Save Your Furniture, Your Sanity, and Your Cat's Claws!
- Date: 2007-02-08 - Word Count: 740
Share This!
New cats and kittens are a fantastic addition to any family. But after you've bought the litter box it's time to worry about the furniture. You see, cats love to scratch. They actually need to scratch and if you're not careful they can quickly ruin your prized furniture. But before you give up hope, there are things you can do to protect your furniture without having your cat de-clawed.
You need to encourage your cat to scratch a scratching post rather than your furniture. An understanding of why cats scratch will help us here!!
Cats scratch for many reasons. They scratch as a way to exercise and to tone their muscles. They also scratch as a way to stretch. They have scent glands in their paws so cats scratch to scent and mark their territory. They love to dig their claws into the post, (or your furniture!), not because they want to ruin it but as a way to clean and sharpen their claws. Oh, we almost forgot, they scratch and claw because it feels sooooooo good!!
So you can see that scratching is a cats natural behavior and should be supported and encouraged to keep your cat fit and healthy. If your cat is scratching the furniture you'll find that physical punishment does not work and will alienate your cat. Sometimes a stern word or a loud clap will stop kitty while you're there, but what happens when you're gone?
For a happy cat and a harmonious household with intact furniture the following tips may be of use:
The most important thing you can do is to buy a scratching post BEFORE you get the cat. This way the post will be an integral part of the cat's environment when it arrives. Once a cat has established a behavior it's very hard to break.
Ideally buy more than one post and place them in the areas that you think the cat will use most often. At a minimum place one near where the cat will sleep. Cats love to stretch when they wake up - who doesn't.
Buy a stable post, one that doesn't wobble and feels very sturdy. Cats really dislike instability and if the post falls over its very unlikely the cat will ever use that post again. Look for a good solid base and the post should feel well made - not flimsy.
Place a post in your main family area. Your cat wants to be part of the family spend time with you. There's nothing nicer than a cap napping in your lap on a winter's day. After a hard hour or so sleeping in your lap its time to stretch. I hope there's a post nearby, or there goes the furniture!
At the outset you will need to encourage the cat to scratch the post. You don't need to show your cat how to scratch - it already knows!! Try rubbing some cat nip on the post, or tie toys and string on the post. Play with the cat around the post so that it gets used to clawing the post. Trailing yarn or string up the spot will encourage clawing and is my favorite method!
Make sure the post is big enough. Your cat should be able to fully stretch on the post, so look at a minimum height of 3 feet. Cats love to dig in their front claws and arch their back to stretch their front legs. This is difficult to do if the post is too short. Beware, if the post is too short then your cat will find out that human furniture is an ideal height!
Play with your cat. Keep it happy and entertained, especially around the posts and it will be less likely to take it out on your furniture!
Finally get a post that is course and can be destroyed. Cats love rough surfaces. They will happily pull and tear at their post and enjoy watching it deteriorate. Nylon backed carpet makes an excellent post covering, as does sisal rope. A cat can really get its claws into both these materials. If you currently have a cat which is scratching and clawing the furniture then look for a post made from similar material. If you can't find the ideal post try making your own.
Mary Amos is a cat lover and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources on cat furniture at Cat Furniture on the Web, and for more toys visit Cat Toys and Cat Play.
You need to encourage your cat to scratch a scratching post rather than your furniture. An understanding of why cats scratch will help us here!!
Cats scratch for many reasons. They scratch as a way to exercise and to tone their muscles. They also scratch as a way to stretch. They have scent glands in their paws so cats scratch to scent and mark their territory. They love to dig their claws into the post, (or your furniture!), not because they want to ruin it but as a way to clean and sharpen their claws. Oh, we almost forgot, they scratch and claw because it feels sooooooo good!!
So you can see that scratching is a cats natural behavior and should be supported and encouraged to keep your cat fit and healthy. If your cat is scratching the furniture you'll find that physical punishment does not work and will alienate your cat. Sometimes a stern word or a loud clap will stop kitty while you're there, but what happens when you're gone?
For a happy cat and a harmonious household with intact furniture the following tips may be of use:
The most important thing you can do is to buy a scratching post BEFORE you get the cat. This way the post will be an integral part of the cat's environment when it arrives. Once a cat has established a behavior it's very hard to break.
Ideally buy more than one post and place them in the areas that you think the cat will use most often. At a minimum place one near where the cat will sleep. Cats love to stretch when they wake up - who doesn't.
Buy a stable post, one that doesn't wobble and feels very sturdy. Cats really dislike instability and if the post falls over its very unlikely the cat will ever use that post again. Look for a good solid base and the post should feel well made - not flimsy.
Place a post in your main family area. Your cat wants to be part of the family spend time with you. There's nothing nicer than a cap napping in your lap on a winter's day. After a hard hour or so sleeping in your lap its time to stretch. I hope there's a post nearby, or there goes the furniture!
At the outset you will need to encourage the cat to scratch the post. You don't need to show your cat how to scratch - it already knows!! Try rubbing some cat nip on the post, or tie toys and string on the post. Play with the cat around the post so that it gets used to clawing the post. Trailing yarn or string up the spot will encourage clawing and is my favorite method!
Make sure the post is big enough. Your cat should be able to fully stretch on the post, so look at a minimum height of 3 feet. Cats love to dig in their front claws and arch their back to stretch their front legs. This is difficult to do if the post is too short. Beware, if the post is too short then your cat will find out that human furniture is an ideal height!
Play with your cat. Keep it happy and entertained, especially around the posts and it will be less likely to take it out on your furniture!
Finally get a post that is course and can be destroyed. Cats love rough surfaces. They will happily pull and tear at their post and enjoy watching it deteriorate. Nylon backed carpet makes an excellent post covering, as does sisal rope. A cat can really get its claws into both these materials. If you currently have a cat which is scratching and clawing the furniture then look for a post made from similar material. If you can't find the ideal post try making your own.
Mary Amos is a cat lover and long time cat owner. Find more articles and resources on cat furniture at Cat Furniture on the Web, and for more toys visit Cat Toys and Cat Play.
Related Tags: cat, cat furniture, cat scratcher, cat post, cat condo, kitten scratcher, kitten furniture
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Time I Had a Pet Blue Wasp
A lot of people have pets such as dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, turtles and some even have snakes and - Why Should You Buy Barking Collars For Dogs?
You love your dog but he always barks and misbehaves. It is very upsetting for owners to have dogs t - What to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
There may be plenty of occasions in your life when a puppy crosses your path and desperately needs a - What Do Pet Insurance Policies Cover?
The most basic pet insurance policies simply cover vet bills. More advanced policies can cover every - Dog Walkers Are They For You
If you own a dog then you will know how important it is to ensure that it is walked often to keep th - Creating the Right First Aid Kit For Your Dog
Most of us have some type of first aid kit in our homes. They are necessary for those small bumps an - Deciding to Crate Your Dog For Training
There are several different ways that you may decide to use to train your new dog and they are all v - What to Know About Diets For Dogs
Weight seems to be a struggle for just about anyone, and that is true in the world of dogs. In fact, - Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember
Training your dog is important. It's important for his safety, your safety, the safety of your prope - Don't Go Raising Sheep For Wool Without Reading This!
There are many possible reasons why people choose to raise sheep. Some do it as a means of livelihoo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever Puppy And Dog Information
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not an apartment dog. She needs plenty of room to exercise and havin - How To Choose The Right Dog Trainer
Choosing a trainer is a very important decision and one that requires a fair amount of research and - Can Greenies Dog Treats Recover From Death?
A Makeover For Greenies(r) Treats Months after a series of lawsuits and media attention alleged the - Dog Treats - How to Choose Healthy Treats for Your Dog
Your dog is indeed your best friend and how you feed him or her is very important. Even small items - How to Choose A Good Dog Trainer
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don't have the - Dog Breeds and Asthma Sufferers: Are Hypoallergenic Breeds Always Best?
The first important consideration is to understand exactly what hypoallergenic dog breeds are. In sh - Audubon Bird Feeders
Bird watching is an enjoyable hobby for many of us. We love the antics of the different birds as - Must Have Accessories For Your Fish Tank
When many individuals think of fish tank accessories, decorations are often the first thing that com - The Beautifull Hummingbirds
The hummingbirds diet requires nectar as a source of energy and for their protein source small insec - Clumber Spaniel Puppy And Dog Information
The Clumber Spaniel is an intelligent, calm dog great for apartments as they do not need a great dea