Cat Scratching

You are tired of the scratching behavior of the cat. She has shred your curtain, tattered your sofa and you are at your wits end how to deal with it.

Well, Relax. Scratching is natural behavior for cats. It is a territorial instinct by which cats place their mark and establish their turf. Through scratching, cats mark their domains with more than just visible signs of claw marks. Cat's paws also have scent glands that leave their own special scent on their territory.
Scratching also serves to keep your cat in shape. The act of scratching stretches and pulls and works the muscles of a cat's front quarters.

So. One thing is clear - you can't stop pussy from scratching. What you can do is stop her from scratching those items you value. Re-channel her into scratching where you want her to scratch.

Bring a scratching post for her. Show her how to use the post by taking her front paws and making scratching motions at the post. The scratching post must be tall enough for her to fully extend her body, and most importantly , it must be stable so that if doesn't topple over.

If at first the cat is reluctant to give up her old scratching areas use lemon-scented sprays or a potpourri of lemon and orange peels to make her former scratching sites less agreeable to her. Cats have an aversion to citrus odors.

Trim your cat's nails. But never de-claw them. De-clawing is literally maiming a cat. It can lead to physical, emotional and behavioral complications. A cat's claws are a vital part of its anatomy, essential to balance, mobility and survival.