The following is a sponsored post. The opinions expressed are my own.

My husband will be particularly interested in this blog post — following a series of (assumably) funny videos of cats opening doors (haven’t watched them, on dialup today), the author explains at length how to train cats to a) not open doors and/or b) not scratch things. Since this blog is housed at an architectural supply shop, I’d imagine they’d take great interest in getting pets to not scratch nice doorknobs (and doors.)

Of the suggestions offered, I can firmly attest to the effectiveness of this one:

Temporarily protect your cat’s favourite scratching sites by covering them in loose fabric or netting – cats don’t like snagging their claws.

NO, they do NOT. Many times we’ve come home to an oddly-disturbed welcome mat (inside the door), when the Cat Man has skidded to a stop upon it, gotten caught, and fought a mighty fight to free himself. (The rug is usually a few feet from the door, and upside-down, when this happens.)

This one is also good, in general, for training cats:

Whenever you catch your cat scratching something he shouldn’t, startle him either with a clap and a shout (or a handheld horn, if the other members of your house don’t kick you for it!), or a spray of water from a water pistol.

Ivan’s gotten to the point where I don’t have to be visible, if I bellow at him (having heard a compromising noise, such as the “yay, I’ve hopped up on the stovetop” thump), he scatters. Generally, if Johan bellows OR is visible, he scatters anyway, as a routine precaution. ;)

Worth a read if you have a cat!