Fur, Jaws, and Claws

posted by fmoore on Nov 25

Even cats that roam freely outside look for something when indoors that they can scratch. Here are 5 reasons why your cat may need to scratch:

They will scratch to sharpen their claws.
They will show their superiority over weaker cats.
They will be exercising the extension and retraction of their claws.
They will be marking their territory.
They might even be getting rid of anger or frustration.

You can see there are many reasons why your cat need to scratch, but you certainly don’t want them to use your furniture as the scratching pad therefore it is a good idea to supply the cat with a good scratching pad and let them know that that is what it is intended to be used for.

Put the scratching post in a place that is easily accessible to your cat particularly when it is finished eating or grooming itself and is likely to feel like having a scratch. Anytime your cat looks like it is going to scratch your furniture or anything else that you don’t want it to scratch, quickly pick it up and put it near the scratching post. This way it learns that the only place it should be scratching is the scratching post.

If your cat tends to scratch a particular piece of furniture or other item in the house on a regular basis, remove that item and replace it with a scratching post. Your cat will begin to learn that it is the scratching post that it should be scratching and nothing else. The more time you spend with your cat training it where it can scratch, when it is young, the less trouble you will have as it grows older.

At times your cat will scratch as a form of devotion or leave its scent over your own scent. If you rub your hands or a piece of your clothing over the scratching post, you will be leaving your scent. Oftentimes, this familiarity is all that is needed to encourage your cat to scratch at its post. This way you, your cat and your furniture will all be happy.

So, if you are looking to build the best relationship with your cat, be sure to download Fur, Jaws, and Claws. You will be glad you did.