Why is My Cat Destroying My Furniture?
We have all seen the evidence.
Your once-pristine table leg has deep gouges scratched into it; the wallpaper is shredded and the curtains are snagged.
What is the diagnosis? You have a cat who likes scratching.
Your pine furniture and your nerves are wrecked.
Shouting or pleading with the feline will not help; he is not like an obedient, trainable dog.
So what can you do? You need to understand that he is only exhibiting natural behaviour.
He is not being bad or naughty.
All cats need to scratch.
The problem is yours, not his; he is simply scratching in an inappropriate place.
Mark Twain famously once said, "You shouldn't try to teach a pig to sing.
You waste your time and it annoys the pig.
" In the same vein, you cannot stop a cat from scratching.
However, all is not lost.
Cats are not trainable in the way a dog is, but you can learn to live with, and then modify, their behaviour.
Some people recommend punishing the cat.
This can be very counter-productive as he will not understand why he is being punished.
It may lead to him becoming nervous - and possibly scratching more.
It could also spoil your once-loving relationship.
A cat who bears a grudge is not a happy housemate.
Cats have excellent memories.
It is important to understand why the cat needs to scratch in the first place.
We all know that dogs mark their territory while out and about by constantly cocking their legs and urinating.
Cats mark territory in several ways.
Firstly, and most distressing, is the way that un-neutered tomcats spray inside their homes, with an aroma so strong that it could make your hair curl.
Another way is by rubbing their chins around.
Some traces of fluid are released from a gland as the cat rubs your legs, chin or door frame.
The third way is by scratching.
We cannot detect the fragrance that is left by the cat's chin-rubs; neither can we smell the special scent left behind by the cat's paws as he scratches.
Unfortunately, the unique interior designer touches that your beloved pussycat adds to your house tend to be unwelcome ones.
As well as customising your lovely furniture, the cat is having a jolly good workout, as you can testify if you have ever seen a pussy having a good stretch while scratching.
Your once-pristine table leg has deep gouges scratched into it; the wallpaper is shredded and the curtains are snagged.
What is the diagnosis? You have a cat who likes scratching.
Your pine furniture and your nerves are wrecked.
Shouting or pleading with the feline will not help; he is not like an obedient, trainable dog.
So what can you do? You need to understand that he is only exhibiting natural behaviour.
He is not being bad or naughty.
All cats need to scratch.
The problem is yours, not his; he is simply scratching in an inappropriate place.
Mark Twain famously once said, "You shouldn't try to teach a pig to sing.
You waste your time and it annoys the pig.
" In the same vein, you cannot stop a cat from scratching.
However, all is not lost.
Cats are not trainable in the way a dog is, but you can learn to live with, and then modify, their behaviour.
Some people recommend punishing the cat.
This can be very counter-productive as he will not understand why he is being punished.
It may lead to him becoming nervous - and possibly scratching more.
It could also spoil your once-loving relationship.
A cat who bears a grudge is not a happy housemate.
Cats have excellent memories.
It is important to understand why the cat needs to scratch in the first place.
We all know that dogs mark their territory while out and about by constantly cocking their legs and urinating.
Cats mark territory in several ways.
Firstly, and most distressing, is the way that un-neutered tomcats spray inside their homes, with an aroma so strong that it could make your hair curl.
Another way is by rubbing their chins around.
Some traces of fluid are released from a gland as the cat rubs your legs, chin or door frame.
The third way is by scratching.
We cannot detect the fragrance that is left by the cat's chin-rubs; neither can we smell the special scent left behind by the cat's paws as he scratches.
Unfortunately, the unique interior designer touches that your beloved pussycat adds to your house tend to be unwelcome ones.
As well as customising your lovely furniture, the cat is having a jolly good workout, as you can testify if you have ever seen a pussy having a good stretch while scratching.
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