Address Your Cat"s Scratching With a Cat Scratching Tree
Cats and scratching are two words that are commonly associated with each other.
Many people shy away from adopting cats for this very reason.
Scratching can be a very destructive habit if not properly addressed, but there are tools available to help current and potential cat owners with this instinctive behavior such as a cat scratching tree.
Many people assume that cats scratch as a way to sharpen their claws.
While this may be partially true, scratching is primarily a form of communication for cats.
By scratching a surface and roughing up the area, the cat is letting the living-beings around them, both humans and other animals that they are present and the scratched area is their territory.
To further communicate this message, cat's paws contain scent glands that are activated with the scratching motion.
This scent also helps mark their territory.
Cats which have been declawed may continue to act as though they are scratching as a way to spread their scent and mark their territory.
Because scratching is primarily a way to mark their territory, cats often return to the same spot to re-mark or remind others that the scratched area is their territory.
When the area they are scratching is the corner of your couch or your curtains, this behavior will be enough to drive you mad.
After the cat has established their territory, breaking them of this habit can prove to be difficult, but with a few different tools, it can be done.
The first and most common option is to declaw your cat at a young age.
However, may cat lovers feel this is inhumane as it leaves cats defenseless if they ever find themselves outside.
Also, declawing is less traumatic on younger kittens and if you chose to adopt an older cat, this may not be an option.
If you chose not to declaw your cat, the best thing to do is get him or her a cat scratching tree.
This will give your feline friend an area to mark without destroying your personal belongings.
To entice the cat to warm up to the cat scratching tree, you may want to sprinkle cat nip around and on the tree or hiding treats within the holes and caves many trees have for cats to play and hide in.
The cat nip and treat hiding method is a great way to teach cats with established scratching territory that the tree is a better option to scratch up.
To deter them from their previous favorite scratching posts, cover them in thick plastic or tinfoil which are textures that cats do not like and should deter them.
Cats are wonderful companions, but like all animals need to be adapted to living in our homes.
By providing a cat scratching tree for them to carry out their instinctive behaviors, you will save your furniture, walls, and curtains and make both you and your pet happier.
Many people shy away from adopting cats for this very reason.
Scratching can be a very destructive habit if not properly addressed, but there are tools available to help current and potential cat owners with this instinctive behavior such as a cat scratching tree.
Many people assume that cats scratch as a way to sharpen their claws.
While this may be partially true, scratching is primarily a form of communication for cats.
By scratching a surface and roughing up the area, the cat is letting the living-beings around them, both humans and other animals that they are present and the scratched area is their territory.
To further communicate this message, cat's paws contain scent glands that are activated with the scratching motion.
This scent also helps mark their territory.
Cats which have been declawed may continue to act as though they are scratching as a way to spread their scent and mark their territory.
Because scratching is primarily a way to mark their territory, cats often return to the same spot to re-mark or remind others that the scratched area is their territory.
When the area they are scratching is the corner of your couch or your curtains, this behavior will be enough to drive you mad.
After the cat has established their territory, breaking them of this habit can prove to be difficult, but with a few different tools, it can be done.
The first and most common option is to declaw your cat at a young age.
However, may cat lovers feel this is inhumane as it leaves cats defenseless if they ever find themselves outside.
Also, declawing is less traumatic on younger kittens and if you chose to adopt an older cat, this may not be an option.
If you chose not to declaw your cat, the best thing to do is get him or her a cat scratching tree.
This will give your feline friend an area to mark without destroying your personal belongings.
To entice the cat to warm up to the cat scratching tree, you may want to sprinkle cat nip around and on the tree or hiding treats within the holes and caves many trees have for cats to play and hide in.
The cat nip and treat hiding method is a great way to teach cats with established scratching territory that the tree is a better option to scratch up.
To deter them from their previous favorite scratching posts, cover them in thick plastic or tinfoil which are textures that cats do not like and should deter them.
Cats are wonderful companions, but like all animals need to be adapted to living in our homes.
By providing a cat scratching tree for them to carry out their instinctive behaviors, you will save your furniture, walls, and curtains and make both you and your pet happier.