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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2018)
30 Wednesday, January 31, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Paw Prints Jodi Schneider McNamee Columnist Cat scratch chatter Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. That’s why your feline friend doesn’t understand why you get so bent out of shape when he claws that tempting couch arm or carpet. Cats do not scratch furniture with mali- cious contempt. Cats scratch for a vari- ety of reasons: to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, to mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent (they have scent glands on their paws), to exercise, and to stretch their muscles. It’s one of their pri- mal, instinctual urges. And it’s something that felines do their whole lives Observations of feral cats and other outdoor felines show that they are frequently territorial, letting other cats know of their presence, and one way they mark their ter- ritory is by scratching tree trunks, posts, the corners of buildings or other conspicu- ous objects in their environ- ment. This behavior, animal behaviorists believe, leaves clear visual marks as well as scent marks for other cats. When you have an indoor kitty, she must find a substi- tute scratching spot. A cat scratching post is the next best thing, but if there aren’t any in the home, your furry friend will have to resort to anything she can find, includ- ing furniture and carpet. It’s only natural. Check out the area of the couch that your feline friend scratches, most likely it’s the same place every time. The scratched surface leaves a highly visible mark that can be easily seen by other cats, even if you only have one cat. It’s instinctive. It’s a territorial warning or just a marker that announces that “Kitty” lives here. It’s up to you to appeal to their instincts using cat psy- chology. You can encourage good scratching behaviors by keeping several designated scratching posts or scratchers around the house. Kittens begin to develop their scratching preferences at a young age. Don’t worry if your kitten starts scratch- ing on something you pre- fer to keep off limits. You can easily redirect her to a more appropriate item, such as her scratching post while she’s still learning scratching behaviors. Most cats are attracted to anything with a nubby, coarse, or textured surface, something they can really sink their claws into. Some cats like to stand up against a vertical surface; others get horizontal and stick their butts in the air for a good stretch. And yes, cats have defi- nite preferences on what tex- ture they like to scratch. Once you’ve figured out your cat’s preferences, you’re halfway to the finish line. To keep Kitty away from furniture, try using double- sided sticky tape that cats hate to feel on their paws, at least until your furry feline friend learns that it’s more fun to claw the new scratch- ing post. Scratching posts and pads are available in all shapes, sizes and materials. A sturdy, rope-covered upright post; a flat scratch pad made of corrugated card- board, the back side of a car- pet square or even a small log with the bark still on can make excellent scratching pads. A scratching object can be free-standing, lie on the A Partnership Beyond Your Expectations Stop by and visit with Tiana Van Landuyt & Shelley Marsh. 220 S. Pine St., Ste. 102 | 541-548-9180 floor or even hang from a doorknob. Experiment to find out what Kitty prefers. P a m Johnson Bennett, a certified cat behaviorist, says the most appealing texture for cats is sisal (a type of rope material). PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE T h e r o u g h AKgoodKscratchingKspotKforKkitty. texture makes it easy to dig their claws in Remember to try to and get an effective scratch. duplicate what your cat So, make sure your cat’s has chosen to scratch. For scratching post meets the instance, if Kitty is scratch- right qualifications: appeal- ing the wooden legs of your ing texture, tall enough, table, maybe your cat’s new stable and placed in a good scratching post needs to be location. made of wood. And yes, putting the A great way to get your scratchers in the right places cat to use the new scratching is also important. Try placing post is to sprinkle catnip on them right next to the object the post once a week. they tend to scratch as an Keeping a suitable attractive alternative. If it’s scratching surface in differ- carpeting, place the scratch- ent areas of the house can ers in the spots they tend to help encourage appropriate claw. scratching behavior. We Find Homes for Everyone in the Family Principal Broker/Owner, Ali Mayea Sisters HomeLand Realty 541-588-6007 | 401 E. Main Ave. PHOTO BY GARY MILLER SHOP LOCAL The Nugget is brought to you weekly because of our advertisers’ support. So we ask you to support the local businesses which help make your community, hometown newspaper possible. he
