How do I fix my bathroom door frame due to my cats scratching on it?

Kimzy
by Kimzy

I have 2 inside cats who aren't declawed. And they are using the bathroom door frame to keep their paws sharp. The frame of my bathroom door looks terrible. Does anybody have any suggestions on how to fix it, and how to deter them away from scratching on this? ( sorry, but I will not declaw them, for fear of them getting outside. They do need to survive on their own.

Thank you for your help.

  14 answers
  • Janet Janet on May 19, 2019

    Either replace the frame or use wood filler. I understand - I had 5 indoor cats over the years and woudl not declaw either. They are all gone now but I still have a wicker hamper that they clawed on the sides. Just can't seem to part with it.

  • Lisa Lisa on May 19, 2019

    I agree that you should NEVER declaw cats. It's equivalent to cutting off your fingers at the first knuckle. Awful thing to do!

    Do you have a few scratching posts around? I know my cats really love to stretch when they scratch, so those floor posts tend to be too short. I'd put a wall mounted one just outside the bathroom for them to use, rather than the door frame... I've personally nailed an outdoor rug from IKEA to the wall and my cats loved it! They'd use it to scratch and climb.

    For the frame, I can't tell how deep the scratches are, but if they're not all that deep you can try sanding down the rough edges and then painting. You could probably patch with a bit of wood filler or drywall mud if it's deep and then paint afterward.

    Good luck!

  • Tedward Tedward on May 19, 2019

    Hi Kimzy,

    Firstly get rid of the culprits that caused the problem or else the problem will never go away. You have to get rid of the paint or nothing will stick to the frame. I would then use a wood filler applied in light coats to keep sanding to a minimum. Apply it as smoothly as possible to keep sanding dust to a minimum.

  • William William on May 19, 2019

    Fill with wood filler, sand smooth, then paint. You can get clear plastic corner and molding guards that can be tacked or glued on to protect the wood.

  • Kelly-n-Tony Kelly-n-Tony on May 19, 2019

    We put TAPE on their favorite scratching spots which they hated lol. Then bought SCRATCHING POSTS and put them near by. It worked.

  • Fill the claw marks with wood filler and let it dry. Sand and paint.

  • Mogie Mogie on Mar 04, 2023

    Thank you for not declawing your cats it is like pulling your kids finger nails off.

    If you aren't able to teach them not to claw your door frame perhaps a piece of duct tape over the framing would help. Easier to replace a torn up piece of tape then framing.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 15, 2023

    You could, as a temp measure, cover the scratches with old carpet that the could use as a scratching post. or maybe cover the door frame with Plastic?

  • Dee Dee on Aug 08, 2023

    You can replace the frame, or use wood filler or bondo and sand and repaint.


  • Betsy Betsy on Aug 12, 2023

    Hi Kimzy: You can put wood filler or wood putty on the area, let it dry and then sand smooth. Then, repaint. If you go to a carpeting store, or go where a new house is being built, you may be able to pick up some scraps of carpeting. Cut the scraps about 6 or 8 inches wide and about 2 feet long. Then, on one of the skinny ends, about 2 inches from the top on each side, poke a hole, put a length of rope in each hole and put a knot in the rope so that it doesn't slide back through and loop it around a door knob. If you can get some catnip, boil a pot of water, maybe a cup or so, and put the catnip in the water to make a catnip tea, sort of thing. Then, when it's cool, put in a spray bottle and spray the carpet strips and anything else the cats like to scratch on. You can even glue the carpeting to a board and lay it on the floor.No, you're right, declawing is absolutely not a good idea. I trim my cats nails every week or so. They can still protect themselves and, they use their back claws to climb, so they can get away from anything that may chase them. If they scratch the furniture, there is a plastic covering you can get from Amazon that sticks right to the furniture and is clear. The cats can't claw through that :)


    Good luck and hugs to the kitties :)

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 13, 2023

    Use wood filler or spackling, sand to make it smooth and paint. This will solve the scratch marks for now, but you will need something to cover the area they have become accustomed to scratching. A piece of corner molding in plastic would do that. If you choose to put carpet over the area after repair, make sure the strip of carpeting is thick enough so their claws will not go through it.

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 06, 2023

    Seems like teaching the cats not to due that and replacing the door frame would be a good idea. But make sure the cats have something to scratch their nails on in that area.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Sep 28, 2023

    You could rub it down and Fill the holes and then re finish to match existing.