Walk into the home of a cat who runs amok and you’ll often see the aftermath of catastrophic claws. Shredded furniture, tattered drapes and torn carpet are testaments to a feline who has not been given proper guidance on where he can scratch and what is off limits. Sadly, this lack of training can result in perfectly good and normal cats being relinquished to shelters or even euthanized.
Scratching is a healthy, natural instinct in cats stemming from the survival tactics of marking territory (they have scent glands in their paws) and keeping claws sharp for hunting and protection. They may also scratch while playing and stretching. Because it’s such a deeply ingrained trait, cat parents shouldn’t even attempt to eliminate it, but rather give the cat places and objects that are acceptable for his clawing sessions. There are countless scratching posts and toys designed especially for your cat’s enjoyment. Once you have added a few of these to your household, it’s just a matter of attracting your kitty to them. You might try rubbing some catnip on the new toy, or gently rubbing your cat’s paws on it to mark it with his scent. Anytime he opts for furniture, drapes or other forbidden items, stop him with a squirt gun or other harmless attention-grabber. Until he transitions to his own toys, you may want to keep a protective cover on furniture or other tempting items. It’s also a good idea to keep your indoor cat’s claws trimmed. Some felines don’t mind home pedicures, but our staff will be happy to service those who do. You may also want to consider a product such as Soft Claws® to cap and blunt your kitty’s nails and prevent damage caused by them.
If off-limits scratching continues to be a problem, we can work with you on other behavior modifications and solutions.