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Cats and Scratching
-- Training Your Cat
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So you have a cat that loves to scratch. Well, there is nothing
wrong with that as it is natural for cats to love to scratch
furniture and other objects. So what do you do if there is
destructive scratching? For example, when your $5,000 sofa is the
object of your cats claws? Well the simple answer is train them to
scratch appropriate items.
Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. Some cats scratch furniture
to burn energy or to stretch. After all, who doesn't like to stretch
now and again. Scratching also helps remove the dead outer layer of
claws, similar to humans clipping your finger nails. Another
possibility is territory marking as scratch marks are a visible sign
and scent glands (in the paws) add olfactory smells to say this is
my spot/territory/area.
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As scratching is natural, it is not right to punish your cat for
what it instinctively does. Punishing your cat for scratching only
makes him or her more likely to be more aggressive and fearful of
you as the trust between you can be destroyed. It also does not help
because your cat doesn't know any better if they have not yet been
trained to scratch another item. The best form of punishment, should
you feel it's absolutely necessary, is to make a loud noise or
squirt it with a squirt bottle if you catch your cat in the act of
scratching the wrong object. However you must have given the cat an
alternative to scratch beforehand or the cat will not understand. If
the cat learns to associate the noise with you, then the cat may
stop scratching while you're present, but probably resume once
you're gone. This is why training your cat to scratch scratching
posts and other proper objects is so important.
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Now that you know why your cat scratches and what not to do, you can
train him or her to scratch appropriate objects and not your prized
furniture. The first step involves seeing what objects your cat
likes to scratch. What type of material is the object - is it
smooth, coarse, rough? The height of the object and how high up the
cat scratches is also important information. Is the object flat or
upright? Finally, knowing where it is located is another important
step - sleeping area, entrance area of a room, etc. Observing the
characteristics of items your cat likes to scratch means you can
find or buy a similar item for your cat.
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Put whatever stationary object you end up getting - a scratching
post, a rope, a log, etc. - very close to the object you do not want
your cat to scratch. However, make sure it will not fall over or
otherwise move as your cat uses it or else your cat will not use it
again. Then cover up the item your cat scratches with something he
or she does not like - some material (double-sided tape or aluminum
foil works well) or a non-harmful odor that he/she doesn't like (try
citrus). Your cat should now work its way to the new object as it
resembles what your cat likes and will start scratching it instead.
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As your cat starts scratching his or her new object, you can slowly
move it to a new spot. However, only move it a couple inches each
day as your cat won't like sudden changes. Best results can be
achieved when the object is as close as possible to what you do not
want your cat to scratch. As a reminder you do not want to remove
whatever covering you have put on your valuable furniture, drape or
object for many weeks, even up to a month! When you do start
removing your coverings, do so gradually to reinforce in your cat
that he or she is not supposed to scratch it.
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A final piece of advice on training is to start when the cat is
young as it is easier to train a kitten than an old cat. Regardless
of age, a cat can always be trained if you put in the time.
Congratulations! You now know how to train your cat to scratch
objects you want, not your $5,000 sofa.
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By Arthur Royal Technicial Writer for Only Petcare http://www.onlypetcare.com
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Cats
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