One of the things that greatly concerns owners who have cats or intend to get one is the issue of scratching. Cats naturally need to scratch; it is part of their instinct and is a necessity for felines.
It is very difficult, almost impossible, to prevent cats from scratching. Ultimately, they scratch for several reasons: to exercise, to play, to mark territory and, above all, out of necessity.
It should be explained that most companion animals, whether cats or dogs, do not usually damage household furniture. However, there are always exceptions. Nowadays, though, there are many ways to adapt your pet's accessories to the style of your home or even “catify” your home.
If this is something that genuinely concerns you because your cat scratches and damages the furniture in your home, instead of trying to prevent your cat from scratching, ARISTOPET recommends that you use your energy to help by providing more scratching areas.
Tips to prevent cats from scratching the furniture
Here are some tips that may help you solve the problem:
1.Have patience
First of all, you need to be patient because, as mentioned on other occasions, animals in general, both cats and dogs, are creatures of habit. Therefore, if they have become accustomed to scratching in one area, you have to be patient while trying to change this behavior.
2. Provide an alternative: place a scratching post where your cat scratches
If you have noticed that your ARISTOCAT has a specific area where it scratches, place a scratching post there. This way, it will gradually realize that it has another alternative.
If you see that it still scratches in the other area even with the post there, try scolding it and showing it where it should scratch.
3. Reward your cat with treats
When you see that it has learned where it should scratch, reward it. Give it a treat or make a gesture that your cat understands to mean it is doing well.
4. Give your cat more scratching alternatives
Even if it has a habit of scratching in one particular place, put more scratching posts throughout the rest of the house, whether made of cardboard, wooden boards or simply more scratching furniture.
This way, your cat will see that it has more places where it can have fun while sharpening its claws.
We hope these tips help you reduce your cat's interest in scratching the furniture. In any case, we recommend consulting a specialist or your veterinarian with any questions so they can help you solve the problem.
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