Working With Great Veterinarians

If your cat has started scratching, it's time to get the problem under control. Unwanted scratching can cause damage to your home, and leave you with some very serious injuries. If you've been thinking about having your cat declawed, you might want to try some alternatives first. Declawing isn't always necessary. In fact, with some gentle persuasion, and some simple changes, you can help alleviate your cats desire to scratch at everything in sight. Here are four simple steps you can take to reduce the damage done by your cats scratching.

Keep Its Nails Trimmed

If your cat has a problem with scratching, the easiest thing you can do is keep its nails trimmed. If your cat has short, manageable nails, it can't do as much damage to you, or to your furniture. Begin by trimming your cats nails about once a week. If your cats nails grow fast, you may need to increase the trims to a couple times a week. However, if your cats nails grow at a slower pace, you can spread the trims out to once every couple of weeks. If you don't feel secure trimming your cats nails by yourself, schedule an appointment with the veterinarian or local cat groomer.

Provide a Variety of Scratching Options

If your cat has turned into a constant scratcher, it might be bored. If that's the case, be sure to provide it with a variety of scratching options. Set up at least one scratching post in each room of the house. That way, your cat will have a place to scratch wherever it is in the house. Be sure to include a variety of textures for your cat to scratch at including carpeted posts, and rope posts. The more variety your cat has, the less inclined it will be to use your furniture or your legs as a scratching post.

Make Favorable Scratching Locations More Enticing

If your cat doesn't seem to appreciate the scratching posts you've provided, it's time to make them more enticing. You can do that by attaching cat nip to each of the posts. The catnip will attract your cat to the desired location, and encourage it to use the scratching post for its intended purpose. It's also a good idea to apply a small amount of cat repellent to your furniture at the same time. That way, your cat will be able to use scent to determine the proper places to scratch within the house.

Consider Rubber Nail Covers

If your cat is still using you as a scratching post, and you're tired of the injuries, it's time to talk to your veterinarian about rubber nail covers. These small rubber covers are glued directly onto your cats nails. Once in place, your cat will be able to scratch all it wants without injuring you or damaging your furniture.