The Vital Cat Scratching Post

The cat scratching post. A staple in the arsenal of cat care products, this is a must have item in every home.

Scratching is an instinctive cat behavior that has several benefits to your cat. First, your cat has scent glands in her feet, so scratching is a way of scent marking. Scent marking is very important in order for your cat to feel secure. Even cats who have been declawed will express this behavior.

Second, your cat can stretch and get a bit of exercise from the experience. This is why it's important to get a scratching post that is large enough for your cat to stretch out on. Your cat needs to stretch!

Third, you'll notice that your cat will have a new growth of claw that will sometimes push through the old. They bite at the old growth in order to get it off. During scratching behavior, the claws are sharpened and some of this excess material may be removed.

Fourth, since scratching is a natural, instinctive behavior, it feels right for your kitty. It's a stress reliever for your cat and it feels good.

If your cat is scratching your furniture, then you absolutely need to set up an area for "appropriate scratching." This may include a scratching post or board.

You also need to discourage your cat from scratching the furniture. There are a number of products and items that you can use as a cat repellent for furniture. These include a number of commercial products, as well as some plants, such as lavender, Coleus canina, and rosemary.

Sisal is one of the best materials for a scratching post, but many cats seem to like the carpeted ones as well. Sisal will hold up for a long time, and I'm not sure the same can be said of the carpeted versions. Scratching boards work well also, and some can be hung from door handles so your cat can get that vertical stretch.

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Setting Up a Cat Sanctuary

I highly recommend that you do whatever you can to set up a cat sanctuary in your home. No matter how small your home, you need to give your cat some space that s/he can call his/her own.

This area should have a cat scratching post, some cat toys, plenty of light, and a nice comfortable place to sleep. A cat tree is a great idea since it can give both some hiding areas as well as some climbing space. Most cats really enjoy being up high.

This type of area is especially important to have if you have other pets and your cat feels threatened in any way.

Catsplay has a number of options that work well, including a number of scratching post products that have built-in toys. They even offer red cedar products, so your cat can be like its wild cousins who scratch on wood.