scratching

a cat needs to scratch, that's natural behaviour and should not be punished at all! sometimes though, this behaviour can interfere with our lifestyle and we don't want our best sofa or newly fitted carpet being used as a scratching ground.
cats scratch because they want to keep their claws in good shape. the claw-nails are shed and underneath sits a new and sharp nail which provides the best protection possible for self-defence.
scratching is also a form of territory marking. every time a cat scratches, it leaves its personal scent behind. small glands between the toes make that possible.
you can watch how a cat stretches itself while scratching. this helps to keep the muscles in it's legs, back and paws in good health. the claws act as a sort of anchor, and are buried into the surface of the scratched item.

problem

most commonly destroyed are furniture, ripped carpets and stripped wallpaper.
you want to eliminate the problem before it occurs. buy or build a stable, tall scratching-post, right from the start. here are some tips to do it right:

solution

• the post should be at least 60-80 cm high, covered with sisal-rope
• get more than one, especially when you have a multi-cat household
• place the post close to the wall, a corner or close to the furniture which are most at risk
• introduce a new scratching-post with some catnip sprinkled on its surface, cats love that and its more attractive to them
• if your cat starts scratching the "wrong" object, say "NO" and carry your cat gently to the desired post, take its front paws and start scratching movements with its paws
• never force your cat too much. when it starts scratching the post by itself, make a big fuss and give it a treat
• when you have a kitten, start early with the "pawing at post" technique
• show your cat and scratch your own nails against the rope, cats pick up quickly what you mean
• invest in a so called "cat tree", which acts also as a leisure area for your cat, different textures and heights make it more interesting, you perhaps want to build it yourself
• try some repellent like pepper-dust or some commercial products on your furniture to keep your cat off this area
• be persistent and don't give up to soon
• good luck :)=