Scratching
Contrary to popular belief, cats do not scratch to sharpen their claws. There
are many reasons (and benefits!) for scratching, including:
Communication:
Since cats have scent glands on their pads, scratching is a way for them to
mark their territory. Although odorless to us, it is unique to each cat. The
scratched “design” left behind also serves a visual note for other animals.
This was an essential tool for survival in the wild, and is something that has
been ingrained in cats’ genetics from centuries ago.
Exercise:
Just as in humans, scratching is a form of exercise that helps stretch and
build up muscles. This type of exercise is beneficial for their back,
shoulders, chest and stomach. It also helps the muscles and tendons in the
paw. Scratching is the most basic and natural form of exercise a cat can do.
Stress relief:
The action of scratching releases the physical and emotional stress that
cats can harbor. A stronger body and more stable emotional state means less
behavioral and medical problems.
Grooming:
Scratching does not sharpen the claws but in fact removes the out layer of
dead cells on the nail. This helps ensures optimum health of the nail.
Scratching Post 101
We often hear “I bought my cat a scratching post, but he never uses it!”
One of the reasons for this is that cats have preferences too! When buying
a scratching post, you must understand what is appealing to your cat in
terms of scratching. The couch is always a popular preference for cats
because it is tall, sturdy, and in a central location. There are many different
varieties of scratching posts and observing your cat will be helpful in
choosing the right one for them. Some things to consider are:
Horizontal, Vertical or Diagonal
Does the cat prefer to scratch rugs or does he seem to gravitate towards
furniture (like the side of your couch?)
Surface
Rope, wood and cardboard options are available for cats that prefer to
shred, while carpet is great for cats who like to hook their claws into fabric.
Sturdy
If it wobbles, even once, your cat may never go back to it again. It must be
rock solid for the cat to scratch, climb, jump on and perch.
Size
The recommended height for a scratching post is a minimum of 3 feet tall to
ensure your cat can stand on his hind legs, stretch out completely and claw
downward. This is something you want to invest in from the start. Most
scratching posts are too small and therefore, a waste of your money.
Location
Since cats use scratching as a way of saying “Hi, I’m here! Look what I did!”
They want their efforts to be seen. The location should be in an area that is
used by the family and not hidden somewhere. It should be easily accessible
to the cat and in a location he is comfortable in.
If one rug has already been “claimed” by your cat and you have no problem
with giving it up, you can fasten it to the scratching post, or encourage the
cat to continue using it. However a scratching post should still be available to
your cat for him to jump on, perch and play with.
There are also some scratching posts that can be placed directly against the
furniture if your cat is persistent in scratching that one area. However
please note a taller and sturdier post should also be available to your cat.
Tips to help your cat use his new scratching post
Place the scratching post next to the chosen area of your cat’s scratching if
possible (for example, next to the couch). This way you can easily redirect
the cat to what you want him to scratch. Over the course of a few weeks you
can move it a few feet away until it is at the desired location in your home.
Attracting the cat to the scratching post by luring him over with a toy, treat
or placing catnip on the scratching post is usually the best method to
encourage him to use it.
Make the objects you do not want scratched un-appealing. This can include
putting double sided sticky tape, tin foil or even sand paper over the edges
of the object you don’t want scratched. Only once your cat is consistently
using the scratching post can you begin to remove the coverings. This should
also be done gradually. Do not remove them all at once.
NEVER punish a cat for scratching furniture.
Although using a squirt bottle or rattling a tin can may get the cat to stop in
the moment, it can also be startling and confusing to the cat, as he is only
doing what is normal behavior for him. The behavior MUST be re-directed to
what is acceptable as punishment alone teaches the cat to become fearful.
If making a noise is used in training, it must be done in the moment and
never after the behavior has already occurred.
Once the scratching post has become used in and is showing some wear and
tear, do not throw it away! Since cats use their scratching designs and
scents as their way of communicating, this would be like throwing out all of
your emails at once! You can try adding another scratching post before
replacing the old one completely, or take bits and pieces and put it on the
new one.