copyright Ayla Anderson 2008
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Cats scratch for several reasons. Scratching is a normal
behavior and a form of exercise. Scratching keeps their claws
in shape, sharpening the claws, removing the old outer husk
of the nail and it just feels good for them. Scratching also
serves as a territorial marker. The sebaceous glands in the
cat's paws leave an odor at the scratched area. Thus, making
your home their territory!
behavior and a form of exercise. Scratching keeps their claws
in shape, sharpening the claws, removing the old outer husk
of the nail and it just feels good for them. Scratching also
serves as a territorial marker. The sebaceous glands in the
cat's paws leave an odor at the scratched area. Thus, making
your home their territory!
Your new kitty has most likely learned from its mother to use scratchers since kittens follow their mother's
lead for behavioral programming like in the wild. Scratching is also an innate feline behavior, and it is
something that all cat owners must learn to deal with. Giving your kitten/cat several appropriate items
(scratching pads, posts, etc..) that is allowed to be damaged can substitute for furniture damage. Our Devon
Rex kittens use corrugated cardboard type (photo above) for scratching posts.
Put the scratching pads and/or post in convenient areas for your kitty. Although, some cats prefer to scratch
sisal, while others prefer carpet and others corrugated cardboard. Some kittens prefer vertical posts while
others horizontal posts and other both. Find the type your kitty prefers the most and keep these around where
they can be used easily.
We recommend clipping your kitten/cat’s claws every couple of weeks with nail clippers especially made for
kittens/cat and not the big dog clippers. If this is your first kitty, it is important to have your vet show you how to
clip your kitty's nails since you can cause him/her pain and bleeding, if not correctly performed.
We want to place our precious kittens with the best homes who will care for them like their own children and
understand that their child comes with claws and love to scratch. Therefore, we will not sell any kitten/cat to
anyone who might declaw or has declawed a previous pet. Even if your vet thought it was okay. We believe it to
be cruel and unusual. In fact, it is a surgical operation that amputates bones, tendons, ligaments and claws
to the first knuckle of each toe and is illegal in many countries - mostly all of Europe, Japan, Argentina, Brazil,
etc.. Valuing furniture by altering a kitty/cats anatomy is a horrible choice and no cat should ever have go
through especially when one has a choice to ignore the damage to furniture and consider a work of art in
progress! Or you could do the following:
Train your kitty that there are some No Scratching Zones in your home. And, they really don't know you love
your sofa without any rips in it! You can create a habitual pattern for him/her by dangling a toy over the post
each morning. Since cats are creatures of habit, do this each day at the same time to create a pattern and
soon she will do it all by her self. Until then, encourage her over to the post as often as possible.
If your kitty/cat starts scratching on off-limit items, you can break the habit by trying the following (you may have
to test several before finding which one works with your kitten) although it may be impossible with open
weave fabrics:
lead for behavioral programming like in the wild. Scratching is also an innate feline behavior, and it is
something that all cat owners must learn to deal with. Giving your kitten/cat several appropriate items
(scratching pads, posts, etc..) that is allowed to be damaged can substitute for furniture damage. Our Devon
Rex kittens use corrugated cardboard type (photo above) for scratching posts.
Put the scratching pads and/or post in convenient areas for your kitty. Although, some cats prefer to scratch
sisal, while others prefer carpet and others corrugated cardboard. Some kittens prefer vertical posts while
others horizontal posts and other both. Find the type your kitty prefers the most and keep these around where
they can be used easily.
We recommend clipping your kitten/cat’s claws every couple of weeks with nail clippers especially made for
kittens/cat and not the big dog clippers. If this is your first kitty, it is important to have your vet show you how to
clip your kitty's nails since you can cause him/her pain and bleeding, if not correctly performed.
We want to place our precious kittens with the best homes who will care for them like their own children and
understand that their child comes with claws and love to scratch. Therefore, we will not sell any kitten/cat to
anyone who might declaw or has declawed a previous pet. Even if your vet thought it was okay. We believe it to
be cruel and unusual. In fact, it is a surgical operation that amputates bones, tendons, ligaments and claws
to the first knuckle of each toe and is illegal in many countries - mostly all of Europe, Japan, Argentina, Brazil,
etc.. Valuing furniture by altering a kitty/cats anatomy is a horrible choice and no cat should ever have go
through especially when one has a choice to ignore the damage to furniture and consider a work of art in
progress! Or you could do the following:
Train your kitty that there are some No Scratching Zones in your home. And, they really don't know you love
your sofa without any rips in it! You can create a habitual pattern for him/her by dangling a toy over the post
each morning. Since cats are creatures of habit, do this each day at the same time to create a pattern and
soon she will do it all by her self. Until then, encourage her over to the post as often as possible.
If your kitty/cat starts scratching on off-limit items, you can break the habit by trying the following (you may have
to test several before finding which one works with your kitten) although it may be impossible with open
weave fabrics:
- covering the item or area with a plastic drop cloth or with aluminum foil and placing a scratching post
next to the area
- applying double sided type on the area
- placing a strong citrus scented deodorizer (or spraying the area with bitter citrus sprays found at pet
stores), on or around the area and encouraging the kitty to the scratching posts.
- Purchasing any new furniture or upholstering existing furniture with ultrasuede, microsuede fabric,
leather, or suede. Sounds expensive but it is the most hassle free type of furniture with having pets
and pays for it self in the long term. Easy cleaning and no worries about scratching. And, removing
fabric drapes with more pet friendly window coverings.
