One common question that is often posed by first time cat owners is, “How can I stop a cat from scratching.” The short answer – and one that is not very well received by those novice cat owners – is that there is no healthy and humane way to stop a cat from scratching.

 

The reason for that is because scratching is a perfectly normal cat behavior. It is something that a cat needs to do for several different reasons. Trying to cause the behavior to cease altogether is a losing battle.

 

What About Declawing?

 

Declawing is a procedure in which the claws on the front paws are removed. Anyone who thinks that sounds like a fairly simple solution to the problem of scratching should keep reading.

 

When humans think of a cat’s claws, they tend to think of them like a human’s fingernails. The fact is that claws are not similar to fingernails, which are not necessary to the way a human functions. Claws are instead a part of the cat’s anatomy that is necessary for both balance and mobility. Many studies also show that cats who have been  declawed  suffer from a variety of behavior problems.

 

Declawing a cat has been compared to cutting off the tips of each of a person’s fingers. It is inhumane and should not even be considered as an option.

 

Now that the idea of declawing has been removed from the table, let’s try to get an understanding of why cats scratch. Below are the four basic reasons that a cat must scratch.

 

1. To Sharpen Their Claws

In order for a cat to keep his claws healthy, they must remain sharp. Scratching on certain surfaces is how the cat keeps his claws at their sharpest.

 

2. Pure Enjoyment

Yes, cats like to scratch. It feels good to them. Many cat owners can testify to the fact that at the same time that their cat is scratching, he is also purring.

 

3. For Exercise

Intense cardio it is not, but scratching does provide a cat with some low energy exercise. It gives the cat a way to get rid of some of his pent up energy.

 

4. To Mark Their Territory

Cats feel the need to mark their territory. This, like many other feline behaviors, is an adaptation of what a cat would do if he was living in the wild. Scratching is one way that a cat marks what he feels belongs to him (urinating is another way). There are glands in cat’s feet that give off a scent. When a cat scratches, he leaves behind a scent that any other cat that comes along will be able to smell. That smell means this territory belongs to another cat.

  

Now that you know why a cat scratches and that there is no humane way to stop the behavior entirely, it is time to pose a more reasonable question: “How can I stop a cat from scratching in certain places.” Some of these places might include carpet, furniture or walls.

 

The trick is to figure out how to get the cat to scratch where you want him to scratch rather than letting him decide the best places to work those claws. This may sound like a difficult task, but it usually is as simple as providing the cat with an appealing alternative to your brand new sofa.

 

Scratching posts are available in many forms. Some are not much more than corrugated cardboard that hangs by a string from a doorknob. Others are elaborate pieces of feline furniture that incorporate many different elements that are pleasing to cats. From one extreme to the other – and everything in between – all are options that can help direct your cat’s scratching behavior to a more acceptable location.

 

Not every cat is going to like every  scratching post . There will likely be some trial and error involved in finding one that works for your cat. There are several factors to consider when choosing a scratching post. Some of those are listed below.

 

• 1.Cost
  Some of the more simple scratching posts will only cost a few dollars. On the other end of the spectrum are huge “kitty condos” that cost hundreds of dollars. Until you learn which textures are most pleasing to your cat, it might be a good idea not to splurge on the biggest and most expensive option. Instead, start small, gauge the reaction of the pet and take it from there. It might be that the small, inexpensive choice is all a certain cat needs to turn his attention away from the carpet. Try that first, and if it doesn’t work, more expensive selections can be made. 
• 2.Textures
  Some people like satin sheets and others prefer cotton. Just as humans have different texture preferences, so do cats. Experiment with different textures until one is found that seems to be irresistible to the cat. Do keep in mind some of the reasons that cats scratch. As mentioned earlier, one of the purposes of scratching is to keep the claws sharp. That is why it is important to include rough textures. While a cat gets pleasure from scratching carpet, that surface does nothing in the way of sharpening her claws. Its fine if the post has some carpeted area, but there should be rougher textures included as well. 
• 3.Overall Size
  Once it has been determined which textures are most pleasing to the cat, larger scratching posts can be considered. Of course, the size selected will depend on factors such as budget and available space in the home. It is important that the cat be able to fully extend his body while scratching. As long as the post will allow that type of movement, it is acceptable. 
• 4.Stability
  One man spent a week constructing a kitty condo/scratching post in his garage. He couldn’t afford the ones available at the pet store, so he chose a “do-it-yourself” model. The problem was, he wasn’t really a handy guy, and this was the first thing he ever tried to build. It wasn’t very sturdy and the first time the cat tried to use it, it fell over.

As any cat owner can guess, the cat would not go within 20 feet of that thing ever again. Even the models purchased from the stores can sometimes be a bit unstable. Usually, simply tightening the screws will fix the problem.

Be sure that before the cat is introduced to the item that it is perfectly stable. The goal is to make every interaction that cat has with the scratching post a positive one.

 

The location in which the scratching post is placed is just as important as the post itself. If stuck in some rarely visited, far off corner of the house, the cat will be less likely to use it than if it is placed in a spot frequented by the cat and others in the household. Ideally, there should be scratching posts in every room in which the cat goes. That way, no matter when he gets the urge to sharpen his claws, there will be one nearby.

 

Rewarding proper behavior is much more effective than punishing bad behavior. If the cat scratches the sofa and hears yelling, he isn’t really going to understand the correlation and the yelling will only frighten him.

 

Try placing the scratching post close the area where the cat prefers to scratch. If he still seems to prefer to scratch the carpet or the furniture, try to discourage that behavior by covering the area with tape, tin foil or a “scat mat” which can be purchased at most pet supply stores. Another option is to spray the area with a scent to which cats have an aversion. Such sprays are also available at pet supply stores. With the preferred areas no longer an option, the cat will hopefully turn his attention to the scratching post.

 

Do not force your cat to use the post by holding her paws and rubbing them on the scratching post. This will not be effective and may cause the cat have an aversion to the post.

  

Instead, make the unacceptable areas preferred by the cat unavailable while providing a nearby acceptable alternative. Show a little patience, but if the cat still isn’t catching on, you can try squirting the cat with a water bottle when he scratches in the wrong place. Doing that will cause the cat to associate scratching in that location to the unpleasant experience of being squirted.

 

There is no humane way to stop a cat from scratching entirely, but you can direct the scratching to an acceptable location that will spare your carpet and furniture from total destruction.