Destructive Scratching
Cats have a natural instinct to scratch, whether it's during play, stretching, or marking territory. However, this behavior can sometimes lead to damage to furniture, drapes, and carpeting.
Instead of trying to stop your cat from scratching altogether, it's more effective to guide them towards appropriate scratching surfaces, and reduce descructive scratching with these tips:
Encourage your cat to scratch where you want by providing a variety of scratching posts with different textures and orientations. Experiment with materials like cardboard, carpeting, wood, sisal, and upholstery to see what your cat prefers. Make sure the posts are sturdy and tall enough for your cat to stretch fully.
You can attract your cat to their scratching posts by scenting them with catnip, hanging toys on them, and placing them in strategic locations.
To discourage inappropriate scratching, cover or remove tempting objects and place scratching posts next to these objects, as “legal” alternatives. You can also use deterrents like double-sided sticky tape.
Regular nail clipping is also essential to keep your cat's claws in check. If necessary, seek professional help from a veterinarian or groomer.
Use temporary synthetic nail caps.
If you catch your cat in the act of scratching an inappropriate object, you can try startling them by clapping your hands
Avoid forcing your cat to scratch by holding them against the post, as this could frighten them. Similarly, don't discard favorite scratching posts just because they look worn—they're appealing to cats for that reason.
Regina Cat Rescue (RCR) has a policy opposing the declawing of cats. As an animal rescue organization, RCR witnesses the harmful short-term and long-term effects of declawing and aims to prevent unnecessary pain inflicted on cats.
Declawing is an amputation, not medically necessary, and causes avoidable pain. The procedure can lead to behavioural issues such as litter box avoidance and biting. Scratching is a natural feline behaviour used for marking territory, and claws are essential for balance, climbing, and self-defence.
RCR will no longer adopt cats to applicants who intend to declaw, and joins other organizations, including the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association in taking a stand against the practice of declawing cats.