Getting Your Cat To Use Their Cat Scratching Post
Cats instinctively tend to scratch on things and many owners find this out the hard way when they come home to furniture that has been torn to shreds. Of course simply going out and buying a cat scratching post will safe your furniture from the claws of your cat if you cannot get them to use it.
Cats scratch with their front claws for several reasons and this is not necessarily the behavior of a bad cat. Of course the most obvious reason why a cat scratches is to sharpen their claws but science is finding out that this is not the primary reason. Cats also scratch to leave messages to other cats as well as to leave scent behind which explains why cats that have been de-clawed will scratch despite no longer having claws.
Cats generally do not scratch everything in site up but only one or two places. This makes getting them to use a scratching post a much easier task. When most cat owners buy a scratching tree or post they tend to place it where it will fit into their home. This may not necessarily be the best place to put it if you actually want the cat to scratch the post instead of furniture. The scratching post should be placed where the cat spends the majority of their time. Next to food dishes is one likely spot or wherever their cat toys tend to end up is another. These are areas that your cat has found to their liking and wants to be.
By placing the scratching post where your cat spends their time you can encourage them to scratch this instead of furniture that you preferred stayed in one piece. Scratching posts that incorporate toys, caves, and perches also encourage use simply because they encourage the cat to spend their time at the post.
Choosing Which Scratching Post To Buy Your Cat
If you choose not to have your cat de-clawed getting them a cat scratching post will be essential to keeping them from scratching up your furniture and carpet. Of course scratching posts come in just small simple designs that will work for their purpose but they also come in large cat activity centers that can give your cat not only somewhere to scratch but a place of their own.
A large cat activity center or even a ceiling model that goes from the floor to the ceiling can give your cat or even several cats a fun place to play, excellent places to take a nap, as well as those essential scratching posts to follow their natural instincts. These trees for your cat to have in the home are perfect for climbers as well since they can get high above it all and observe the whole room. Cats love climbing, napping and enjoying these centers so many cat owners feel they are the best purchase they every made for their feline companion.
Of course if you live in an apartment building or small house a cat activity center that goes to the ceiling may be just way too big to fit into your place. There are some small to medium size trees that include more than just a scratching post, and gives a cat places to nap and play as well. These are ideal for those who want to spoil their cat but have less area to keep them or a smaller budget for buying their cat an activity center.
No matter which size of scratching post you choose make sure you place it in the area of your home that your cat spends the most time. This will they will want to spend their time on the activity center and enjoy all that it has to offer.
