Cat Scratcher How to Choose the Right One

Tired of your cat tearing up your furniture? Declawing is inhumane and can lead to serious complications. But Your furniture is expensive. It's time to buy a cat scratcher, or make one, that your cats will like more than your sofa. If you have a good scratcher, a cat will never claw your furniture.

It hasn't escaped your notice that your new sofa is in tatters and there is only one culprit that could be responsible. Cats, like all animals, don't respond to scolding well. In fact some cats may become fearful of you and show his/her displeasure in other ways besides cat scratching. How and what can you do to make the cats stop their furniture destruction?

Cats actually enjoy scratching. It's soothing and its also part of their natural instinct. Even declawed cats make the gesture of scratching. Cats in the wild needed to have sharp claws to reach the safety of trees, snatch and hold prey and for protection against predators. Cats also scratch to leave their “mark” in places by releasing their scent from the glands on their paws.

It isn't possible to teach a cat not to scratch. What you can do, is teach a cat that he has better choices, and give him the tools to make those choices.

When something feels good, you tend to do it a lot. Cats loooove to scratch and they do it quite often. But cats may not think your idea of a scratching post is the best idea. Often, in fact, cats will choose the simplest, cheapest posts rather than big fancy expensive ones. Its important to pick a post that fits into your cat's needs.

Put your cat scratcher post next to the furniture your cat is scratching. Don't try and show your cat how to use it, they'll only stare at you blankly and inside they think things like “creepy people trying to be cats”. Meanwhile, they'll go off and ignore the post. Like Field of Dreams, if you set it out, they will come. There are some important factors to consider, though, when buying a post.

There is a reason people use the term 'fraidy cat' often, its because cats frighten very easily. If you have a post that topples over when scratching, that post will never be used again. If the post wobbles or shakes, the cat will not use it. Make sure the cat is secure and the base is heavy enough to withstand the scratching. Reward cats for using the post, and try not to scare or scold a cat that is near the post.

Cat still not using your new post? Spray their favorite scratching areas with vinegar or lemon scents. Cats will be discouraged by the smell. Tip: sofas and chairs can have lemon or orange peels put near the edges and underneath so guests cannot see it. The smell will brighten up your rooms, but cats will not appreciate the smell.

Buy a few different types of scratching pots. I've had nearly 20 cats in my life in nearly 40 years, I can tell you that each cat prefers a different kind of post. I've included the cat scratcher posts that have worked best for my cats below.

You can see the homemade cat scratcher my husband's father built for our cats. Its actually a hand-me-down from in the family (we're all cat lovers !). This was easily made with a log, a piece of wood and some carpet fragments.

Nail a sturdy piece of heavy square wood into the bottom of a log. Make sure its wide enough and doesn't wobble. Glue or staple gun carpeting around the base wood. (see pic to the right).

If the base wobbles when your cats go to use it , they'll be wary of it and go back to your furniture. Heavy wood is always recommended for the base and the log itself.

That area at the top you see where the wood is missing.. that is how worn the log is from our cats using it. It really is a great cat scratcher.

Cats will not understand certain types of scolding. Yelling may frighten the cat, of you, not the scratching. You don't want a cat that's afraid of being near you, do you? Try a loud hissing sound instead, or even better a water pistol. Cats are not hurt by water, but its extremely distasteful!

Place the cat directly on the post, but don't try and make the claws scratch. Instead begin petting the cat, or do what you usually do to which makes

Clip their nails often!

Place plastic on the edges of the sofas.