There are so many things to love about cats – their soft fur and adorable toe pads (we prefer to call them toe beans) are difficult to resist. If you have a kitty in your life, you know just how easy it is to love them. But one of the things that can make it a little frustrating is when those adorable paws reveal their razor sharp claws – and those claws are determined to scratch up your furniture (and carpet… and skin).
If it’s time for you to train your fur baby to redirect their clawing, this is the perfect place! We’ve figured out some of the best do’s and don’ts when it comes to convincing your kitty to scratch somewhere that isn’t your furniture!
Do’s
Stock up on scratchers and toys to entertain kitty.
One of the best things to make sure your kitty isn’t scratching in places they shouldn’t is to encourage scratching in the right places! Your kitty needs to scratch no matter what, so providing them with high quality scratching posts and alternative places to scratch instead of your carpet can help save your upholstery from those claws.
Place cat scratchers in areas around the house
Find the spots in your home that your cat likes to scratch, and place a scratcher nearby. Your cat knows where they like to scratch, so ensuring they’ll see it can be a great way to draw in their interest. This is a great place to start, and a great way to learn where additional scratchers might go as well.
Praise them!
Make sure to give them gentle praise and encouragement – they need to know that their scratch pad or tree is the right place to go! Besides, a few extra treats wouldn’t hurt!
