Cats Behavior: Dealing With Scratching
It’s natural for your kitty to scratch. Cats have claws in the first place because in the wild, they are absolutely necessary for hunting and defending themselves when threatened. When they were domesticated by humans, their claws or their instincts did not simply disappear. A lot of people end up removing their cat’s claws because they find scratching to be such an undesirable behavior. But remember that this is surgery, which can be painful and there can be complications involved. You and your cat do have another choice!
Scratching posts are a very simple way to deal with a cat with a scratching problem. The basic instinct to scratch can be dealt with by having scratching posts cats can utilize to express this instinct. A rough material such as cardboard, sisal or burlap is usually used in the construction and manufacture of scratching posts. The cat scratching instinct is satisfied by scratching on this rough surface at the same time it helps remove from the claw area dead skin and nails.
Inexpensive disposable scratching posts can be bought for five or ten dollars, but you can spend hundreds for luxurious carpeted cat furniture for your pampered kitty. It’s all up to you. Remember, though, that you should have more than one scratching post per cat. Cats like to mark their territory throughout the house and multiple scratching posts will probably discourage this. The use of scratching posts can be an effective and inexpensive solution to frustrating cat scratching behavior.
Another option to protect your furniture from scratching is the use of double-sided tape or bubble wrap. When you cover your furniture with these items your cat will discover that scratching is not a pleasant experience and will quickly stop the habit. All you need to do is put up the tape or bubble wrap for about a week and your cat will learn not to scratch.
If facing problems with your cats behavior you can try to clip it’s claws. A normal fingernail clipper can be used or a proper grooming tool that is available in the pet stores. The cat should be held gently and the paw pads should be lightly squeeze. This will force the claw to come out. With help of clippers the claws can be clipped carefully. It is important to make sure that only a small amount at the ends is cut to avoid pain to the cat.
If the cats behavior is not changed by the use of scratching posts and covering the scratched surfaces then the claw covers can be used. They are like artificial nails for the cat which can be put either at home or at the vet’s office. They come in various colors. A little of special glue allows the claws to cling . The slippery blunt surface of these claw cover saves carpet and furniture.
Cats were born with the instinct to scratch items to mark their territory; however, cat scratching can become a problem and is often destructive. But, instead of resorting to the painful declawing procedure, try some cheaper and safer alternatives first. Invest in some scratching posts. With scratching posts cats can express their instinct without destruction. If these do not change the cats behavior, try covering furniture with bubble wrap or tape. Other options are to trim your cat’s claws with fingernail clippers or to glue blunt covers over their claws to save your carpet and furniture.
- Paul Proctor