Pet Cats

One question that worries all cat owners is: How to keep cats from scratching furniture? Fortunately, training your cat such that it sticks to its scratching post instead of your expensive furnishings is not that difficult a task. The first thing you have to know & understand is that cats do not scratch to annoy you; it is a biological need. Hurting your pet is not going to achieve anything; instead you must make it a habit to reward the cat every time it “listens” to you and stops scratching.

The following tips can be used to keep your pet from scratching the wrong places:

* The most effective short-term ploy is to squirt your scratching cat with a water spray. Cats hate water, and squirting them will certainly do the trick. Every time the cat begins to scratch at your furniture, you can aim the water-squirt, and watch them run. However, this method is only effective if you are home at all times, and aware of what your cat is doing.

* Another useful tip is to cover the most popular scratching areas with aluminum foil. When the cat approaches the foil-covered furniture, and begins to scratch, the feel and noise of the material will definitely scare it away, and the next time around the cat will be wary and hopefully not scratch the same area(s).

* You can also cover the popular areas with double-sided tape, so the cat cannot get its claws into the furniture to scratch its way to satisfaction. Eventually it will get frustrated and in a few days you can remove the tape, as by then the cat will be conditioned not to scratch.

* Often owners prefer to clip the nails on their felines on a regular basis so that not much damage is inflicted on the furniture. While this may be a viable option, you must invariably take your cat to the vet. Also keep in mind, that if your pet is a creature of outdoor interests, the loss of its claws may be a sharp blow.

* A useful pointer to remember when you are buying new furniture for your home is that Velour type materials are very hard for cats to scratch. The underlying material is quite resilient and the most they will be able to do is get a tiny hole in it with their claws. Also keep in mind that cats love to scratch at wood, but only if it is bare, or has a ridge to it, like a decorative rising in the wood. Hence, look for furniture that has straight wooden legs instead of those with decorative (and expensive!) carvings.

Dont Scrimp On Grooming Cats
Biologically speaking, cats need to be clean and f...
dont-scrimp-on-grooming-cats.php

Can Cats Live With Other Pets
This especially applies to cats and dogs. Ideally, these two species should be introduc...
can-cats-live-with-other-pets.php

Cat Eyes Are A Fount Of Mystery
Cats can thus shift their vision from side-to-side as well as from up t...
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How Catnip Affects Cats
Many cats begin to grind their bodies against the floor or the wall. Some even become giddy and loose balance ...
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How To Train Your Cat
This clicker method is by far the most common and useful way of training a cat. A clicker is a small pl...
how-to-train-your-cat.php

When Not To Get A Cat
You should also avoid getting a cat during holidays, unless you are sure of dedicating your holidays to you...
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Cats Resources
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Declawing Cats Is Indefensible
Declawing is a painful surgery as delawing the front feet alone involves as many as 10 amputations. Even though p...
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Grooming Cuddly Kitties Is Fun
The cats most right for lap training include: ...
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Bringing A New Cat Home
You need to adopt the following strategy to avoid trou...
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Adopting A Cat Brings In Several Responsibilities
You need to keep the following points in mind before deciding to adopt a cat: ...
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American Shorthair Cats Have Won Their Deserved Respect
It was only in 1965 that Shorthairs came to be regarded as popular and admirable creatures afte...
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Cat Bites Can Cause Severe Pain And Inflammation
Generally, the teeth of a feline tend to slice into your flesh making a tiny h...
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Cat Toys Are The Best Way To Keep Your Pet Occupied
Toys need not be bought from the stores alone. You can ...
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Cats Body Language Can Help You Decipher Its Moods
The most important way in which cats communicate is by vocalizing. A purr implies contentment, a hiss is a warning signa...
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How To Avoid Common Cat Rearing Mistakes
Some of the common mistakes that you need to avoid are: ...
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How To Handle Aggression In Cats
These cats use aggression as arm twisting tactics to obtain certai...
how-to-handle-aggression-in-cats.php

Keeping A Cat Occupied Needs Time And Effort
There are many ways to keep a cat busy. These include building climbing frames, bird feeders, fish tanks or food pu...
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Maine Coon Cats Are Gentle Giants
Maine Coons have an extremely lovable personality and they en...
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Persian Cats Are The Queen Of Cats
The most important aspect of a Persians life is grooming. Persians have long, thick fur that needs to be maintained...
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Points To Keep In Mind While Buying A Cat
However, when doing so you must keep two points in mind. These are: ...
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Taming Feral Cats Can Create New Problems
Total feral cats are those that have had no previous human contact. These are...
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The Siamese Cat Is A Delight To Behold
The Siamese is notable for its large, beautifully shaped, baby blue eyes, which ar...
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Tonkinese Cats Are An Owners Delight
Tonks are well loved for two reasons: their pleas...
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Traveling With Cats Needs Meticulous Planning
The planning must include some training for the cat. You must get the cat acclimatized to cars by taking her out for...
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