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How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching
Are you overwhelmed because you can't get your cat to stop scratching all the valuables in your home? Does your cat tear up the things you leave lying around? Did you know that scratching actually a natural thing for your cat? Well, before you get discourage, there are ways to get your feline friend to stop scratching your stuff, and the methods are easy. When getting your cat to stop scratching your things take this information into consideration.
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that there are many different reasons that your cat wants to claw, and it has nothing to do with making your life difficult. In the first place, cats claw because they are marking there territory. While it is most males that will do this, females will do it to a certain extent as well, and you'll find that this behavior can get worse if there are disruptions in their home environment or if they are feeling stressed. You'll also find that cats will scratch to wear down their claws, or to exercise their muscles. Finally, keep in mind that scratching for a cat is relaxing and natural behavior; they might just do it because they're bored!
Now, that you know a few reasons why they scratch you have to remember it's natural so if you want them to stop scratching valuables, you have to get them something else to claw. Give them a variety of choices. Some cats prefer carpet on a post, and some prefer a log. There are many types of surfaces available for you and your feline friend to try out. You may have to purchase a few scratching elements, but I bet it won't cost nearly as much as purchasing new furniture.
To make sure that they use it, take the time to make it a part of your home. Because scratching is at least partially due to territorial marking, take the time to make sure that the post is in a place where the will want to be. Most likely, this means that they want to scratch in a place that is populated with people. You may also want to make your cat more interested in the post by rubbing it with catnip powder while using a pet odor remover to make her less interested in her former scratching spots.
Under no circumstances, declaw your cat to prevent her from scratching. Claw removal for cats is an extremely painful and disfiguring operation. While some people will compare it to having fingernails trimmed, the truth of the matter is that the first joint is removed each of your cat's toes. This is something that can lead to many problems later on, so do not opt for this painful and needless operation.
If you are looking to make sure that your cat does not claw up your furniture, remember to give them some options. This can make all the difference when it comes to getting this problem taken care of.
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