If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Cat Scratching is a natural instinctive behavior for cats, no matter how much it might shred and destroy the fabric on your new $4,000 sofa. You cat isn’t scratching to see how much they can aggravate you - but he is trying to send you a message. That message is simply, “give me something to scratch! and give it to me now!”
The urge for a cat to scratch will hit and hit often. When it does, your cat won’t be overly picky on what they scratch. Their instinct is that everything is fair game. Your cat isn’t sitting there thinking, what can I scratch and shred now. He’s just filling his need to scratch and sharpen his claws.
Even an inside cat still has the instincts of a cat in the wild. What does an outside cat use for a scratching post? A tree trunk, a wooden deck, a fence post, etc. If your living room is like mine, then you probably don’t have any of those around inside your home. So, common sense should tell us what our kitty is going scratch. Look around and see your home and furniture from your cats eyes. Let’s see, that couch looks like good scratching material. How about those wooden legs on that new coffee table, surely they bought that for me to start scratching on.
Many people assume that declawing your cat is the only thing they can do to protect their furniture. Cat declawing is going to extremes and in most cases isn’t necessary or recommended. Having one or more good quality scratching posts around your home will give him a good alternative to your furnishings. Kitty will be a happier camper and so will you.
Sharpening claws isn’t the only reason a cat scratches. It’s also a form of exercise. The act of declawing your cat won’t stop the scratching actions, but it could provide harm to your cat. A good scratching post can also be nice stress reliever for your kitty.
Some cats use the post as a pretend playmate. They also have a need to conquer perceived foes. Your cat may take on the scratching post, gripping it with his claws and wrestling it into submission.
You want to make sure that the scratching surfaces or posts you use are solid and stable. A solid wooden chair or table could easily be preferred over a wobbly, easily to tip over post. If this solution doesn’t work we may have to dig into our bag of tricks.
You probably already Know that your cat has a very keen sense of smell. So hang a bold smelling fragrance room deodorizer or a commercial cat repellant near the piece of furniture your cat is scratching. This will help to make sure that your cat will not enjoy scratching in that location anymore.
It’s best to place the approved scratching post in a location in your home where the smell factor is pretty much neutral and at a place that provides some privacy. The privacy is so your cat can sneak up on the post as a pretend prey, and we all need a little privacy. When the scratching post starts to become worn out
Instead, place the new scratching right beside the old post until your cat starts to use it. After you see some wear on the new post, then you can throw away the old one.
Stay updated on not only the latest Cat Behavior and Training Tips, but also excellent Cat Health and Grooming Secrets. All this and more by subscribing to our RSS feed. Click here to Subscribe Right Now and get everything you need to keep you and your cat happy!
