What Does a Cat Scratching Post Do?
Cat Scratching Post
Scratching is a natural feline behavior that helps cats shed loose layers of claw sheaths and mark their territory. Unfortunately, many cat owners find their furniture and other surfaces get damaged by scratching. A cat scratching post is a simple solution that can save your furniture and help your cats satisfy their natural instinct to sharpen their claws.
Cats are born with the urge to scratch, which helps them stretch, exercise their paws, mark their scent, and maintain the health of their claws by removing the dead outer sheaths as they shed. Those sheaths can then be used for hunting, climbing and to grab onto prey. Cats need to scratch, even if it means damaging your sofa, but a cat scratching post will allow them to do so in a more acceptable location.
When you first introduce your cats to a new scratching surface, try to make it as appealing as possible. You can do this by placing catnip on the post or playing with them near the post to attract their attention. Some posts also come with hanging toys, such as feathers or mice, which can be more engaging for your pet and can keep them from scratching furniture or other surfaces while they play.
What Does a Cat Scratching Post Do?
After attracting their attention to the post, you need to encourage them to use it. Praise them whenever they scratch the post and ignore them when they scratch inappropriate surfaces. Over time, they will learn to associate the scratching post with praise and will begin using it instead of your furniture. If you do catch them scratching the sofa or other inappropriate surfaces, make a loud noise to startle them and then spray them with water from a plant or a squirt gun. They will likely stop scratching the sofa and start scratching the post, as they will associate the noise and water with the post and not with you.
Ideally, you should have one scratching post per cat in your home. Place them in prominent places where your cats like to scratch, such as near their favorite chair or on the stairs leading up to your house. The post should be tall enough for your cat to stretch its entire body when scratching and it is important that the scratching surface is durable and easy for them to claw into. Cardboard and sisal are common scratching materials, but some cats may prefer a more elaborate post that includes multiple levels of platforms for climbing and cozy cave-like areas to hide in.
You should also place a post in an area that is a safe distance away from anything sharp or dangerous, such as counter corners or table edges that could harm your cat while she climbs and scratches the posts. If you have multiple cats, try to place the posts so that they can meet and scratch together, as this will also reinforce their social bonding. Finally, don’t forget to replace your old cardboard or sisal post when it becomes worn out.