Bob's rescue background and quirks

Hi everyone. I am struggling a bit with Bob's background. He is a 3-year-old tuxedo rescue and I cannot figure out what he is actually afraid of or why he behaves the way he does. He ignores the three scratching posts I bought him and specifically targets the base of the leather sofa.

I have tried to trace this back to his previous home, but the shelter notes were very thin. Does anyone have experience with rescues who have specific aversions? I want to understand his triggers so I can stop the damage to the furniture. I posted about the scratching earlier here Bob's weird scratching habits, but I am stuck on the 'why' part.

Hello Denise. It is very common for rescues to have unrecorded trauma. Often the fear isn't of a specific object, but of a sound or movement associated with their previous environment. Have you checked if he reacts to the vacuum cleaner or the door opening? You might find some context in Cat hiding behavior after adoption.

Ruth is right about the noise. But look at the medical side first. Is he in pain? Sometimes cats scratch specific spots because of arthritis or past injuries. Check his medical intake notes Bob's medical intake to see if he had any x-rays done at the shelter. If he is limping or stiff, go to the vet today.

I am so anxious about my new cat Koda doing the same thing. I read your post about the sofa and I am worried. Did you try covering the spot with something? I used a plastic sheet for the first week. See First week with a new cat for more on that. Also, Protecting sofas from cats has some good ideas for the leather.

Thank you all. Steve, I just checked his intake records and there is no mention of arthritis or injuries, just a note about being 'fearful of sudden movements.' Ruth, he does hide when the door opens, which matches that note. Kristen, the plastic sheet didn't work; he just scratched through it. I think the 'sudden movement' trigger is the key. I will try to make the sofa area less associated with the door noise.

If the sudden movement is the trigger, you might want to look at Sisal post recommendations for big cats to see if a heavier post near the door could intercept him before he reaches the sofa. My cat Tux is similar; he needs a very sturdy post to feel safe.