Claws and Scratching

        Scratching is a form of feline marking. It is a normal part of the feline communication repertoire although scratching is a problem when done in our homes. A cat’s natural inclination to scratch tree trunks or other convenient objects in the environment serves both physical and social needs. Scratching removes the worn outer layers of a cat’s claws and exposes a new, sharp claw tip. As the cat claws, it also exercises and stretches muscles. Just as we often enjoy a good stretch when we get up in the morning, cats often seek out a good scratch shortly after they awaken.

    Problems arise when your cat carries out the behavioral mandate of millions of years of feline evolution in your home. To your cat, the arm of a sofa – a prominent object in a well-traveled area – is the ideal place to scratch. After your cat begins to scratch the sofa, it wants to return again and again to mark the same place. Rather than fight feline nature by punishing the cat for scratching, the owner can preserve household furniture by offering the cat acceptable alternatives. First declawing your cat can be discussed. This is a simple alternative for many owners. If this is the option you choose, remember that younger, healthy cats undergo the surgical procedure better than older or overweight cats. Second, if you chose not to have your cat declawed, there are caps that you can place over their nails. These require much time and care on the owner’s part. Third, you could provide one or more scratching posts before the cat has a chance to begin clawing the furniture. But if the cat has already claimed an arm of the sofa as its personal scratching post, you should place a scratching post directly in front of the sofa and then gradually move the post further away (over a period of days or weeks). Finally, the post should end up in a less prominent but still-visible location once the cat grows accustomed to using it.

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