ᐅ My pet keeps scratching the door seals of my KALLAX unit – any alternatives?

Hello everyone, I have a small problem with my pet, specifically my tomcat. He constantly scratches the door seals of my KALLAX shelves, which I use as room dividers and storage. The seals are made of a soft rubber or plastic material and already look quite worn out. I have tried several common deterrent methods, but so far with little success.

My question is: Are there suitable alternatives or materials that are more durable or somehow "pet-resistant"? Or do you have any effective tricks to prevent scratching on such sensitive areas? I would like to avoid having to replace the entire seal every six months if possible. Thank you in advance for any tips!

The challenge of pets and delicate materials is well known. Door seals made of soft plastic or rubber are naturally prone to scratches from cat claws.

As an alternative, I recommend sealing profiles made of harder materials, such as silicone seals with reinforced structure or special plastic strips designed for outdoor use. These are more resistant to mechanical wear.

It is also possible to use protective covers made of acrylic or plexiglass, which can be glued or clipped onto the seals—this way, the material itself does not come into direct contact with claws.

Another strategy is training the pet, for example by providing scratching posts nearby to divert attention away from the seals.

Use raw lemon or orange oil on the seals. Cats do not like the smell.

Alternatively, use adhesive films with an anti-scratch surface.

Place scratching posts close to the area.

Oh, I know that one! My cat once scratched the door seals too – really annoying! But don’t worry, I’ve got some great tips for you! 🙂

Back then, I simply used wide self-adhesive protective films from the hardware store that are designed specifically for plastics. They are almost invisible and very durable! I also placed a super cool scratching post right next to the door – very close – and as it turned out, my cat found something much better to scratch.

You can do this! Keep the seals clean at first and apply the film quickly. Then your cat will realize there’s nothing left to scratch.

Thanks for the quick tips!

Dwight49, the suggestion about silicone seals sounds interesting. Have you come across a specific brand or source that is especially suitable for pets?

And Rhett, the idea with citrus oils also seems doable – do you think they can be applied frequently without damaging the color or surfaces of the KALLAX?

GLALEO, I’ll keep the idea of protective film in mind. Where did you buy it? Do you have a brand in mind? I don’t want it to look too thick or peel off.

For the KALLAX shelves, I use clear protective films from the automotive glass sector. They are durable, thin, and transparent. They have very good scratch resistance and are suitable for plastic.

However, the films must be applied properly; otherwise, the effort is not worthwhile.