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Reasons For Buying Cat Scratching Posts
There are plenty of reasons for cat scratching posts. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you are considering purchasing a cat or you are already having a problem with your cat scratching your furniture. You can scold your cat all you want and you know, in your heart of hearts that scolding and yelling isn’t doing any good, after all, this isn’t a Golden Retriever you are dealing with, and it’s a cat that is a self-sufficient and pragmatic animal. Not only that, but your cat likely looks at you as if you are crazy – they are just doing what is natural to them. So now, here you are, looking at ways to curb the manic craze your cat has for your sofa, or else, you may have to get rid of her. What do you do?
First of all, don’t declaw. Take the concept of declawing your cat out of your mind. It’s cruel and is actually maiming your cat. By declawing you could be leading your cat to behavioral, physical and emotional distresses. Claws are not like fingernails on a human – they are a part of their anatomy that is essential to survival, mobility and balance. So, don’t even think about it. Declawing is out.
When you put your cat into distress, you welcome other behaviors that are equally as unacceptable. Your cat will display stress as urinating on common areas, spraying in the house and can even lead to your cat taking to biting people.
It’s important to understand the nature of scratching so that you can se why you need cat scratching posts in your home.
Scratching is natural – Okay, this isn’t a revelation, especially if you own a cat and your sofa is in tatters. One way to allow your cat to maintain their natural behavior is to allow them a place to scratch – cat scratching posts.
You can’t stop your cat from scratching – While you can’t stop them from scratching you can give them a place they are allowed to scratch and if you provide cat scratching posts, they will use them.
Punishing your cat doesn’t work – Your cat doesn’t understand punishment so don’t bother. If you punish for scratching the couch, they don’t understand that it’s for scratching the couch (your cat is NOT a dog!), but rather they consider that occasionally, when you touch them it is not nice for them. This will only lead to your cat being wary of your touch and other behavior issues, as discussed before, will arise.
Understanding why cats scratch
Marking territory – Cats scratch as a territorial instinct that marks their place. Cats paws have scent glands in them as well which leaves a scent behind when they are scratching, warning other cats that they are treading on someone else’s turf.
Exercise – Scratching is an exercise and helps to keep them in shape by stretching and pulling muscles in the front quarter of your cat.
Pleasure – It feels good to scratch and you aren’t going to stop pleasure. Channel your cats desire to scratch to cat scratching posts and she will immediately take the bait.
Give your cat a good, solid cat scratching post to use for scratching. Yes, if your cat has already taken to the sofa, it may take some time to get her accustomed to using the post instead, but she will. Without scolding, take her to her scratching post. Don’t try to teach her to use it; she will pick up on what you want.
Cats want cat scratching posts that have a rough surface that they can shred. The cat scratching posts should be tall enough for her to extend her body and it should be secure from toppling over.
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