Many people believe they can't have a cat and nice furniture.
That's not true at all! You can have your cat and keep your furniture, too.
And you don't have to resort to the painful declawing surgery to keep your cat from scratching the furniture.
Cats need to scratch.
Scratching is important for both their mental and physical health.
It helps remove the dead outer covering of the nails and helps trim the tips, so that the cat can fully retract her claws.
It's uncomfortable to walk if the claws can't retract completely.
Digging his claws deep into his favorite scratching post is also an excellent way for your kitty to stretch! A cat never scratches the furniture just to spite you.
Punishment doesn't help.
It won't help to punish your cat when you see her start to scratch your furniture.
She will just learn to be afraid and not trust you, and she will still scratch your furniture when you aren't watching.
Remember, he needs to scratch.
He cannot live his life without an outlet for his scratching behavior.
So don't hit, spank, or squirt your cat to keep him from scratching your furniture.
Provide appropriate scratching posts.
Pay attention to the objects your cat tries to scratch.
Notice the angle, texture, and length.
Try to find scratching materials that will feel similar to what your cat has shown you that she likes.
Some cats love sisal rope, and some prefer carpet.
Many cats like tree bark or corrugated cardboard.
Some like to scratch a vertical post and others love horizontal objects.
And many other cats prefer something slanted at an angle.
If you pay attention to your cat's actions, you'll be able to find the right scratching post.
Be sure to make it steady and secure.
If it shakes, rolls, slides, or just feels flimsy your cat will not use it.
Try a few different textures.
Redirect.
Once you've selected your scratching posts, place them beside or very near the furniture that your cat wants to scratch, and maybe place a few extras around the house as well.
Then make the desired furniture undesirable by covering it with double sided tape, aluminum foil or some other material that your cat will not want to scratch.
Once your cat has made the transition to the new scratching posts, you will be able to remove these coverings, but they are necessary for the training period, to keep your cat from his usual habit of scratching your furniture.
That's not true at all! You can have your cat and keep your furniture, too.
And you don't have to resort to the painful declawing surgery to keep your cat from scratching the furniture.
Cats need to scratch.
Scratching is important for both their mental and physical health.
It helps remove the dead outer covering of the nails and helps trim the tips, so that the cat can fully retract her claws.
It's uncomfortable to walk if the claws can't retract completely.
Digging his claws deep into his favorite scratching post is also an excellent way for your kitty to stretch! A cat never scratches the furniture just to spite you.
Punishment doesn't help.
It won't help to punish your cat when you see her start to scratch your furniture.
She will just learn to be afraid and not trust you, and she will still scratch your furniture when you aren't watching.
Remember, he needs to scratch.
He cannot live his life without an outlet for his scratching behavior.
So don't hit, spank, or squirt your cat to keep him from scratching your furniture.
Provide appropriate scratching posts.
Pay attention to the objects your cat tries to scratch.
Notice the angle, texture, and length.
Try to find scratching materials that will feel similar to what your cat has shown you that she likes.
Some cats love sisal rope, and some prefer carpet.
Many cats like tree bark or corrugated cardboard.
Some like to scratch a vertical post and others love horizontal objects.
And many other cats prefer something slanted at an angle.
If you pay attention to your cat's actions, you'll be able to find the right scratching post.
Be sure to make it steady and secure.
If it shakes, rolls, slides, or just feels flimsy your cat will not use it.
Try a few different textures.
Redirect.
Once you've selected your scratching posts, place them beside or very near the furniture that your cat wants to scratch, and maybe place a few extras around the house as well.
Then make the desired furniture undesirable by covering it with double sided tape, aluminum foil or some other material that your cat will not want to scratch.
Once your cat has made the transition to the new scratching posts, you will be able to remove these coverings, but they are necessary for the training period, to keep your cat from his usual habit of scratching your furniture.
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