By Max Young
Sometimes, cats and furniture just don't mix. One of the most frustrating parts of being a cat owner can be the possibility of having your furniture ripped up! But you don't have to simply accept this as a fact of life. There are things you can do to reduce your cat's desire to put his claws on your sofa:
Declawing your cat is the easiest option, but it's also the most painful for him. Most veterinarians won't even perform the surgery since they believe it's inhumane to the animal. Instead, they will probably advise you to try a scratching post.
Providing multiple scratching prospects is a must for cats, who like to scratch after sleeping and eating. Placing a scratching post in your cat's environment is a great way to encourage his claws to stay off your furniture.
You can try temporarily covering your furniture with something that cats dislike, such as double-sided tape or aluminum foil. Cats can't stand stuff that sticks to them, and they generally avoid the sound of foil. Just make sure the tape won't damage your furniture or your cat.
Provide stimulation so your cat dose not become bored. Boredom is usually the root cause of furniture destruction. Supply your cat with a variety of toys that cover the senses of smell, texture, sound and movement. Observing your cat while he plays with different toys will give you an idea of his preferences.
Make it a habit to clip your cat's nails on a regular basis. This can curb the amount of furniture scratching your cat engages in, or at the very least, it will diminish the damage done by the scratching. Small cats will become easily accustomed to clipping when rewarded with treats following a clip.
If your cat has an affinity for a particular drape in your house, pin a doorknob alarm to it. When the cat tries to climb the curtain, the alarm will sound every time.
Provide endless entertainment for your cat by installing a window perch inside and a bird or squirrel feeder immediately outside. Your cat will spend so much time watching the locals, he'll forget you have furniture!
If you see your cat scratching the furniture, use a squirt bottle to give him a shower and firmly say, "No!" Of course, this only works if you're around to see him scratch.
Taping inflated balloons to the trouble areas may help, as your cat will avoid scratching in a place where he popped a balloon. However, you should only try this if you are around so you can keep your cat from eating the balloon pieces.
Pet supply stores and website sell training devices that deter cats from prohibited areas by emitting aggravating noises. You can also use fragrant deterrents, such as bitter apple sprays or orange peels.
Avoid physical punishments that can produce anxiety or hostility in your cat and will probably only teach them to avoid scratching in your presence. No matter which method you employ, it is unreasonable to think that your cat will stop scratching altogether. Scratching is part of a cat's nature, and if you want to be a cat owner, you'll have to put up with it to a certain degree.
| Max Young is an information researcher whom presents working information to be used for every day experiences. To get the inside word on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors like aggression and dominance in your dog, click now on the following link. |
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