Has Your Kitty Gone Rogue? or, why you need a cat scratching post!!

Is your cat terrorizing your furniture? Cat owners everywhere have to face the issue of their favorite furniture being scratched chewed or even sprayed. In the case of spraying, it is your kitty's need to mark the area as his or her own, but in the case of scratching there are also some other serious needs involved.

Cats claws are made to grip and hold their prey. The claws grow continuously, and are designed to be kept in shape by being worn down. Cats NEED to scratch to remove the outer dead layer of the claw, and allow the new nail to grow. If there is no place to scratch, the cat may either take it out on your furniture or try to actually chew off the old claw sheath. And your cat needs to stretch out those back muscles too!

Even if your kitty IS just meeting a real physical need to scratch, if you choose the right piece of cat furniture, you will find that destructive scratching need not be a problem. The key is to find a sturdy cat tree, cat scratching post, or other cat furniture that allows kitty to stretch, scratch, exercise and nap.

Make sure that the cat tree or cat scratching post is tall enough (ideally at least 4 ft.) that your cat can really stretch out and get a good work out. A rough surface covering such as rope or sisal, will help him to keep his nails clean and smooth. The cat post should be placed near enough to "the Action" in the house that kitty will want to use it and claim it as his own. To attract you cat even more, just dust your scratching post or other cat scratching furniture with catnip!

Cat scratching furniture comes in a huge variety of styles and sizes. You may choose a simple sisal scratching post, or a fancy cat tree with climbing, playing and sleeping areas. With a little imagination and care, you can select a piece of furniture that will fit the needs of you kitty as well as fit beautifully in your home.

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