A scratching cat is inevitable because it is an innate behavior that must be expressed. Over the next few minutes, I am going to explain why cats scratch, ways to prevent it and solutions to the problem. Remember, your kitty is going to scratch, no matter what; you just need to make sure they scratch in the correct places so none of your belongings are completely destroyed.

Cats are born with sharp claws and for a very good reason. The majority of the cat species is not domesticated so their claws serve a great purpose in the wild. In the wild, scratching not only sharpens claws, but it also marks the animal’s territory. This lets other animals know this is their domain. In addition to this, a scratching cat is in the process of releasing pheromones. Pheromones are released by every living species. They produce messages to convey to a member of the same species.

Now that you understand your scratching cat, it is important to note where they are scratching. Do they scratch by their box, their play area or sleeping area? This is known as territorial scratching and what you want to do is redirect this behavior to objects that you don’t mind being ruined.

Buy your kitty scratching kitty a post, rug, or toys to use for scratching in this area. You are going to have to teach your scratching cat this is the new area to scratch. This may take a while so don’t get frustrated if you are continually catching kitty scratching your furniture or carpet for a while after the introduction of these objects.

It is not realistic to believe that you can wipe this behavior out totally because it is impossible. One method people use to stop a scratching cat is declawing their kitty. While this is not illegal in the U.S., it is illegal in many countries. Though this is an effective method for some, others believe it is cruel and inhumane. It is especially not a great idea for outdoor cats because they need their claws for climbing and protection. But the decision to use this method is entirely up to you.

Keeping your cat from scratching up your home doesn’t have to be a lot of work. Purchasing the right toys and gadgets is the first step. The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to a scratching cat is diverting their actions to another object and you should do fine.