Scratching and tearing furniture: Scratching could be a natural instinct of a cat. tedium or scarcity of a scratching post will cause the matter.





Solution: Scratching is a component of a cat's life it provides exercise, a chance to stretch, relieves stress and permits them to shed their claws. If your cat could be a domestic cat and doesn't have the chance to seek out a tree or post to scratch, it's up to you the pet parent to produce one. Cats don't seem to be to a fault specific regarding what they scratch as long because it fulfills its criteria.





Couches and stereo speakers work the bill nicely. Providing a decent scratching post (actually many square measure better) could be a nice different to your couch. you'll build your own with a touch effort or obtain one at your favorite pet store. a decent scratching post ought to be a minimum of a pair of 1/2 to three feet tall, be durable enough thus it will not collapse and scare the cat and be lined with either hemp rope or the reverse aspect of some leftover carpet.





Do not use the proper aspect of the carpet for a post; use the backside because it provides the correct grabbing material. really you'll build a post that lies on the ground, as long because it is long enough for the cat to stretch out on. There square measure some cheap ones fabricated from cardboard that have a Nepeta cataria scent that cats get pleasure from.





When teaching your cat to use the post it's a decent plan to rub some Nepeta cataria on that to draw in the kitty. Whenever you see your cat exploitation its post, praise the cat and provides it atiny low treat, this conditions the cat into thinking this can be an excellent issue to try to to. If your cat is scratching the piece of furniture backbreaking won't facilitate the matter. keep in mind that a cat is aware of higher than to try to to one thing it's been reproved for ahead of you.





If kitty continues to be going back to his/her previous tricks the answer is to form the article of selection unacceptable. cowl it with a chunk of plastic, foil, double-sided sticky tape or netting you'll support a cloth store once you don't seem to be home. still show kitty the scratching post, provide praise and treats for exploitation it, persistence pays on your half and shortly kitty can leave your stuff alone.





Some folks resort to having their pets declawed. we've a chapter on Declawing during this book. we have a tendency to don't suggest doing that, as there square measure different alternatives like clipping your cat's nails or exploitation the nail covers that square measure oversubscribed in pet stores and glue on the claws.





There are spray repellents oversubscribed in pet stores to use on {furniture|piece of piece of furniture|article of furniture|furnishings} that build the furniture unattractive to your cat. jazz mats are offered at major pet stores and on the net, they provide a "static" kind shock to the pet that climbs on that (it isn't harmful, simply annoying.) we've lined what we have a tendency to feel square measure the foremost common unhealthy habits of cats during this chapter.





Cats very don't have any unhealthy habits; the items {they do|they square measure doing} are the items that, joined of nature's critters square measure natural to them. Climbing, hunting, spraying, biting, fighting, and clawing square measure all things the natural cat will. we've brought this brilliant creature in from the wild, domesticated it and demanded that it live by our rules. "We'll see," says the kitty because it settles down for a nap.

believe it or not, there are not any unhealthy cats. Cats area unit simply distinctive. They board a cat world and do what cats do, regardless of what you are attempting to mention or do to persuade them to regulate to your world. the foremost necessary factor for you as a cat parent is to know why your cat will what it will. Cats don't visit obedience college. If that they had their means, you as a pet parent would visit obedience college to be told the way to wear down your pet.A cat isn't a dog; a cat doesn't act sort of a dog, assume sort of a dog or behave sort of a dog. If you wish a pet that behaves like a dog, get a dog, not a cat. That said, let's get to the purpose of understanding cat behavior. heavy a cat for wrong behavior is like attempting to empty the ocean one-cup at a time. strive as you'll, you'll ne'er empty the ocean or get your cat to know why you're heavy him/her.Punishment can ne'er cure unhealthy behavior; it'll solely build your cat frightened and suspicious of you. Cats area unit sensible enough to grasp that when tarred-and-feathered for misbehavior they're going to not screw once more, ahead of you. they're going to wait till your back is turned otherwise you area unit out the door. although you'll believe your cat understands what you're voice communication, or rather yelling regarding, it'll pay you no heed except to run away, ignore you or wait to try to to it once more later.A perfect example is our male cat Smokey, he dislikes our feminine cat Tiger and each likelihood he gets he can chase her. However, if he starts bent chase her and so sees Pine Tree State he stops, appearance at Pine Tree State and so can regress as if he was simply out taking a walk. He is aware of I'll say "No" quite loudly and scold him. Of course, it does not do any smart to scold him, however, it makes Pine Tree State feel higher.There area unit many smart reasons why your cat will what it will harass you. initial of all, cats extremely do not have an honest grasp of individuals|the English|nation|land|country|a people} language; they're not furred very little people. However, they are doing to perceive positive and negative responses to their actions. Cats love praise, pets, and treats and this can be our secret weapon. Screaming, yelling, spanking or throwing (heaven forbid) can solely injure your cat and build it frightened of you.Stop for a flash and admit the life your cat is leading (okay, you want you'll lead that life) take into thought its day. you're at work all day and should get home late and tired. Your furball has been sleeping all day and needs to play.You want to take a seat, eat and watch TV. You provide your cat a couple of pets and whereas you're doing that he/she provides you a bit nip on your hand. You react by jumping up and presumably yelling and chasing him/her. Hey, this can be fun your cat got your attention and you're "playing." we have a tendency to humans generally reward our cats for his or her unhealthy behavior by giving them the eye they need.In our house, I'm the right example of what to not do. Our Smokey may be a night eater. Why? Cause he sleeps all day whereas I'm at work. He started at a young age to return into our sleeping room and nudge Pine Tree State together with his head once he wished to be fed, albeit I might feed him before I visited sleep. Knowing what he wished I might stand up and feed him. this could happen many times an evening and that I would stand up (truthfully this has been occurring for years.)However, since I started doing analysis for this book I suddenly came to appreciate that this can be silly, the cat isn't starving and that I don't have to be compelled to stand up in the least hours. I bit by bit began to push him away (nicely) whenever he nudged Pine Tree State and quietly aforementioned "No" as a result he affected over to the nightstand wherever he likes to sleep and set down. it's been many weeks and he can once in a very whereas nudge Pine Tree State and that I say "no" and he goes away and waits till he sees Pine Tree State stir. Most cats once they do "wrong behavior" area unit extremely doing precisely what a cat ought to be doing.Cats have to be compelled to scratch and stretch their claws. it's a natural factor to try to and it feels smart. it's up to you because the pet parent to produce scratching material, whether or not it's the couch or a scratching post, it's immaterial to the cat. Cats learn by expertise, if they are doing one thing and it seems to be honest expertise in their eyes, they're going to screw once more, nasty expertise could eliminate, the behavior or they simply would possibly strive it once more to ascertain if one thing smart happens.One necessary factor to recollect, if your cat suddenly starts doing things that he/she ne'er tried before and therefore the behavior isn't to your feeling, observe the present scenario in your family. Have there been sharp and weird changes within the family routine, a new piece of furniture, new individuals or a brand new pet? Has there been an amendment in your cat's toilet routine; is kitty feeding, does one notice any changes in your cat's grooming habits?It doesn't take a lot to disturb the serenity of a cat's world as cats like routine and changes will cause reactions, that doesn't seem to be continuing to their feeling. Also, contemplate medical issues, your cat might not be feeling well and this can also cause activity issues. Since cats cannot speak they will move so as to indicate their concern or dissatisfaction to the changes that have occurred.