Getting a Cat Scratching Post
Scratching is a natural cat behavior. No matter what you do, it will continue to scratch. Unfortunately, cats seem to like scratching on delicate surfaces in your house, such as wooden furniture and the upholstery of your couch and chairs. Because you will not be able to stop cats from scratching, the best thing to do is to give them their very own cat scratching post.
Why do cats scratch anyway? They do this for a number of reasons. First, they scratch to remove the dead layer of cells in their claws. This is part of their grooming habit. Cats also scratch to mark their territories. Aside from leaving a visual scratch mark, they also leave their scent on the surface they have scratched. Finally, cats scratch to stretch their muscles.
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Scratching is something that a cat must do, so instead of discouraging this behavior, you should provide a space where your cat can do this without ruining your furniture and walls.
You can do this by getting your cat a good cat scratching post. Cats enjoy surfaces that are a bit rough. A portion of a tree stump may be appropriate, although it may not look good in your house. You can also buy commercially made cat scratching posts. Those with sisal-covered surfaces are good. Sisal is a kind of white fiber that has just the right roughness and texture for a cat to scratch and groom its claws on.
Your cat scratching post should be tall enough for your cat. This means your cat should be able to extend its body fully over the scratching post when it decides to reach high for a good stretch. Avoid buying posts with smooth surfaces, as your cat will most likely just ignore them. Your cat scratching post should also be sturdy.
So how do you train your cat to go for the scratching post instead of your couch or wooden cabinets? First, position the scratching post near areas where your cat used to scratch. These are areas that your cat has marked. It would be easy to spot them, as they would most probably be in a room that is regularly used by the family members. Once your cat gets accustomed to the scratching post, you can move the post’s position to the corner of the room. Do this gradually, progressing a short distance every day until it reaches the corner.
If your pet refuses to go for the cat scratching post, you can try to cover its favorite scratching area with aluminum foil, which has a smooth surface and will discourage the cat from continuing to scratch at the same spot. The places your cat marked with scratches also contain your cat’s scent, so you should also neutralize the odor left behind by your cat to keep it from coming back to the same place. You can find odor neutralizers in the supermarket. Finally, you can also put orange peel or lemon peel on your cat’s old scratching areas. Cats do not like the odor of citrus. Once your cat smells citrus on her favorite scratching surface, it will avoid the spot.