Owners of domestic cats often have to deal with the habit of their pets sharpening their claws in inappropriate places. Felinologist Tamara Ivanova told how to deal with the problem.
As the expert recalled, cats’ claws grow throughout their lives, while part of the claw plate dies off – and the animal strives to get rid of this dead tissue. Another reason to sharpen claws is the desire to mark territory: glands located on the paws secrete pheromones. Therefore, cats periodically update their “marks”. In addition, while the cat sharpens its claws, it relaxes.
According to the specialist, it is absolutely impossible to combat scratching by removing the claws: onychectomy negatively affects the health of the animal, since the terminal phalanx is removed along with the claw. As a result, the natural gait changes: the animal rests not on its toes, but on its paw pads, which leads to poor posture, weakening of the back and paw muscles, and also threatens the development of arthritis.
Trying to make the claws less sharp by gluing anti-scratch caps on them is also not a good solution – the animal may begin to get stressed and try to remove an incomprehensible accessory. Cases of swallowing caps are also common.
“The most effective way to protect furniture is to buy a cover, preferably made of flock or similar fabrics that do not let claws through. It is impossible to tear such fabric – and the cat soon loses interest in it. A similar effect can be achieved with the help of a special sticker on the place that the pet has chosen – the armrest of the sofa or the corner of the wall. Another effective way is to treat the surface with a special spray sold in a pet store: the effect will be achieved due to an unpleasant odor for cats. In all cases, the animal must be offered an alternative – a scratching post,” notes Ivanova.
According to the felinologist, it is important to find the scratching post that will attract your pet: some people like vertical ones, some like horizontal ones. In the first case, you can try traditional columns or complexes in which they are included, as well as pads on the legs of a table or chair. The material from which it is made is also important: kittens, for example, prefer softer jute; sisal is suitable for adult cats. Another option would be a piece of carpet attached to the wall. Many cats are attracted to cardboard scratching posts – they can be made in the form of a wave or a flat bed, and can also be mounted on a wall.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
