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ways to save your furniture from cat scratching
13 ways to save your furniture
from cat scratching
Cats are great pets. They
love to play, they love to cuddle when you are watching TV
or sleeping, and they purr for no reason other than being near
you. But they also love to scratch. Unfortunately, the things
they love to scratch are often the legs of your antique table,
your upholstered sofa, or your expensive carpet.
Although many humans do not appreciate
when their cats scratching, You have to know that kittens and
cats do not scratch to make us angry, they just need to scratch.
Scratching is a natural behavior in cats, just like
breathing and purring, and every cat owner must know Why
cats scratch.
Scratching has an additional
function too. It removes the nail sheaths, outer layer of dead
cells
from the claw. You may think your cat scratches to sharpen
her claws, but it is more likely it provides her with a form
of physical therapy for the muscles and tendons of her paws.
There are two groups of target
for every cat. The first one is when your cat targets one or
two areas in the home, usually near important territorial areas
such as: sleeping area, litter tray, hunting or play areas.
The second one is where your cat undertakes more widespread
and destructive scratching, in highly visible sites such as:
doorways,
windows,
prominent furnishings - like sofas.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOUR
CAT IS SCRATCHING YOUR FURNITURE?
1. The easiest, but the most
painful method for cats is declawing. Faced with cat scratching
problems,
many people consider declawing surgery. But many veterinarians
believe declawing is a painful and unnecessary surgery and
refuse to do it for humane reasons. Instead, they advise
training your cat to use a scratching post.
2. Make sure there are multiple
opportunities for scratching. Cats often like to scratch after
eating and sleeping, so be sure there is something to scratch
near where they eat and sleep. A scratching post is an excellent
investment for your cat. See How
to make your cat scratch her srcratching post. It will
allow her to scratch, stretch and exercise all at once. If
you want to provide your cat not only with a scratching surface,
but with places where she can climb, perch and sleep you should
consider a cat tree. See Why
cats climb
3. Cover the furniture with something
your cat does not like: double sided tape, some plastic or
aluminium foil. Some cats dislike the feeling and sound of
foil, and most cats hate things that stick to their fur. Double-sided
sticky tape used in carpet installation works well, but be
sure the tape won’t harm your cat or furniture.
4. Keep your cat mentally stimulated
and offer her plenty of opportunity for exercise, and she
will be less destructive in your home. If
your cat is frustrated and bored, she may scratch your furniture
or tear your drapes. Give her enough play time. Cats are motivated
by smell, sound, texture and movement. The toys you use should
aim to cover all these aspects. Discover your cat’s preferences
by presenting a variety of different sized toys made from different
materials and watch her making her choice.
See How to play with your
cat
5. Cutting the nails regularly
may help keep a cat from scratching the furniture, or at least
reduce the damage done by her scratching. Get your kitten used
to having its nails clipped while it is young, praise it while
you clip its nails and reward it with a treat.
6. Booby trap the furniture with
a soda can with some pennies in it. When the cat starts scratches,
it will make a noise.
7. Use a doorknob alarm on your
curtains. When pinned to the drapes, the alarm will sound every
time your cat tries to use curtains as a ladder.
8. Consider a window perch for
your feline friend. It will give your cat hours of entertainment
- especially if you place a bird or squirrel feeder in the
garden outside the window. Be sure the window is closed so
your pet won’t fall out.
9. When you catch your cat scratching
the furniture, try squirting her with a water pistol or a squirt
bottle and use a firm ‘no’. Of course, this won’t
stop your cat when you are not around.
10. If your cat is gaining access
to a high bookcase by leaping from a nearby chair, move the
chair. Without her launchpad, your cat will no longer be able
to reach her perch.
11. You can also try taping inflated
balloons to the problem areas. When your cat pops one with
her claws, she will avoid scratching there again. However,
try this only when you are at home, so you can pick up the
balloon pieces before your cat tries to eat them.
12. There are training devices
that keep cats off forbidden areas by making annoying sounds.
They are available at pet supply stores, catalogs and websites.
13. If your cat still scratches
in appropriate places, use some sprays like bitter apple or
actual orange peels, which are good deterrents.
All forms of physical punishment
should be avoided since they can cause fear or aggression toward
the owner, and at best, the cat will only learn to stop the
scratching while the owner is around.
It does not matter which method
you will choose to prevent your furniture destroying. Every
cat owner must know that it is impractical and unfair to expect
cats to stop scratching entirely.
Other useful articles:
Why
the cats scratch
How
to make your cat to scratch her scratching post
13
ways to save your furniture from cat scratching.
How
to play with your cat
Why cats
climb
What
every cat owner should know about the cat litter box
About
some Cat Disease
The
Cats and the Cold Weather
Heartworm
disease in cats
Plants
that will poison your cats
Cat
Neutering
How
to Avoid Cat Urine Spraying
How
to remove cat urine
Cat’s
Nutrition
What
you should know about Cat’s Shedding
Care
of Older Cats
Siamese
Cats
Putting
Your Cat out to Pasture
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