jA0GCrZHAc6tUwR2BjdsX3ulDRI Survival Solutions To The Rescue cat claw | my cat care blog

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Survival Solutions To The Rescue cat claw

Cats can be ill tempered and mean on their worst days, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere.
If your cat is clawing your furniture, your carpet, and your legs with the same ferocity, understanding the how and why behind the behavior can help you redirect your feline friend’s clawing instinct to be expressed in less destructive ways.
So why IS your cat clawing everything in sight?
Here’s the jawdropper: a cat’s claws never stop growing.
Let me repeat that:
They NEVER stop growing.
When the light is great and I found that out in my head started.
Just like a hamster in need of constant KNAW on wood to keep their teeth from growing too long, what they actually do when the cats sharpen their claws is to remove the outer layer of their claws. well
Kitty Cat, in the end we got it!
What do you do?
Bubble, the first thought that a scoop in the chest to get a job in the office a little 'closer  veterinarian.
But before taking such a radical move, keep in mind that these claws are gone once, and you went
Take away those claws, and you’re taking away your pet’s primary form of defense.
Even if you have an indoor cat like I do, chances are, sooner or later, a window of opportunity is going to open up just long enough for your cat to slip outside and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals and people.
O.K.
So now you know why your cat is actually using you as a scratching post. 
Let’s move away from the word “using”.
In a way, it’s kind of flattering.
That doesn’t make it hurt any less.
 Let’s get your cat to branch out.
It’s time to get a REAL scratching post, so that your pet can get into the habit of using it instead of YOU, whenever those claw sharpening impulses may strike.
So how do we get kitty to break her bad habits and start to use the proper place where she can scratch to her heart’s content?
The answer lies in you.
That is of course, 
IF you are your cat’s favorite person in the family.
If so, then try hanging an article of clothing that belongs to you on your virgin scratching post.
The idea is to make the area smell familiar.
A day or two should be enough for your cat to become accustomed to its new scratching outlet.
Don’t want to part with something from your wardrobe?
Time to get a little sneakier then.
Catnip can be your secret weapon.
Sprinkle catnip over the scratching post and watch what happens. 
This one may be even worth breaking out the video camera for.
This next option sounds a little weird, but believe me, it WORKS!
Try sprinkling the post area with powdered chicken bouillon.
The idea is to get the cat to feel friendly enough toward the scratching post to attack it.
While your cat is making the transition to a designated area for scratching, there are several ways to make your cat’s favorite scratching areas a lot less attractive.
This will help ease the transition from the old spots to the new.
Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over them.
Cover or wrap the areas in aluminum foil.
Remember what it felt like when your fingernails went down the chalkboard? Ever try it again?
Cats will experience the same thing and be deterred from using the areas. Finally, clean the areas well to eradicate any cat odor.
 This will go a long way toward removing the aura of familiarity that creates the habit of using the space.
Also, just keep the doors closed to make those places inaccessible to the cat.
Now that you know more about the how and why of your cat’s clawing instinct and behavior, take these simple steps and you’ll soon see a resolution to the cat clawing issues in your household.
With a little time and patience, your cat’s claw sharpening activities should be limited to its’ favorite spot: the scratching post!

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