Claw Control Chronicles: Your guide to managing cat scratching
Scratching is a feline behavior that most pet parents find annoying. No pet parent wants to come home to find their upholstery or favorite piece of clothing torn to shreds. Follow these tips to manage your cat’s scratching behavior.
– by Nitya Ramchandran
Scratching is an instinctive tendency among cats and thus, cannot be prevented. But it can certainly be managed!
The itch to scratch!
All cats scratch, regardless of whether they have claws or not. There are multiple reasons why cats engage in this behavior. Scratching helps them stretch and exercise their front limbs. It also acts as a stress-buster, helping them relieve their anxiety. Scratching helps keep their nails shape, as unruly long nails get worn down in the process. Cats are natural predators. Scratching helps them sharpen their claws and stay prepared for hunting. The scent glands under their paw pads are put to good use while scratching as a way of marking territory and asserting dominance.
Tips to effectively manage cat scratching
Scratching is an instinctive urge in cats. It is not intentional misbehavior on their part. When the urge strikes, cats do not consider which objects are okay to scratch and which aren’t. Their sole focus at that moment is on finding a surface that will help them scratch best and feel good in the process.However, allowing the destructive behavior to continue can have disastrous consequences. The solution lies in providing your pet with better scratching alternatives while simultaneously modifying scratching behavior for the better.
Here are some of the ways you can effectively manage your feline friend’s scratching.
- Say ‘No’ to yelling
Never resort to harsh disciplinary methods to tame your cat’s destructive scratching tendencies. It can scare your pet and make her avoid you.
- Tame with a trim
Regularly trimming your pet’s nails will minimize her urge to file and sharpen them on your furniture or carpet, besides reducing the damage caused to furniture. Take it slow when getting her accustomed to having her nails trimmed. Use good quality nail clippers and make sure the process is slow and gradual.
- Sharp strategy – reduce the appeal of off-limits areas
Apply double-sided sticky tape to your pet’s favorite scratching spots to change their texture and make them less pleasing to touch. Cats hate putting their paws on surfaces that stick, so this method works as an excellent deterrent.
- Super solution – Spritz unpleasant scents
Cats have an aversion to citrusy fragrances and the smell of apple cider vinegar. Spraying fragrances that your pet hates onto her favorite scratching spots will work wonders in keeping her away from them.
- Tackle with negative reinforcement
If you happen to catch your pet scratching an inappropriate object, immediately squirt water using a spray bottle. Doing so will condition her not to scratch the surface when you’re around. Most cats hate water and will run away when you squirt them with water.
- Observe patterns of scratching mastery
Does your pet like to dig her nails into the plush leather couch where you spend most of your time, or does she prefer sharpening her claws on the sturdy legs of the teakwood cot? Does she enjoy scratching vertical surfaces or horizontal? Notice if she has a fondness for the piece of furniture right in the middle of the living room. Closely monitoring your pet’s behavior can provide valuable clues about her scratching preferences as far as areas, objects, and materials are concerned. These can help steer her scratching habits towards a better direction.
- ‘Purr’fect preferences
Scratching preferences differ from cat to cat. Find out your pet’s scratching preferences before you spend money on buying expensive products. You want to provide her with alternatives that closely match the texture of the inappropriate objects she so loves to scratch. Fortunately, there are budget-friendly optionsthat do not take up a lot of space. If you’re unsure what your pet might like, experiment with different scratching materials like rugs, coarse rope, carpeted cat perches, and wooden planks to see what works. Your pet isn’t likely to use a material that does not feel good to scratch. Sturdy objects that do not wobble and allow them to stretch out are usually their favorite.
- Claws to calm – train your feline friend
Once you narrow down upon your pet’s favorite scratching preferences, you need to help her make the transition from inappropriate scratching posts to the more appropriate ones. Incorporate the latter into your daily play sessions with your feline friend to increase familiarity. Make new scratching posts appealing and irresistible to encourage her to scratch on them. You can do this by placing toys or treats on or near the scratching surface. Reward her with a treat every time she scratches the new post. You can also try using cat pheromone products to help direct your pet toward designated scratching surfaces. Make sure the scratching post is well-placed. Once your pet becomes familiar with the new scratching post, move it to the center of the room or next to her favorite scratching surfaces.
- Be scratch savvy and protect the surfaces
If you cannot deter your pet from the scratching area, you could place protective scratching mats or plastic covers over household furnishings. It will allow her to scratch the favorite spot without causing damage.
- Slow and steady always wins the race
Never force your pet to scratch a new post, as doing so can cause her stress. She will begin to associate negative feelings with the new scratching post and avoid it, which is not what you want. Cats take a long time to warm up to new things. Do not rush the process or get frustrated if your she ignores the new scratching post for some days.
With these measures in place and your keen eye, you can definitely reduce the destructive behavior associated with scratching.