Scratching: Redirect the Need

Cat paws are marvels of engineering. Cats actually walk on their toes, and the retractable claws are hidden to keep them sharp and also to not betray their stealthy approach to prey. Claws are one of the cat’s special hunting tools, and so they will devote a certain amount of their time to their maintenance.

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Cats are sharpening their claws when they scratch things, but not in the way we might think. Cat’s claws actually consist of many nested sheaths, one inside the other. New sheaths are constantly being produced from the inside, and the cat pulls off the old, dull sheaths from the outside. It’s like those inexpensive plastic pencils which have a number of short leads in little cones stacked up in the pencil. One lead gets dull, and we pull off that cone and place it in the back of the pencil, pushing a sharp lead into place for writing.

The scratching ritual is also a stress reliever. A cat who is wound up from activity will often head for their scratching places to burn off some of that exuberance, and to use that energy to scratch higher and deeper than before. Cats use their scratch marks to let other cats know whose territory this is, and also how big and strong they are. That’s why cats need sturdy items to scratch, so they can dig in and exercise their whole body.

All cats are going to scratch. We just need to provide the right materials, and let them know what they can and can’t scratch. One scratching device all cats seem to like are the scratchers made from cardboard, such as the Alpine Scratcher (see below.) It’s slanted, so it accommodates cats both vertically and horizontally. This is the one my boys prefer, even though it does leave bits of cardboard around after they have gone to town on it. There’s also a cat toy inside the incline, which RJ likes. The cardboard inserts are replaceable, so it’s an economical way to fulfill a cat’s needs.

It’s crucial that the cat has a place to scratch where they get praise and approval. It’s also crucial that the cat like their scratching alternative. A lot of scratching post designs just don’t appeal to cats. The ones that hang over doorknobs don’t have the stability they need, and certain kinds of carpet that are low pile don’t let the cats dig in. Closepiled, dense carpets, like Berber, are cat favorites, and their remnants are great ways for handy cat people to make their own scratching posts.

The best way to keep cats from scratching our furniture is to give them their own stuff that they like better. Cats targeting the corner of the couch are asking for an upholstered, tall scratching post with a broad sturdy base. Cats who scratch on the throw rugs or carpet want large flat surfaces. These cats will often be happy with a cheap throw rug of their own to scratch on.

The steps to redirect cats to a post we know they like are these:

• Take the cat away from the wrong scratching spot, and take them to the scratching post they like. They will usually transfer their scratching to the post. Now praise with excitement.
• Scold the cat, and if they don’t run to their scratching post, take them there.
• Use a squirt bottle or blast of canned air to make the spot less appealing. We can also put aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or double sided sticky tape on the spot, or block it off for a while. If the cat can’t get at it, they can’t get pleasurable feedback from scratching it, and will then lose the urge.
• Be patient with kittens, who will often scratch the nearest object out of excitement when we play or talk to them. Pick them up and take them to their post.

If the cat is being stubborn, we will have to be more crafty. Clipping the cat’s claws is something many cat people do, which lessens any damage the cat might cause to animate or inanimate objects. If that sounds too daunting, there is a product called Soft Paws (see below) which are soft plastic caps that can be glued onto the tips of the cat’s claws to prevent them from damaging anything.

When it comes to cats scratching things, it really pays to be proactive. Have items available, be alert to the cat’s behavior, and be consistent about where we want them to scratch. Then we can shorten our training period, and maximize our enjoyment of the cat.

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