It’s instinct for cats to scratch. They may scratch to mark their territory or to even work off excess energy. No matter how frustrated you are with your cat scratching your furniture, the best thing to do is to divert your cat’s natural scratching instinct to something more cat-friendly.
One of the most effective items that you can redirect your cat’s attention to is a scratching post. Scratching posts come in several sizes and materials. There are tall posts, multi-leveled ones, and even flat ones called scratching pads. The most common materials used are carpeting, sisal rope or fabric, corrugated cardboard, and wood. You can either buy a post from your local pet store, the Internet, or some people even build a custom one.
When purchasing a scratching post, one main thing to look for is to make sure it is tall enough. Posts should be at least three feet tall to allow your cat ample room to stretch out as cats prefer to be able to stretch their back and shoulder muscles fully when scratching. If the post isn’t tall enough or is unstable, then your cat may not use it.
Another thing to remember is that whenever you see your cat scratching its post as opposed to your sofa, be sure to praise it for doing so and to reward your cat by giving it a treat. Consistent positive reinforcement may be the key in getting your cat to stop scratching your furniture by using a scratching post instead.
About the Author:
Are you fed up with your cat ruining your furniture? Are you desperate to find out other effective methods to stop your cat scratching furniture? Cats need to scratch, so it’s your job to make sure your cat scratches where it should and not where it shouldn’t.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Stop Cats From Scratching Furniture – Do Scratching Posts Really Work?
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