why do cats scratch so much???
By moose8
@moose8 (483)
Canada
6 responses
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
29 Jun 08
They scratch because it not only keeps their claws sharp but helps them to clean them. The best way to stop them is to have them de-clawed.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
30 Jun 08
I'm sorry but I disagree with you. Declawing your cat is so cruel! It's extremely painful for the cat because it's like ripping out your finger nails except their first digit of each finger is cut off!! Besides that, it has no defense if it were to ever get outside. No one can tell me that it'll never get out for they can and will if they want to bad enough. Please reconsider this and instead, get scratching posts and put them around your furniture to train your cat to scratch on it instead. I have 9 cats and they're all indoor/outdoor cats and they all use their scratching posts. It CAN be done!
http://www.web-tides.net/vir/declaw.html
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
30 Jun 08
It's okay if you disagree. Yes, they do get out even after being de-clawed and yes it does make it difficult for them to defend themselves. But, the cat did not seem to suffer, she was a very content cat for the nine or ten years she lived.
The cat I have now has not been de-clawed and does have a scratching post although he never uses it. He seems to prefer the trees outside :)
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Cats scratch to clean their claws. look at their paws and you can see something like a cuticle. Our cat like to scratch the furniture to get attention because if we tell her to stop she does. She also has a scratching post. but I need to get some cat nip to scatter around the base of it. I have squirt some vinegar in the places that she like to scratch the most. That has helped to slow her down and the smell doesn't last for us people.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Cats scratch to exercise and should be provided with some sort of scratching post. Otherwise, they will resort to scratching furniture, especially leather chairs, shag rugs, etc. My Tabitha, now deceased, even scratched the mattress!
Other than buying a scratching post, you may want to consider covering your furniture. I don't know how much good covering furniture will do, as the cat will eventually find a way to go underneath and scratching it anyway. Last resort: hide some of the smaller furniture until the cat forgets about it.
@sabbathandruth (567)
• Canada
29 Jun 08
they are sharpening their nails, there are scratch pads you buy that helps alot..
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Jun 08
hi moose8 cats scratch to sharpen and clean their claws. so
the best thing is to get some scratching posts for them to'use instead of your best furniture.put them in strategic places
and let the cat at the posts. this will save your furniture
and then some.
