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Who doesn’t get pissed when their cats scratch everything they can put their claws on?
Scratch marks can be found everywhere ‘ walls, couches, and cabinets ‘ almost anywhere you can set your eyes on.
One thing for sure is they don’t do it to make you furious or just be plain bad pets.
This scratching behaviors is instinctive and is a way of exercising and also marking of their territory.
It’s necessary to keep their physical and emotional states healthy.
Do they really need to scratch everything?
There are several explanations for your cat’s scratching.
It’s definitely not to anger you, though.
As stated above, the act is in their psyche and we can’t change it.
Owners just need to adapt to this behaviour and alter the environment both of you live in so everyone can be happy.
Here are some facts on your cat’s scratching behaviour:
- Everyone needs a stretch after a nap. Cats do it too with paws outstretched and claws out. And there’s your scratch.
- Your home is their home. They mark their territory by scratching. Cats have scent pads on their paws and scratching allows them to leave their scent on things around your house. Just be thankful they did not pee to mark your bed.
- Dead skin accumulates in the claws of your cats and this should be regularly removed. The most efficient way to do this is by scratching. You don’t have to clip their claws as often as you clip your nails. They’re actually doing you a favor.
Don’t give up on them just because of a scratch
Understanding your cat is an important part of taking care of pets.
Altering your house setup can get you and your cat a long way.
Remove things that are prone to scratches.
Cats also get bored.
One thing they do to kill boredom is to roam around and expand their territory.
Make sure to give them enough attention and play with them more often.
Scratching posts can be made or bought.
Place them near the area where you want them to stop scratching.
It can be erected near your favorite couch, carpet, or cabinet.
The posts should be more ‘scratch-worthy’ than your couch to redirect their attention to it.
Another idea is to rub catnip all over a sisal rope to grab their attention to it.
As they become used to scratching the posts instead of your favorite furniture, gradually move the posts away and onto the area you want them to stay permanently.
A few inches or a foot at a time will do.
It’s compromise that gets us all along
If you’ve done everything you can, even resorting to using cucumber, but scratches still continue to pile up, there’s still an alternative solution for you.
A veterinarian developed a pain-free and inexpensive tool called a vinyl claw cap.
It’s been on the market for ages, like since 1990.
After trimming your cat’s claws, you can put the claw caps on their paws and voila! Say bye-bye to scratched furniture and ripped pillows.
The vinyl caps are soft so rest assured it won’t hurt your cat.
Once glued on the claws, it can remain attached up to a month and a half before they fall off.
Your feline friend will still be able to scratch whatever they want but the caps will be there to protect your things from any damage.
The caps still allow your cats to extend and retract their claws just like before.
You can have your pet groomer or vet assist you with putting the caps on, though it’s not necessary since it’s easy to attach.
Reward your cats with a luscious treat so they’ll associate the process with good experience.
Before anything else, check your cat’s claws every few days to replace any cap that fell off.
The vinyl claw caps come in different sizes, each suited for a different type of cat, so make sure you get the right size.
