Cat Scratching Posts

(Scratching is a natural and beneficial behavior for cats.1 Find a scratching post that benefits your cat while preserving your home furnishings.)

Cat scratching is natural, instinctual behavior for cats, even for cats who are declawed.1 Declawed cats will still claw at furniture; the only difference is that they will not tear it up.1 Clawing relieves frustration and energy for cats.1

Do not punish your cat.1 That is very important.1 Not only is hitting an animal wrong, but cats have fantastic memories and hold grudges.1 Punishing them over and over can break the trust your cat has in you and can ruin your relationship.1 They do not understand physical punishment.1

You cannot keep you cat from clawing, however, you can keep your cat from clawing things you value, such as a sofa.1 Cats are very strong willed.1 You cannot make a cat do anything they do not want to do.1 Getting a cat to stop doing something they enjoy is very difficult.1 It is much easier to channel that enjoyment onto something you do not mind, or is meant to, get clawed at.1

So why do cats scratch valuable things1 It is pretty simple actually.1 There are scent glands in a cats paw and when they scratch at things it leaves their scent on it.1 Therefore, they are marking their territory.1 Yes, when they do it to you, they are marking you.1 She is doing it because she loves you, and your home, and she wants every other cat to know it.1 Scratching is also a form of exercise.1 It pulls and works the muscles in your cat, and it kind of like yoga.1 It feels really good to them.1

So what should you do1 Well, provide your feline with an appropriate outlet for her scratching.1 Get a cat scratching post!1 Easy.1 Keep in mind the word appropriate.1 Your idea of appropriate and hers are two different things.1 She will not like something fluffy and frilly, she will want something rough that she can shred to pieces (such as your couch).1 Just make sure that the cat scratcher is tall enough to mimic a tree and for her to starch her whole body on.1 It also needs to be secure.

If your cat strays away from the cat post, there are thing that you can do to get her to prefer it.1 No, do not show her how to use it by putting her paw on it.1 You will just offend her.1 Since cats want to mark their territory, put it in with the family and not in a back corner.1 After a while, you can move it gradually.1 Feed her and play with her by the post.1 Give her treats when she uses it.1 Rub catnip on the post.1 Put cat scratching posts throughout the house, if you can.1

To deter her from her old places, cover them with aluminum foil or double sided tape.1 Or spray it with a citrus smell—cats hate citrus.1 You could also try squirting her with a squirt bottle.1 It is unpleasant, but she will not know that it was you.1 Or make a loud whistling noise.1