MARY JO NAGY | Pets Minimize damage from cat's scratching

One of the biggest complaints that cat owners have about their cats is the scratching.
It is a perfectly normal behavior for a cat to scratch. Why do they do it? Cats scratch for several reasons: to mark their territory by leaving a scent and a visual mark, to stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws, to remove the dead outer layers of their claws and to work off energy or just exercise.
Because this is a normal behavior, it is unrealistic to try to prevent a cat from scratching. What you want to do is redirect them to scratching only acceptable items. How can you do it?
First, you must provide your cat with objects to scratch that are attractive, appealing and convenient to use.
Start by watching what your cat has scratched. Then answer the following questions:
UWhere are the objects located? Are they close to sleeping areas, are they prominent and are they near the entrance of a room? Those are the most often-used objects in a house.
UWhat textures do they have, coarse or soft?
UWhat shape do they have, vertical or horizontal?
UHow tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?
Substitute similar objects
After looking at what your cat prefers, start substituting similar objects, like corrugated cardboard, wood, or rope-wrapped posts.
Place the new objects near the ones that you don't want used, like the couch, and make sure the objects are stable and won't move around or fall over when they are used.
Cover the inappropriate objects with double-sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, or sheets of sandpaper. You want your cat to find it unappealing. You could also use smell to deter your cat.
Make sure you use safe but unpleasant smells such as perfume or muscle rubs. Be careful that the odor doesn't drift to the new object.
When your cat is consistently using the new scratching object, it can be moved gradually to a place more suitable to you. Don't move it more than three inches a day. It is best to keep the suitable scratching objects as close to the old ones as possible.
Don't remove the sticky tape or coverings from the off-limits object until your cat is consistently using the new one.
Remove the covers gradually. It may take several weeks to a month, so be patient.
Don't punish cat
Whatever you do, don't punish your cat for scratching. Hitting your cat will not change the behavior, but may make your cat afraid of you or make it show aggressive behavior.
Punishment may stop it for the moment but a cat will continue to scratch when you're not around.
Try less aversive things like making a loud noise using a can filled with marbles or rocks when you see them scratching. Do not hit your cat.
To lessen scratching, it is important to keep your cat's nails trimmed.
You should clip off the sharp tips of your cat's claws on the front paws every few weeks. Clipping will help prevent them from becoming snagged in the carpet, not to mention your skin.
Before trimming have your cat become accustomed to having the paws touched and gently squeezed. Cut only the tip and be careful to not cut the pink part or "quick" because this will make it bleed and is painful.
If you just cut off the hook it will dull the claw. There are several types of clippers that you can use, so talk to your veterinarian or call the local animal shelter for suggestions.
Declawing
Many people who want a quick fix for scratching look to declawing. Declawing is a procedure whereby a veterinarian amputates the end digit and claw of a cat's paw. This would be similar to cutting off a person's finger at the last joint.
This should be done only as a last resort, and most animal organizations oppose declawing when done solely for the convenience of the owner. Declawing robs a cat of an integral means of movement and defense. Declawed cats should never be allowed outdoors because they are at an increased risk for injury.
With all that knowledge, if you have still decided to have your cat declawed, do it at the same time of your neutering, and never have the rear claws removed.
People who desire cats as companions need to learn all they can about feline behavior before adopting one.
Millions of non-declawed cats live with their human companions in harmony. Scratching is a normal behavior for a cat.
XMary Jo Nagy is a volunteer with Angels for Animals.