Scratching the surface

Scratching the surface


Whether your cat scratches to mark, shape his claws or stretch out, you and your furniture may have had enough. In fact, what you view as destructive behavior is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered.

It’s best to train a cat as a kitten which scratching areas are off limits, because bad habits die hard. You can try covering furniture, but then what’s next?

Cats are pretty picky about the feel of their scratching, so you may need to try cloth, cardboard, rope, soft wood or other textures of scratching posts. What’s more, some cats like a horizontal scratch (for example, against a rug) while others go for the vertical method. Felines favor a good stretch when they first wake up, so try placing the scratching surface near your cat’s sleeping area.

Scratch below the surface and you and kitty are likely to find a middle ground.

 

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