Benefits of Cat trees

Cat scratching is a very basic and intuitive behavior in cats. Cats do this for various reasons:

  1. To mark their territory
  2. Cat scratching also leaves distinctive scent from cat’s glands in the paw, marking its territory
  3. As a part of their exercise routine to tone up their muscles
  4. Cats also scratch for sheer pleasure
  5. Scratching also sharpens the nails, and removes old sheaths from the claws
  6. This also helps cats to relieve stress and boredom

Punishment not a solution

When a cat is kept as a pet in a house, it is common to find the cat scratching on sofas and other furniture. People, who do not understand the natural instinct of these animals, will tend to punish the cat. This often leads to an aggressive response from the cat, spoiling the pleasure of having a cat as an enjoyable pet.

De-clawing - extreme action

Another extreme step adopted for cat scratching is the surgical removal of the last joints of the cat’s toes. This is an irreversible procedure and a cat that is so pleasurable to have as a pet, deserves better treatment. Further, such procedures may result in emotional and behavioral problems. De-clawed cats do not stop scratching and this may result in injury to the cat’s paws.

Scratching posts - best solution

Buying or making a suitable Cat Furniture is the best solution for keeping home furniture intact. These are to be kept in places frequented by the cat. One obvious location is where the cat sleeps, as cats prefer to stretch and scratch when they get up.

Training the cat

A cat needs to be trained to use the scratching posts. The best solution is to purchase the product when the kitten is brought home for the first time. Sustained effort is required to train the cat to consider the scratching post as a possession. Here are some tips which may be useful:

  • The Cat Tree is to be placed in an area often visited by the cat or where it is already scratching
  • It is also advisable to cover the area which was earlier used by the cat, for scratching with plastic
  • Sleeping areas and feeding areas are the two best places for keeping the scratch posts, apart from the frequented areas
  • Cat scratching posts can also be part of other cat furniture such as cat trees and cat houses

Scratch post types

Cat Condos come in different shapes and sizes. They Should be made of solid wood and covered with carpet. For the best durability, use carpet only, as covering materials.

Purchasing or making a Cat Tree is an absolute necessity to save house-hold furniture from cat scratching. If not purchased, the cat cannot be held accountable for damage to sofas and other household furniture!

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