My Pet World: Sudden barking in dogs and cats who won’t use the scratching post

Dear Cathy, Our dog, Ginger, is an almost five-year-old mini-Labradoodle. In the past year, her personality has changed. She has become overanxious and barking at certain times of the day for no apparent reason. This can happen after she’s eaten or gone out for a walk. It comes out of the blue. It’s almost like she’s complaining to us.

We’ve tried using positive methods, like giving her a treat when she stops barking for a brief period with the words, “good quiet.” We were told by a dog trainer to do that. It doesn’t seem to work. I sometimes even shut myself in another room to try to avoid it as the barking is very loud (over 90 decibels, according to my smart watch), which is not only annoying but can be ear damaging. Can you suggest something?

– Marilyn, Normal, Illinois

Dear Marilyn,

My first recommendation is to start with your veterinarian. A sudden increase in barking and anxiety can sometimes be linked to underlying medical issues such as pain or discomfort, digestive upset, or even changes in hearing or cognitive function. Ruling that out gives you a clear place to begin.

From there, take a closer look at Ginger’s environment. Dogs hear far more than we do, so what seems like “no reason” may actually be a response to subtle sounds, like appliances cycling on, distant noise, or high-pitched electronics. Try playing white noise or soft background sound to see if that helps mask potential triggers. Some dogs benefit from over-the-counter calming chews, canine pheromone products, and calming clothing, like a Thundershirt and Anxiety Wrap, which all can help take the edge off overall anxiety.

Rewarding Ginger when she stops barking is helpful, so don’t give up, but I also suggest getting ahead of it since you know when it will happen. For example, after a walk, give her something specific to do before the barking starts. You might guide her to a bed or mat and ask her to lie down, rewarding her for staying there calmly. Ask for simple cues she already knows, like “sit” or “down,” or do a brief five- to 10-minute training session to redirect her focus.

Another helpful option is to redirect Ginger with a calming activity, such as a food puzzle, a snuffle mat (to sniff out treats), or a lick mat for wet food or treats. These activities give her an opportunity to shift her from a reactive state into a more settled one.

It may help to observe her patterns more closely, like what happens just before the barking starts, the time of day, and whether she’s in the same spot each time. These details can reveal what’s triggering the behavior. What feels unpredictable often becomes clearer once you start looking for patterns.

Dear Cathy,

I have an indoor rescue cat who is approximately five years old. She is using my wall-to-wall carpet as her scratching post even though she has several other scratchers, including sisal, cardboard and two different carpets. She will scratch the wall-to-wall carpet right at the edge of one of the scratchers. I have put catnip on the scratchers and she loves it; she will roll around on it but not scratch it.

For some history, this cat was found under someone's deck with a litter of kittens. She was taken in by a rescue, and I have had her for about a year and a half now. She is a sweet, well-behaved cat otherwise, but is not a cat that you can pick up. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

– Carol, Patchogue, New York

Dear Carol,

Your cat is actually giving you an important clue. She’s choosing the wall-to-wall carpet, which suggests the issue isn’t a lack of options. It’s that the options don’t match her preference. The carpet is horizontal, stable, and offers resistance under her paws, while many scratching posts can wobble or move across the floor. For some cats, especially those with an outdoor background, that stability matters.

To work with her preference, try offering her a sturdy, horizontal scratcher that doesn’t move; something larger or heavier. Since she has already selected a specific spot, position the new scratcher directly over or next to that area, so it becomes the more appealing option. At the same time, make the carpet less inviting by covering that section with a plastic carpet protector, which most cats dislike under their paws. Use a wand toy to encourage her to engage with the new surface.

By matching her preferences and guiding her to a better option, hopefully you can redirect her scratching and protect your carpet.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)