Cat scratching iguana enclosure — redirect it

An Abyssinian going after an iguana enclosure is a really specific problem — and honestly a stressful one, because you've got two animals whose wellbeing both depend on getting this right. The good news is that scratching is completely normal cat behaviour. Your Abyssinian isn't being destructive or targeting the iguana out of malice — they're maintaining their claws and almost certainly scent-marking, which is exactly why the enclosure is so appealing: it smells intensely interesting. The fix isn't to stop the scratching, it's to give them something better in the same area. Before I suggest anything, can you tell me — is your cat scratching the vertical sides of the enclosure, the base, or both? And do you know what the enclosure is made from — mesh, glass, wood?

That tells me a lot. Vertical wooden surfaces are irresistible to cats because the texture gives real resistance — they're getting a proper claw workout and leaving scent from the glands in their paws at the same time. The enclosure frame is basically the perfect scratching post as far as she's concerned. So you need to place something equally satisfying right next to it — not across the room, right there — and make the enclosure frame less appealing at the same time. Has she shown any preference for particular textures before this? Does she scratch furniture elsewhere in the house, and if so, what material?

Perfect — that confirms she'll use sisal happily, which is great news. Here's what I'd recommend: the Fukumaru Cat Scratching Post, tall sisal version (the 70cm one). It's tall enough for an Abyssinian to get a full vertical stretch — Abyssinians are lean and active and they really do need height — the base is solid enough that it won't wobble and put her off, and the sisal gives that same woody resistance she's getting from the enclosure frame. Place it within about 30cm of the enclosure, ideally right at the corner she targets most. For the first week, drape a tiny bit of used bedding from her over the post to transfer her scent, and if you can, use double-sided tape on the enclosure frame to make it less satisfying. Once she's consistently using the post — usually two to three weeks — you can gradually move it a few centimetres away if you want more distance from the reptile area. Don't rush that move or she'll go back to the frame.

It's a fair question. Iguanas give off strong scent signals, and for a cat like an Abyssinian — high prey drive, very curious, very scent-aware — that enclosure is basically a giant olfactory billboard. The scratching near it is likely a mix of genuine claw maintenance and territorial marking, essentially her saying 'I was here.' It probably isn't anxiety-driven in a harmful sense, but if you notice other stress signs — overgrooming, hiding, changes in appetite — that would be worth looking at separately. For now, the redirecting strategy should reduce the fixation on the enclosure over time, because once her scent is on the post instead, the post becomes the territory marker. The enclosure loses its appeal.

Yes — double-sided sticky tape is the most effective deterrent for wooden surfaces. Sticky Paws make strips specifically designed for furniture and frames, and cats dislike the sensation on their paws enough to avoid it without any distress. Stick it on the areas she targets most and leave it there for the first two to three weeks while she's bonding with the new post. Once the habit is established you can remove it. Avoid sprays near the iguana enclosure — some cat deterrent sprays contain citrus or essential oils that can be harmful to reptiles if they get into the enclosure, so physical deterrents are the safer call in this situation.