sprayed with a citrus-scented spray, but the furniture should first be tested for reactions.

Where cats attack the carpet, stair runners might help. They are easier to clean and can be replaced if they become damaged. Dollar stores sometimes sell such runners, or they can be made from carpet remnants. Alternatively, the carpet may be dispensed with entirely; plain floors with space rugs are easier to clean.

Cat Nail Caps are a Humane Way to Prevent RV Claw Damage

One solution that should never be considered is declawing the cat. This surgical procedure is brutal: the cat's toes are amputated at the first joint, crippling the animal and causing it excruciating pain. Declawing surgery is outlawed in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Israel and New Zealand.

A much more humane solution is to buy cat nail caps. These are plastic sheaths that are glued onto the cat's claws, turning them "soft." Application may be tricky to begin with, not to mention annoying to the cat, but cat nail caps do take care of any damage. (The fact that they come in several pretty colors may please the humans more than the cat, but does make the claw sheaths easy to find when they eventually fall off.)

Cats that go outdoors may be able to get the scratching out of their system, but the constant motion of most RVers may make such cat excursions impossible or unwise. However, for those with the space, portable, collapsible tunnels and pens give the cat an outdoor playground with scratching opportunities.

With patience and care, it is eminently possible to prevent cat claw damage. Learning how to do so pays dividends in the RVer's ability to live peacefully with his cats.

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The copyright of the article How to Handle Cat Scratching Problems in an RV in RV Culture is owned by Linda Gentile. Permission to republish How to Handle Cat Scratching Problems in an RV in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.