Scratching is a natural behavior. It is not done to be malicious or harmful. Scratching removes the old layers of nail on the cat’s fore claws and it is also a means of marking territory. You need to provide your cat with a scratching post and teach her how to use it. Cats use their front claws to scratch objects for many reasons, including communication, and they tend to return to the same object repeatedly. Because scratching is instinctive, it usually cannot be completely prevented or stopped. When such scratching is done indoors on drapes, furniture or carpeted areas it can result in considerable damage, owner frustration and sometimes the loss of the home for the cat. It is easier to prevent problem scratching rather than trying to change your cat’s preference for the arm of your sofa after it has become an established habit. Thus, the goal is to establish acceptable scratching habits by getting your cat to prefer a scratching post rather than the arm of your sofa.

Some cats like different types of posts. They may prefer carpet, rope, or cardboard. One of the cheapest posts available is actually not a post at all, but a narrow platform of corrugated cardboard sprinkled with catnip. Cats love to scratch it. Whatever type of post you buy, make sure the cat can stretch out completely when using it. It should be tall enough or long enough for the cat to do this.

Some cats know just what to do when given a scratching post and this is the only place they will scratch. But kittens and cats that haven’t used a post much may not know what to do. So you have to train them that the post is the only place they are allowed to scratch. Start by calling your cat to the post when they awaken from a nap, dangle a toy in front of it or put a morsel of food on it. If your cat uses the post, praise her lavishly. You can also keep a can of catnip spray on hand and spray the post occasionally when the cat is not using it. Just remember, cats can learn. Declawing is not a humane alternative.