Why Cats Scratch Furniture and How to Convince Them Otherwise

Easily one of the biggest disputes we humans have with our
feline friends is their great need to “sharpen” their claws on
our furniture and carpets.

We think it’s a terrible idea, they think it’s their inborn
right. They probably even wonder what our problem is when we
react to their scratching! Ever wonder why it’s impossible to
make them stop scratching our things? The reason’s simple,
really: They’re doing something they should do.

For a cat, scratching is as natural as meowing, chasing mice, or
loving tuna. Actually, scratching serves several purposes for
the cat:

1. It conditions the claws by removing the outer dead nail
sheath. 2. It leaves a visual mark which speaks to its
territorial fetish. It also leaves a scent behind due to the
scent glands in the cat’s paw pads. 3. It serves as an emotional
outlet. That’s why many cat’s favorite time to scratch is right
after their humans have come home from work, before mealtime,
after eating, after playing, or when everyone gets up in the
morning.

They aren’t intentionally being destructive or trying to make us
mad, they’re simply following instinct.

Since the scratching will continue, as surely as the ability to
meow will continue – the trick, then, is to provide the cat with
an alternative object on which to scratch. A scratching post!

When choosing a scratching post, be sure that it’s large and
sturdy enough. The cat needs to be able to really “get after it”
without the fear of toppling over. The scratching post should be
large enough for your cat to stretch out on, so keep your cat’s
size in mind when purchasing, or making, the post.

Finally, make certain the material is rough and enables the cat
to sink her claws into it. (Carpet covered posts are actually
too soft.) Even bare wood serves the purpose.

WHERE TO PLACE THE SCRATCHING POST

Pay careful attention to WHERE and WHEN your cat scratches and
place the post accordingly. Actually, several throughout the
house would be ideal, especially if you have a living room AND a
den – that’s almost too much temptation for her!

Just a quick word about declawing. In my opinion, declawing a
cat is completely inhumane, and unspeakably painful. I’ve read
countless stories of declawed cats being in so much pain they
couldn’t even sit up. It also leaves the cat totally
defenseless. Our pets depend on us to protect them, and keep
them from harm, and that is more important than any sofa.

Buy, or make, several scratching posts and everyone will be
happy!