【貓貓知識匯總】 >> 【貓之訓練篇】 >> 【貓貓磨爪之訓練】
Why
do cats scratch?
Scratching (also known as
stropping) is a normal behavior in cats. Unfortunately some cats can cause
countless headaches for their owners by scratching household furnishings, which
leads to damage & great expense. Scratching of furniture is a leading cause
of cats being surrendered to shelters.
This article aims to teach cat
owners why cats scratch & how to train your cat to redirect the scratching
to a more appropriate object.
Cats scratch for a couple of
reasons. Predominantly it it to sharpen the claws. Scratching also helps remove
the outer castings of the claw.
Scratching also feels good to
cats. It is a way of loosening up leg & shoulder muscles & tendons in
the cat's paws.
Cats have glands all over the
body, including the paws. During scratching pheromones are released from the
glands in the paws onto the object. Scratching is a way for cats to mark
out their territory.
How
to stop scratching:
You can't stop scratching, it is
a perfectly normal behaviour. What you can do is train your cat to scratch on
specifically designated objects so they will avoid ruining your furniture.
- For some
owners declawing (which is prohibited in most countries) is their chosen
method to prevent scratching. This is a rather painful operation which
involves amputation of the cat's claw up to the first joint. The majority
of people strongly disagree with declawing of cats for a multitude of
reasons. It is painful & unnecessary, it can also lead to other
behavioural problems such as biting & inappropriate urination. Also,
cats derive great pleasure from scratching & declawing deprives them
of this pleasure. There are many alternative methods which are far kinder
than declawing, which is really only performed for the owner's convenience
anyway.
- The plan is
to make the current target unpleasant while providing your cat with a more
attractive alternative such as a scratching post or cheaper scratching
boards which can be hung from a door handle. There's a huge variety
on the market which will suit all tastes & budgets. Most scratching
posts are covered either in carpet or sisal. If possible, temporarily
cover the object your cat is scratching with some thick plastic or double
sided tape, which will act as a deterrent.
- Another you
may want to consider are water sprays (use when your cat starts scratching
the furniture), this may work but it may just stop your cat scratching
when you are around.
- You can also
try placing orange peel around the location. Many cats find the citrus
smell extremely unpleasant.
- Now you need
to encourage your cat to use the scratching post provided. You can
purchase catnip spray from many pet shops & spray this on the post to
attract the cat, or rub some dried catnip on the post. Cats enjoy a
scratch after a nap, so try placing the scratching post close to your
cat's favoured sleeping location.
- If you see
your cat making a beeline for a favourite piece of furniture to scratch
on, gently pick up the cat & move it over to the scratching post. If
the cat uses it heap plenty of praise on your cat. Cats respond far better
to positive behaviour than negative behaviour from their owners.
- Cutting your
cat's claws regularly will minimise damage caused to your furniture. For
help on trimming your cat's claws read here.
- Never
physically punish a cat when you catch it scratching inappropriately.
Physical punishment serves no purpose & more often than not has a
negative effect on how your cat perceives you. A firm "no" &
a spray with the water spray are more effective than smacking your cat.
With time & patience you will
be able to re-train your cat to use a more appropriate object than your
furniture. Good luck!!!
