Cats can be ill tempered and mean on their worst days, but even
the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere. If your cat
is clawing your furniture, your carpet, and your legs with the
same ferocity, understanding the how and why behind the behavior
can help you redirect your feline friend’s clawing instinct to
be expressed in less destructive ways.
So why IS your cat clawing everything in sight?
Here’s
the jawdropper: a cat’s claws never stop growing. Let me repeat
that: They NEVER stop growing. When I found that out, a big
light went off in my head. Just like a pet hamster that
constantly needs to knaw on wood to keep their teeth from
growing too long, what cats are actually doing when they sharpen
their claws is removing the outermost layer of their claws. O.K.
Kitty Cat, we finally get it!
So what to do? What to do?
The first thought bubble that forms is to scoop kitty up for a
little declawing action at the nearest vet’s office. But before
you take such a drastic step, keep in mind that once those claws
are gone, they’re GONE. Take away those claws, and you’re taking
away your pet’s primary form of defense. Even if you have an
indoor cat like I do, chances are, sooner or later, a window of
opportunity is going to open up just long enough for your cat to
slip outside and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals and
people.
O.K. So now you know why your cat is actually
using you as a scratching post. Let’s move away from the word
“using”. In a way, it’s kind of flattering. That doesn’t make it
hurt any less. Let’s get your cat to branch out. It’s time to
get a REAL scratching post, so that your pet can get into the
habit of using it instead of YOU, whenever those claw sharpening
impulses may strike.
So how do we get kitty to break her
bad habits and start to use the proper place where she can
scratch to her heart’s content?
The answer lies in you.
That is of course, IF you are your cat’s favorite person in the
family.
If so, then try hanging an article of clothing
that belongs to you on your virgin scratching post. The idea is
to make the area smell familiar. A day or two should be enough
for your cat to become accustomed to its’new scratching outlet.
Don’t want to part with something from your wardrobe? Time to
get a little sneakier then. Catnip can be your secret weapon.
Sprinkle catnip over the scratching post and watch what happens.
This one may be even worth breaking out the video camera for.
This next option sounds a little weird, but believe me, it
WORKS!
Try sprinkling the post area with powdered chicken
bouillon. The idea is to get the cat to feel friendly enough
toward the scratching post to attack it.
While your cat
is making the transition to a designated area for scratching,
there are several ways to make your cat’s favorite scratching
areas a lot less attractive. This will help ease the transition
from the old spots to the new.
Sprinkle fresh lemon juice
over them. Cover or wrap the areas in aluminum foil. Remember
what it felt like when your fingernails went down the
chalkboard? Ever try it again? Cats will experience the same
thing and be deterred from using the areas. Finally, clean the
areas well to eradicate any cat odor. This will go a long way
toward removing the aura of familiarity that creates the habit
of using the space. Also, just keep the doors closed to make
those places inaccessible to the cat.
Now that you know more about the how and why of your cat’s
clawing instinct and behavior, take these simple steps and
you’ll soon see a resolution to the cat clawing issues in your
household. With a little time and patience, your cat’s claw
sharpening activities should be limited to its’favorite spot:
the scratching post!
About the Author:
Romi Matsushita is a Cat Claw Survivor who has the scars to
prove it. Learn more reasons your cat’s claws come out at:
http://www.cat-advisors-online.com