Why Do Cats Scratch?

by Sarah Fields

Depends what type of scratching you're talking about! If you have a errant feline that's turning your curtains to tatters, your carpet to crumbs or your doors to dust - then this is the article for you.

Reasons for scratching!

* Claw care - every cat needs a manicure! * Territory marking - a visual clue to other cats - be thankful he's not spraying! * Exercise - hanging by your claws gives the body a good workout!

How do I stop him? Quite simply, you won't. But this needn't be such a problem. It just needs a little redirection and an acceptable alternative place for you cat to do his thing.

Claw care - Cats need to keep their claws trim and sharp and scratching, particularly wood and thick fabrics - like your best sofa! - are the ideal surfaces to shed the outer layer of their claws. No self respecting cat wants to throw itself at a fence only to slide all the way down due to lack of grip!
A scratching post is the perfect answer particularly if your cat is an indoor cat or doesn't like to venture out much. Growing trees in your house isn't really an option and lets face it, it's cheaper to buy a scratching post than replace your sofa, doors, kitchen units, etc. There are plenty on the market in all shapes, sizes, prices and in varying colours to match your decor! Visit our selection or why not make one yourself!

Territory marking - ah! Count your blessings! A visual display, much more preferential that the scenting kind! Believe me! Often left as a marker to let other cats know "this is my turf!" As high as possible up the door jamb, so it gives the intruder an idea of how big you are! When he comes back if the next set of

scratches is higher your puss knows he may be in for a rough ride. Discourage other cats from coming into your house. A quick squirt of water towards the unwelcome visitor is sometimes enough, but if you don't want to have to sit and wait armed with a water pistol an electromagnetic cat flap is a decent answer, providing your cat doesn't mind wearing a collar.

Exercise - a good long stretch. The feline equivalent to the morning stretch. Okay, so its not morning, but bear in mind every time your cat naps, its morning again to him! A good yawn stretches and relaxes the vocal chords and oesophagus (ready for copious meowing & much scoffing of food!) - a good body stretch hanging by your claws from the sofa, curtains, someones trouser leg! or bum in the air ripping the carpet up! relaxes muscles and increases blood flow ready for the energetic leap required on the work surface to wait for the chef to appear and serve lunch or to engage in mad antics around the house - knocking off that foul ornamental dog he never liked anyway! Cat Activity Centres, with somewhere to sleep, say a hammock, are an excellent solution if your cat insists on napping indoors. When puss awakes all he has to do is fall out of bed straight into his feline gym! Do ensure you put it somewhere quiet where your cat can sleep in peace.

So its not all gloom and doom! Once armed with your new equipment all that is required is to divert puss' attention from the places he used to scratch to the places you want him to scratch! The majority of cat activity centres and scratching posts are way ahead of you and impregnate the sisal or carpet with a generous dollop of catnip. If you've made your own cat scratcher catnip is cheap and easy to buy. Loved by most cats (over the age of six months) it has an intoxicating effect (non-addictive I might add) encouraging cats to scratch, roll and rub against its smell - so douse the cat scratcher with it! To discourage old scratching habits

Sticky Paws furniture strips are an excellent way of putting puss off. Cats, being very clean and fastidous creatures, don't like getting their paws mucky or sticky! And as stick on mud wasn't really an option, some clever soul came up with this idea instead!