Cat Scratching Prevention And Learn About Declawing Cats

It is necessary for a person to think very carefully before putting a house cat indoors. This is because cats habitually scratch household furniture. Scratching is a standard feline behavior.

Cats living outside do not face this problem, since they hone their claws on trees and so on. The most important reason for cat scratching is that by doing so they mark their territory. They exercise themselves and remove dead nails by doing so. Scratching also makes them feel good.

Methods To Prevent Cat Scratching:

It is unreasonable and wrong to expect cats to end scratching. To prevent scratching, one needs to build or design a scratching post, provide suitable play toys and so on.

It will be beneficial to build scratching posts in areas where the cat spends most of its time, with one near the cat's resting area. The height of the post needs to be such that the cat is able to scratch it, while on its hind legs with extended forelegs.

The post also has to be very sturdy to prevent it from toppling. A scratching post having a corner is preferable so that the cats can scratch on both the sides. Some cats also like a horizontal scratching post.

Give special thought to the surface quality of the scratching post. Firmly woven fabrics often covers commercial scratching posts for permanence, but a cat generally like a slackly woven fabric, since its claws clasp and rip while scratching. A carpet covering is acceptable. It is necessary to ensure that no taut loops are present in it. Many cats favor sisal, a part of an old chair and even bare lumber for scratching. It is advisory to use a material that a cat prefers.

If this consumes a lot of time, then soft claws are another beneficial alternative. Individuals can apply these light vinyl caps over a cat's claw. These caps have curved ends and thus the scratching of a cat does not destroy one's home and fittings.

It is possible to prevent a cat's destructive scratching by cautiously trimming the sharp tips of the cat's claw. Two people can easily accomplish this task. One person holds the cat, while the other cuts its nails.

Declawing:

Another solution to prevent cat scratching is declawing. This is however a very severe action and will harm the cat. People need to think of onychectomy, when the cat suffers a persistent infection, disturbing wounds or neoplastic disease.

Terms such as mayhem, mutilation, dismemberment and disjointing aptly define declawing. Unlike to what people think, the declawing surgery includes severing of the claws, the entire phalanges, joints, ligaments, bones, nerves and tendons.

Ten separate hurtful amputations involving the third phalanx and the last joint of every toe is done in the declawing surgery. Unlike the human fingernail, the cat's claw is a segment of the final bone in the toe.

Apart from declawing, other training methods are also present, which cat owners may try to employ their cats to avoid scratching indoors. Training is possible for all cats with some time, love and consideration.