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There is one piece of cat furniture that is a must in your home, and that is the scratching post. Cats in the wild scratch on tree trunks or in the dirt. In your home they choose just about anything they can get their claws into, furniture, rugs, drapes and so on.

Why do Cats Scratch?
Ever notice how cats usually scratch on vertical surfaces, and as high up as they can reach? This is because they are actually stretching their muscles. Clawing on tree trunks, or more likely, your drapes, enable the cat to exercise and develop muscles from the legs down through the back. Clawing also helps remove the outer layer of the nail, which is shed naturally as the nail grows.

Make it Enticing
The best scratching post will resemble a tree trunk, not home furnishings. Unless you have all hard-surface flooring and wood and leather furniture; using carpet covered scratching posts is not a good idea. Though they are very popular (at least with humans), they are too similar to the surfaces you want your cat to avoid, and therefore make it difficult for the cat to differentiate. The best materials for a scratching post are either actual limbs or tree stumps, or sisal.

You can encourage the use of the scratching post by rubbing it with Catnip or using a catnip spray. If your cat has already begun using your furniture as a scratching post, you will have to do a little behavior modification. In addition to making the post more attractive you need to make the rest of the house less so. You can use aluminum foil or double-faced tape on the furniture and drapes. There is a product called "Sticky Paws", which is basically an extra-wide, strong sticky tape. The idea is the cats don't like the feel of the foil or the sticky tape, and leave the furniture alone. I have used it with good results.

Sisal scratching posts work best

Not the Drapes - Please!
Placing the scratching post near the cat's current favorite scratching object will facilitate the transfer. Whenever you see the cat starting to claw on furniture or drapes, simply move him away from that object toward the post. Do not try to put his paws on the post or force him to use it - he will rebel! You can show him what it is for by lightly scratching on the post yourself, or by laying it on the ground and placing the cat on top of it. If you stroke the cat firmly while he stands on the post, his claws will automatically dig in. This allows him to discover for himself what a great scratching surface it is. Anitra Fraizer gives more details in her book "The New Natural Cat"

Once the cat has begun to use the post, continue to encourage him with praise, petting and/or treats. Be sure not to interrupt him, but wait until he has finished scratching to offer your reward.

Don't like clipping those sharp claws? Here's a solution!

Declawing the Cat
A word here about declawing - DON'T! It is a cruel and painful operation. Declawing involves more than simply removing a "fingernail", it is the removal of the first joint of each toe! It causes weeks of discomfort as the cat heals, and often leads to infection. It results in muscle weakness and impairment of balance. Read "Grooming Your Cat" at this site for instructions on trimming your cat's claws (very important!), and another alternative to declawing.

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