Cats How To:
Why
Cats Scratch
Even cats that roam freely outside look for something when indoors that
they can scratch.
There are several reasons why a cat needs 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 cats we 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 the cat
particularly when it is finished eating or grooming itself and is
likely to feel like having a scratch.
Anytime the 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 so it learns that the scratching post
is where it should be scratching.
If the cat tends to scratch a particular piece of furniture or other
item in the house on a regular basis, then remove that item and replace
it with a scratching post.
The 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 when it is young, training it
where it can scratch, the less trouble you will have as it grows older.
Sometimes a cat will scratch as a form of devotion, or leave its scent
over your own scent.
By rubbing your hands or clothing over the scratching post you will be
leaving your scent and often this is all that is needed to encourage
your cat to scratch the post.
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