Cat Scratch Posts Site

You spent a small fortune on buying the latest dining room furniture for your house and are the proud owner of a cat who loves it equally well. In fact, while you spend your time cleaning up your table, your cat decides to caress it too – with its claws of course. It is a different matter that your cat is actually using it to sharpen its claws, a natural phenomenon you could well do without.

While it is natural for cats to scratch, it often destroys perfectly laid out dining tables and other pieces of furniture that may come in the way. Most people leave it at that – they cannot curb natural instincts of the animal, they say. Though sad, they just watch their favorite dining set going to pieces due to the cat’s actions.

To understand how to take care of this problem, you must understand the problem in detail first.

The cat family are natural hunters by the laws of nature. Claws and teeth are the basic requirements for the cat to hunt, and hence the need to keep them in good shape. Scratching their claws on tree trunks (read your dining tables legs) helps them keep them sharp and removing old tissue. Another reason is the secretion of certain scent from their paws marking their territory (your home, what else?) to ward off strangers. Moreover, it gives them some much needed exercise and straightens out the kinks in their body.

They can be de-clawed to rid you of your problem, but there are more humane methods to help out your cat while avoiding damage to your furniture.

One way is to get a scratching pad or a post. A wide variety of them are available as part of a cat condo. If you do not wish to spend the money, you can easily make one of your own. All you need is a two feet high section of heavy plywood, cut into a size of four by four or two by two, and tie a piece of old carpet on to it. Place it next to the furniture your cat is fond of scratching, gradually moving it away as your cat gets used to it. Let your cat scratch away to its heart’s content – all you need to do is to replace the old carpet for it to get back to its original shape once it is destroyed.

To supplement your efforts, use a pet repellent spray on the furniture to make your cat turn to the scratching post. If you are hesitant to use the spray on your costly furniture, cover the material with tape with the sticky side up, or use aluminum foil instead.

Still facing problems? Your cat still does not stop? Well, it may be time for you to adopt some more drastic measures. De-claw it if it stays indoors. Be aware, however, that it will affect the cats natural gait and its immunity from minor ailments as well. The procedure can be painful and may involve certain risks as well. Those wanting to avoid this may use nail caps as a viable alternative. These are applied as false nails to the cat’s nails.

Some of these measures could definitely help you save your new furniture from the cat’s natural instincts. If you love your cat more than your furniture, however, be prepared to shell some extra cash every few months to allow it to destroy all you bring!

The author believes it is essential to buy a table pad to protect your dining room table. With good care, your dining room chairs and table will look as good as new for years.

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As an essential part of their balance, claws are critical for cats. Cats use their claws for jumping and for latching on to objects.

For example, cats use their claws for latching on to bark when climbing up a tree.

Stretching, running and walking are other common instances when cats use their claws. Claws are also used as a defensive measure against people and other animals. Claws and teeth are a cats basic weapons, thus, a feline will naturally keep them very sharp. Claws are also necessary for cats when using the toilet. They need their claws to cover their waste inside of their litter box.

Cats also use their claws to mark their territory as there are glands in each paw that secretes fluids. This secretion is undetectable to humans but is detectable to other cats. They often scratch things to remove an old claw so it may be replaced by a new one. Many cat owners think that it is wise to remove the claws of their cat to protect household items such as furniture or carpet. A vet must remove a cat’s claws as this is considered a surgical procedure.

If you think that removing the claws of your cat is necessary, there are a few things you should consider. Removing your cat’s claws will change his personality. This procedure is very painful for your cat and he will be very confused afterward.

He will not be able to jump and play as he once did. The majority of cats become aggressive and tend to bite more after having their claws removed. The bottom line is that removing the claws of your cat is not a good idea. There are alternatives to removing your cats claws. One choice is to get your cat a scratching post and teach him how to use it. You can also get your cat a rush mat. This will help your cat to relieve his instincts to scratch.

If you spend time to teach your cat to use the scratching post and the rush mat, you will no longer have to worry about damage to your carpet or furniture.

L. K. Reid writes a wide range of subjects including the Kitchen Aid Food Grinder, the Kitchen Aid Espresso Machine, and Kitchen Aid Cutlery.

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So you have a cat that loves to scratch. Well, there is nothing wrong with that as it is natural for cats to love to scratch furniture and other objects. So what do you do if there is destructive scratching? For example, when your $5,000 sofa is the object of your cats claws? Well the simple answer is train them to scratch appropriate items.

Cats scratch for a variety of reasons. Some cats scratch furniture to burn energy or to stretch. After all, who doesn’t like to stretch now and again. Scratching also helps remove the dead outer layer of claws, similar to humans clipping your finger nails. Another possibility is territory marking as scratch marks are a visible sign and scent glands (in the paws) add olfactory smells to say this is my spot/territory/area.

As scratching is natural, it is not right to punish your cat for what it instinctively does. Punishing your cat for scratching only makes him or her more likely to be more aggressive and fearful of you as the trust between you can be destroyed. It also does not help because your cat doesn’t know any better if they have not yet been trained to scratch another item. The best form of punishment, should you feel it’s absolutely necessary, is to make a loud noise or squirt it with a squirt bottle if you catch your cat in the act of scratching the wrong object. However you must have given the cat an alternative to scratch beforehand or the cat will not understand. If the cat learns to associate the noise with you, then the cat may stop scratching while you’re present, but probably resume once you’re gone. This is why training your cat to scratch scratching posts and other proper objects is so important.

Now that you know why your cat scratches and what not to do, you can train him or her to scratch appropriate objects and not your prized furniture. The first step involves seeing what objects your cat likes to scratch. What type of material is the object – is it smooth, coarse, rough? The height of the object and how high up the cat scratches is also important information. Is the object flat or upright? Finally, knowing where it is located is another important step – sleeping area, entrance area of a room, etc. Observing the characteristics of items your cat likes to scratch means you can find or buy a similar item for your cat.

Put whatever stationary object you end up getting – a scratching post, a rope, a log, etc. – very close to the object you do not want your cat to scratch. However, make sure it will not fall over or otherwise move as your cat uses it or else your cat will not use it again. Then cover up the item your cat scratches with something he or she does not like – some material (double-sided tape or aluminum foil works well) or a non-harmful odor that he/she doesn’t like (try citrus). Your cat should now work its way to the new object as it resembles what your cat likes and will start scratching it instead.

As your cat starts scratching his or her new object, you can slowly move it to a new spot. However, only move it a couple inches each day as your cat won’t like sudden changes. Best results can be achieved when the object is as close as possible to what you do not want your cat to scratch. As a reminder you do not want to remove whatever covering you have put on your valuable furniture, drape or object for many weeks, even up to a month! When you do start removing your coverings, do so gradually to reinforce in your cat that he or she is not supposed to scratch it.

A final piece of advice on training is to start when the cat is young as it is easier to train a kitten than an old cat. Regardless of age, a cat can always be trained if you put in the time.

Congratulations! You now know how to train your cat to scratch objects you want, not your $5,000 sofa.

This is designed to be a simple guide to the products you will either need or decide to buy for your cat.

You first decision is what type of cat food to Choose. You can of course provide your cat with home cooked food, but the vast majority of cat owners choose between commercial dry cat food and wet cat food.

Cat owners often prefer dry cat food due to the convenience, dry cat food can be left out for the cat to eat at will over the course of several days; whereas, canned or raw cat food spoils or becomes unappetizing after several hours, especially in hot weather. It is important that if feeding dry food then plenty of water should be made available to ensure that your cat’s water intake remains high enough to avoid problems with reduced hydration.

Owners and veterinarians who recommend a diet consisting largely or entirely of canned, homemade or raw cat food point to higher water content of such food and the increased total water consumption in comparison to a dry food diet as an important health benefit.

A minimum of two small bowls will be needed for serving your cat’s rations and one for water. Some owners who find their cats are reluctant to drink, invest in cat drinking fountain that circulates the water to keep it oxygenated and also cools it. Some purchase automatic cat feeders with compartments that are opened by a timer. These are convenient for feeding your cat if you go away for a short break.

Pet cats that spend a significant of time indoors will need a litter tray and cat litter to use as toilet when indoors. Cat litter trays are offered as open trays or covered varieties which help to reduce unwanted odours.

Cat Litter is made from a variety of absorbent materials including traditional clay or more latterly biodegradable paper or wood.

No list of cat products would be complete without cat scratch posts. Cats instinctively claw or scratch for a variety or reasons; the two main ones are either to define territory, or for exercise and stretching. Cats won’t respond to being told off, so providing them materials to claw can help save your valued furniture.

Many good cat supplies retailers offer a range of cat flaps so their cats can let themselves in and out without owners getting up to open doors. Cat Flaps come in a range of designs to fit all types of doors including, wood, plastic or glass panels. It is also possible to buy cat flaps combined with infrared or magnetic collars, to reduce the likelihood of stray cats entering the home.

Like other pets Cats can catch fleas and also require worming the responsible cat owner will need to purchase flea treatments and worming remedies from their preferred cat supplies source.

Cats are reluctant travelers so it may be wise to invest in a cat carrier for those trips to the vets or if you choose to take your cat on holiday with you or to the kennels. These are designed to keep the cat safe and well ventilated when traveling

Terry King runs Parcel Pets, a leading UK pet supplies web site and has had pets all his life. He lives with his wife Louise, dog Sam, Cat Sabrina and 5 fish!

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Cat furniture is a commodity that is known by many names. The most common include Cat Trees, Cat Condos, Kitty Condos, Cat Towers, Cat Climbers, Cat Scratchers and Cat Gyms. There are dozens more, but whatever term you use to describe cat furniture, the purpose is the same - to enable your cats to follow their instinctual desire to scratch without damaging your furniture, carpet, or other belongings, and also to give them a place of their own where they can exercise, play, and lounge.

There are many different types of cat furniture, made from such a variety of materials, that shopping for cat furniture can be confusing. Which materials are better? What design is the most stable? What size should I buy? Which style would my cat like? In this article, I’ll try to help you answer these questions so you can make a more informed buying decision.

Why Do Cats Scratch?

In order to be completely informed when buying cat furniture, it’s helpful to understand why it is that cats scratch in the first place. The primary reason for cats scratching furniture, carpets, woodwork, or other objects is to mark their territory for other cats (this is instinctual, so they will do this even if they are the only cat in the house). Additionally, the scratching helps remove the dead cells from the claw sheaths, and stretches their muscles and ligaments.

Feline behavior is consistent, whether it’s a tiger in the wild, or a Maine Coon in a condominium. Scratching is the way they say to other felines in the area “Hey, I’m here, and this is my place”. Scratching communicates this in two ways. The first is obvious - the scratches provide a very visual cue to other cats. Additionally, cats have scent glands in their paws, which leave pheromones that other cats can smell. For those of you that have experience with declawed cats (PLEASE don’t declaw your cats!), that’s the reason that they continue to scratch even after the claws have been removed.

Cat Furniture Coverings

In the past, most cat furniture was covered with carpet. This was a good choice, because it looks good, and it offers a material that cats obviously like to scratch. Some of the cat furniture manufactured today, especially hand-made models, still use carpet.

Most carpeting today contains fabric loops. Unfortunately, after thousands of scratches, cat claws can cut through these loops, resulting in unsightly and messy shredding. You’ve probably seen this yourself.

However, with today’s technology, engineers have developed an acrylic material specifically for use in the cat furniture industry. This material, commonly referred to as fake or faux fur, has become increasingly popular. The main reason for this popularity is the fact that it does not contain loops, so it doesn’t shred like carpet does, and therefore tends to last longer than carpet. The drawback is that since it doesn’t offer the resistance that carpet does when they scratch it, cats don’t like it for scratching as much as they like carpeting.

As a result, most cat furniture that offers faux fur also utilizes sisal rope as a covering. Generally, the vertical posts are wrapped with sisal rope, and the platforms and enclosures are covered with the acrylic fur.

Sisal rope is made from the Agave Sisalana plant, which is native to the Yucatan area of Mexico. Cats seem naturally drawn to this material, and unlike the acrylic fur, sisal rope offers the resistance that cats need to tune their claws and stretch their muscles.

Some cat furniture manufacturers that use carpet as a covering also offer sisal-wrapped posts, and in most (but not all) cases cats will scratch on the sisal instead of the carpet.

Structural Materials

Obviously the strength of the cat furniture is provided by the underlying structural materials. Vertical posts are usually wood 2 x 4’s or heavy cardboard tubes, while horizontal surfaces are either plywood or pressboard. Manufacturers sometimes use cardboard for enclosure walls that do not bear any weight load.

It is a common misconception that wooden posts offer more structural integrity than cardboard tubes. In actuality, this is not necessarily true. Of course everybody knows that wood is stronger than cardboard when flat. However, when thick (at least 1/4″) cardboard is made into a tube, and stood up vertically, it can hold an incredible amount of weight. The addition of a layer of sisal rope wrapped around it adds even more strength. One big advantage of cardboard posts over wooden ones is the weight. Shipping rates are based on weight, and shipping costs for a piece of cat furniture made with cardboard posts will be considerably less than a comparable model with wooden posts.

For platforms and weight-bearing walls in enclosures, manufacturers generally utilize either plywood or pressboard (also known as particle board). Pressboard is fiber pulp that is mixed with a chemical adhesive to create a smooth, uniform board. Plywood is manufactured by gluing thin layers of wood together, resulting in a board that is actually stronger than solid wood of the same thickness.

Generally, plywood is preferred to pressboard for cat furniture platforms for a number of reasons. During shipping, pressboard is much more likely to be damaged than plywood, especially if the carton is dropped on it’s corner. Additionally, pressboard tends to crumble around the edges of screw or bolt holes if the hardware is tightened too much. Pressboard platforms are also more likely to break if enough weight or vertical force is put on it, as happens if a child sits on it.

Floor-to-Ceiling or Freestanding?

Cat furniture models will be either freestanding or floor-to-ceiling (commonly referred to as cat trees). Freestanding cat furniture is usually wide and bottom-heavy, to prevent it from tipping over when cats are at the top, or are very active. Floor-to-ceiling models use tension against the ceiling to provide their stability, and so do not require as wide a footprint as freestanding models. A properly assembled and installed floor-to-ceiling model cannot tip over. Usually, the tension against the ceiling is accomplished either through use of a spring-tension rod or a screw-based mechanism. This doesn’t mean that the cat tree is screwed into the ceiling. Rather, the topmost post has a threaded bolt, usually topped with a soft protective cap that screws up against the ceiling. Generally, the screw-type cat trees are more stable, especially if you have active cats, and are also less likely to damage the ceiling surface.

So What Should You Buy?

The decision as to what type of furniture to buy for Tabby and Fritz should be determined by a combination of factors:

- Do you want a freestanding or floor-to-ceiling model? This is really more of a personal choice issue than anything else. If you have very active or very large cats, a floor to ceiling model will probably offer more stability. If you have a multi-cat household, special attention should be paid to the weight rating of the furniture. It’s also usually possible to secure a free-standing model to a wall with common brackets and hardware available at any home center, in cases where rambunctious kitties cause it to rock or tip.

- Which covering? Carpet offers the advantage of more color choices, and if you’re very particular about your cat condo fitting in with your décor, this might be your best choice. Faux fur models are generally made in neutral colors like beige or taupe, although there are some exceptions. In either case, having a sisal scratching surface should be a goal if at all possible.

- Structural materials. If you have a choice, choose plywood over pressboard. As for the posts, both cardboard and wood offer good stability. As stated earlier, models with wooden posts are heavier and may cost more to ship.

I hope that this article has been helpful in explaining the different types of cat furniture available, and the strengths and weaknesses of each type. In the end, don’t forget that the safety and happiness of the feline members of your family should be the most important factors in choosing cat furniture for them.

Nick Bulka operates a number of pet-related web sites. You can visit his sites at http://www.petsupplyguy.com, http://www.cat-scratch.net, http://www.pet-guide.us

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You love your new cat, but he’s clawing and scratching all your furniture! The immediate resolution that comes to mind is to have him declawed, but before you rush into this you should think long and hard for declawing a cat is not a simple procedure - it is a major surgery involving surgical amputation of the first joint of a cat’s toe.

Declawing is a painful surgery for your cat. While your cat will get pain medication for his after surgery recovery, the tips of the nerves need time to heal and he can be in pain for weeks or even months until this has happened. This can cause your cuddly little kitty to become highly irritable and aggressive.

Not only that, but the claws are a cats chief chief weapon of defense. Sure, you take every precaution to make sure your cat doesn’t get outside, but what if something happens and he finds himself alone in the elements facing other animals?

There will always be occasions when a cat may be confronted by other cats or dogs. Then, it will find it impossible to strike back, because it has no claws. To use its teeth, it needs to get close to its attacker, which may not happen. A declawed cat therefore become a helpless victim in front any aggressor.

Declawing can also lead to problems in the litter box. Declawed cats sometimes avoid the litter box and choose the softer carpet instead since it is painful for them to dig into the litter. Declawing can also lead to biting problems. Since this is their second line of defense, some cats may resort to deep biting to make up for their lack of claws. Even during play, your cat can no longer scratch as a warning and may be prone to biting now instead.

Claws and toes also provide exercise to your cat. When a cat stretches horizontally on a carpet or vertically with a tail scratching post, it pulls and stretches its muscles by grabbing the carpet or post with its claws. As a matter of fact, the cat’s claws play a large and positive role in its extraordinary muscle tone and agility.

Finally, declawing can cause joint problems later on in your cats life. Cats walk on their toes so the absence of claws can affect all the joints of the leg resulting in arthritis of the hip and other joints later.

But you don’t have to sacrifice your furniture in order to save your cat the pain of declawing. With time and patience you can train your cat to scratch in a more desirable area. Make sure you invest in a scratching post or accessory that your cat likes. Mine loves the simple corrugated cardboard slabs that you can buy in any pet store.

Watch your cat carefully and you will see a pattern of when and where he likes to scratch the most. Put the scratching post in the room where he likes to scratch and wait for him to scratch in his usual place. When you see him starting to scratch distract him and lead him over to the scratching post. Praise him when he uses the post and say “Bad Kitty” when he uses the furniture. Eventually he will start to favor the post - you just have to make him think it was his idea!

Lee Dobbins is a cat owner and animal lover. Visit Cats at the Family Webzone for more tips and info on cats.

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Scratching is natural cat behavior, so attempts to stop cats from this behavior are futile. But, there are actions that you can take to preserve your furniture and peace of mind. Kittens start scratching when they are about eight weeks old. Begin training the kitten on appropriate places to scratch at this time to head off problems as she grows.

Be sure that your cat has scratching toys available. You may have to try several versions to find the type that your cat prefers as there are different styles such as horizontal, vertical and slanted. And, there are various textures for the covering such as cardboard, sisal or carpet. It’s best to have multiple styles available for variety, especially if you have more than one cat.

If your cat insists on clawing your furniture despite the toys you have provided, there are several ideas that you can try to get the cat to stop. If convenient, close off the room that houses the offending piece of furniture. Put the scratching toy in front of the item that you don’t want your cat to scratch. Then, place catnip or treats on the scratching toy or attach another one of the cat’s favorite toys to entice your cat to use the toy instead of your sofa.

Cover the item that you don’t want the cat to scratch with foil, sandpaper, double-sided tape, or cat-repelling scents to discourage your cat from damaging your possession. If you see the cat scratching inappropriately, clap your hands or spray your cat with water to startle your cat so that you can redirect her to the scratching toy.

Keep your cat’s nails trimmed every two weeks. If nails get too long, the cat will scratch more since she can’t retract them into her paws.

Another option that will stop scratching damage is to apply plastic nail covers to the cat’s nails. Then, when the cat scratches, she won’t be able to do any damage.

Many owners consider declawing when a cat is scratching destructively. Since declawing is painful and actually involves partial amputation of the cat’s toe, this should be done as a last resort.

You can keep your furniture and drapes looking nice when you have a cat. By providing enticing scratching options for your pet, redirecting her from inappropriate scratching, and keeping her nails trimmed, you can get your cat to stop scratching your furniture.

Learn more about cat behavior, cat-related products and other cat topics at http://www.felineinfo.com/blog

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