Posted on 03-01-10, under PET.
Every cat owner knows that their kitty might terrorize a piece of furniture. It might be to chew it, to scratch it, or even to spray it. Your kitty hasn’t really just “gone rogue”! These are all ways the a cat can claim an area as their own. She is also meeting a definite physiological need when kitty is digging her claws into your favorite piece of furniture.
Cats claws are made to grip and hold their prey. The claws grow continuously, and are designed to be kept in shape by being worn down. Cats NEED to scratch to remove the outer dead layer of the claw, and allow the new nail to grow. If there is no place to scratch, the cat may either take it out on your furniture or try to actually chew off the old claw sheath. And your cat needs to stretch out those back muscles too!
So, when you cat is stretching out and tearing your furniture to shreds, she’s not “going rogue”, she’s taking care of a real physical need. Destructive scratching need not be a problem if you have the proper cat furniture . A good sturdy cat tree, scratching post, or other cat scratching furniture will do wonders for your kitty. She can nap, exercise, and escape indoor boredom.
You will want to choose a cat scratching post or cat tree that has a rough surface, such as sisal or rope to help your cat keep his nails smooth. The perfect piece of cat furniture would be at least 4 feet tall so your cat can really stretch out his back muscles. There are some tricks to get your cat to claim the cat scratching furniture as his own. You should place his cat post in a place where he can be part of the action in the house, and also, you can sprinkle some cat nip over your kitty’s new furniture.
Cat scratching furniture comes in many styles, from a simple sisal scratching post to elaborate cat towers with climbing, scratching, and napping areas. Let your imagination go and find the just right piece of cat scratching furniture for your home and your cat!
Want to find out more about cat scratching furniture , then visit Carol Navagato’s site on how to choose the best cat scratching post for your needs.
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