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Protecting Your Furniture and Your Cat’s Wellbeing: A Comprehensive Guide to Preventing Destructive Scratching
As cat owners, we often face the challenge of managing our feline companions’ natural scratching behaviours, which can lead to the destruction of our beloved furniture and other household items. However, it’s crucial to understand that scratching is an innate and necessary behaviour for cats, serving important physical and psychological functions.
In this blog, we’ll explore the underlying reasons behind scratching, the harms of declawing, and provide effective, humane strategies to prevent and manage destructive scratching behaviours, ensuring the wellbeing of your cat and the protection of your home.
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Why Do Cats Scratch?
Cats scratch for a variety of reasons, all of which are deeply rooted in their natural instincts and behaviours. Scratching helps cats remove the dead outer layers of their claws, leaving the sharp, healthy claws exposed. It also allows them to mark their territory through visual and scent-based communication, and provides an important outlet for their natural need to stretch and exercise their muscles.
Understanding these fundamental motivations is key to developing effective strategies for preventing and redirecting scratching behaviours. By catering to your cat’s physical and psychological needs, you can encourage appropriate scratching habits while protecting your furniture and personal belongings.
The Harms of Declawing
Declawing, or onychectomy, is the surgical removal of a cat’s claws and the last segment of their toes. This procedure is widely condemned by animal welfare organisations and veterinary professionals, as it can lead to significant physical, emotional, and behavioural consequences for cats.
Declawing not only causes immediate pain and discomfort but can also result in long-term issues such as difficulty walking, chronic pain, and an increased risk of litter box avoidance. Furthermore, declawing can have a profound impact on a cat’s natural behaviours and overall wellbeing, as it deprives them of their primary means of defence, scent marking, and environmental exploration.
Declawing cats has been a controversial practice in Australia for many years. Unlike some other countries, where declawing is a relatively common procedure, the practice is illegal in Qld under the Animal Care and Protection Act.
In 2004, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) issued a position statement condemning the routine declawing of cats, stating that it is an unacceptable mutilation and should only be performed in exceptional circumstances, such as when it is necessary for the cat’s health.
How To Prevent Destructive Scratching
There are numerous humane and effective strategies you can employ to prevent and manage your cat’s scratching behaviours:
- Provide Appropriate Scratching Surfaces and Materials: Offer your cat a variety of approved scratching posts, pads, or platforms made of materials like sisal, cardboard, or wood that allow them to satisfy their natural scratching needs.
- Incorporate Environmental Enrichment: Ensure your cat’s living space is stimulating and engaging, with toys, perches, and other features that encourage natural behaviours and reduce stress.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward your cat with treats or praise when they use the designated scratching areas, reinforcing the desired behaviour.
- Address Underlying Medical Conditions: Consult your veterinarian, as some medical issues, such as arthritis or skin conditions, may contribute to excessive or inappropriate scratching.
- Implement Scent-Based Deterrents: Apply natural, cat-safe scents like citrus or eucalyptus to areas you want to deter scratching, as cats tend to avoid these smells.
Creating a Scratch-Friendly Home Environment
By making your home more accommodating to your cat’s scratching needs, you can effectively prevent and redirect destructive behaviors. Strategically place approved scratching posts and pads in areas your cat naturally gravitates towards, and use deterrents, such as double-sided sticky tape or citrus scents, on furniture and other surfaces you want to protect.
Protecting your furniture and your cat’s wellbeing go hand in hand when it comes to managing scratching behaviors. By understanding the underlying motivations, avoiding the harmful practice of declawing, and implementing effective, humane strategies, you can foster a positive, scratch-friendly environment for your feline companion. With patience, creativity, and a commitment to your cat’s overall wellbeing, you can find solutions that benefit both you and your furry friend.
As always, if you have any questions for the veterinary team at MustCare, please get in touch with us today.
