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The Benefits of a Cat Scratching Post

miragerainy | Mar 15, 2010 |

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Any pet owner will agree with me: we adore our furry friends and we would do anything to make them purr contently! If you have a cat, you need three basic things: a litter tray, a scratching post and lots of affection for your kitten!

What is a cat scratching post and why do we need it? And, even more important, why do cats love to scratch everything around, including your expensive new furniture? Cats are wonderful pets, but let's not forget that they are also fierce predators. Before becoming our friends and napping comfortably on our couch, cats used to hunt, struggle for their survival, hide, run, climb trees and catch birds. The nature gave them sharp deadly claws so they could do all the things mentioned above. In order to keep their claws sharp and clean, cats need to scratch things all the time. This procedure is also used for stretching, exercising and marking the territory.

It's impossible to make a cat stop scratching. Instead of fighting with your kitty's natural reflexes, try to find a solution that will keep your furniture intact and your cat satisfied.

Please allow me to give you a good advice: don't even consider declawing! The cat's claws are not the equivalent of human nails. You can't just trim them whenever you want without any side-effects. If you remove your kitty's claws, you're actually amputating the last joints of her paws. The procedure is very painful, having many negative consequences. A cat without claws will lose her natural balance, will be nervous and frustrated all the time and even refuse to use the litter tray. It will be too weird for her to scratch in the tray without claws! Never forget that claws are vital for your kitty's health and well-being!

That's why the cat scratching post is the ideal compromise. By installing such a post in your house or apartment, you allow your cat to scratch as much as she wants without affecting your furniture, your beautiful curtains, your pants and your peace of mind.

Before buying and installing a cat scratching post, here are some tips that will help you choose the best one.

Even if you have a small kitten, don't buy a short tiny scratch post! The kitten will grow and you'll have to change the post. Remember that a good post should be at least as long as an adult cat while standing on her hind paws - this way she'll be able to stretch and exercise her muscles. A little kitten will enjoy climbing a tall post, especially if it has some fluffy toys attached.

Make sure that the post is sturdy enough and will not collapse at your cat's first attempt of scratching. If your cat will not like the post because it's not solid enough, she will find something more interesting to play with - for example, the legs of your wooden desk!

Cat scratching posts come in many shapes, models and textures. If you noticed that your cat likes to scratch wooden things, buy a simple post with a wooden surface. For more 'aristocratic' preferences, there are many types of sisal or carpet covered scratching posts.

Thanks to the wide assortment of scratching posts available on the online market, you should be able to find the purrrrrfect solution that will protect your nerves, your furniture and your kitty's claws!