Encourage Safe Scratching
Instead of sentencing a cat to a lifetime of discomfort and missed exercise opportunities, we can enrich their environment with ample sites and means to scratch safely and productively, which will meet their needs for behavioral expression as well as yours for a happy home. Positive steps suggested by the Animal Behavior Society include:
Providing several well-constructed scratching posts, unlikely to topple over, in popular sleep, play or rest areas. Your cat is less likely to scratch a post or climbing gym located in a back corner of the living room or in the basement.
Experimenting with posts or larger climbing structures made of carpet, wound sisal rope, nubby textures or a combination of various textures, and ensuring that the post feels secure. A wobbly post may be permanently shunned. Cats are smart and picky. They don’t want to risk being injured by an unstable object.
Encouraging appropriate scratching by playing with dangling toys on or near the post. Scent it with catnip. Praise your cat and reward her with food when scratching occurs. You might even scratch the post yourself to model the behavior.
For more facts about feline declawing, including informational videos about declaw and paw repair surgery, visit The Paw Project website. You’ll see why even large, exotic cats need their paws and claws protected.
