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Is your beloved kitty scratching and demolishing your home furnishings? It is not at all nice to have this happening, and can be very frustrating. But you need to understand that scratching is simply a normal cat behavior. It does not matter what you do, your cat is always going to have an inbuilt need to scratch. The sad fact is that most cats usually love scratching on the precious furniture in your house, for instance the upholstery fabric on your chairs and your couch. Given that you cannot prevent cats from scratching things up, the best thing to do is to provide the cat with their own personal cat scratching tree.
Cats scratch for many different purposes. It is integral part of their daily grooming routine. The main reason is that it removes the dead outer sheath from their nails. And as well as leaving behind visible scratch marks, scratching also leaves their own odor on the surface they have scratched. By leaving their personal scent, they are "marking their territory" as their own, which makes them feel more secure in their surroundings. And finally, cats scratch to exercise and stretch their muscles, so it just feels great to them.
So seeing that scratching is a habit that cats actually have a need to do, you need to find your kitty an alternative scratching item and discouraging your cat from scratching on the furniture that you cherish. The very best option is to provide a cat scratching tree where your kitty get really stuck in to scratching and not ruin any of the furniture.
When choosing a cat tree, make sure you choose a very good quality kitty scratching pole. Cats enjoy surfaces that are coarse, so that they can really hook their claws in and pull hard. A quick option may be to find a piece of a tree stump, which may work well, and if chosen well could look very nice in your home. Commercially made cat scratching posts are readily available to buy. Cat scratching poles having sisal carpet or sisal rope covered areas are very good. Everyday carpeting is also very good for a kitty to scratch on.
The cat scratching post really should be high enough for your kitty to completely extend the whole length of her body out for a great stretch. Steer clear of buying cat scratching poles that have smooth areas, since the kitty will most likely not use them. Your cat tree should also be solid, secure and robust, as it will take a lot of harsh punishment over the years and you want it to be able to stand up to that.
Once you have the new cat tree, you can teach your cat to scratch on it instead of your furniture. To begin with, position kitty's new scratching post next to pieces of furniture where the cat normally tends to do her scratching. Once your cat gets used to her new scratching tree, then you can move it to the place where you would like it to remain permanently.
If your kitty won't use the cat scratching post, you can cover her current scratching area with something not really nice to scratch on, so as to to discourage her from using that area. The places your kitty has marked with scratches also have her own smell, therefore you will need to remove this odor to stop her from returning to the same place. Cat odor neutralizers can be purchased in almost all pet shops and most supermarkets too. If you have problems with your cat still wanting to use her old scratching places, you can try placing lemon or orange peel around those spots, because most felines don't like the fragrance of citrus. When your kitty smells the citrus on her current scratching surface, she should steer clear of it.
When you have a really good cat scratching pole, not only will your cherished kitty love you for giving her very own place to dig in her claws, but your lovely furniture will be safe and free from damage!
Carmen Blake has been owned by cats all her life and understands their needs and all their little nuances. For more information on how to build cat tree visit her website: HowToBuildCatTree.com. If you are looking for Cat Scratching Post Plans, then you certainly will find what you need there.
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