If your cat has already sharpened its claws on the sofa, armchairs, or other furniture in the living room and seriously damaged them, you may have started to wonder if it is worth buying new furniture because it could always end up in the same situation. Fortunately, this unpleasant problem can be easily solved by purchasing a stylish and practical cat scratching post or other types of cat furniture. So, you won't have to worry about your pet damaging your precious furniture while you're away because, with the help of these practical accessories, you can quickly help them kick this annoying habit.
Claw sharpening is part of the cat's innate and instinctive behaviour. They sharpen their claws several times a day simply because they need to keep them in good condition, but this activity also has a psychological function: it is the easiest way to get rid of stress. If you provide your pet with attractive and scratching accessories, he can exercise his instinct to sharpen his claws whenever he feels like it. A beautiful cat scratching post that blends in perfectly with the rest of your home can be a real eye-catcher for her!
What Type of Cat-Scratching Post Should You Choose?
Cat furniture, posts, and mats are available in various designs, shapes, and colours, so you can find one to suit your cat's needs and tastes. In addition, the plush upholstered cat furniture is ideal for play and relaxation. If you treat your pet to this type of product, you will notice that he will also prefer to use it to sleep and relax, and when he wakes up, he will sharpen his claws on the cat scratching post. Give your cat a treat and surprise him with a good-looking scratching post that can be placed anywhere!
In this way, the furniture in your home will always be safe even when you are not at home. To understand why you should invest in one, you need to understand one of their essential needs: climb. The cat's access to height, in a tree or on a roof, first of all, helps it to take refuge from a predator (yes, cats are also predators, but also prey for larger animals) and thus to survive to pass on the genes. Second, the cat climbs a tree, for example, a bird, in pursuit of the next meal on the menu.
Last but not least, standing on a cat scratching post, from that height, the cat can watch everything that happens nearby from a place where it feels safe. If you've noticed the cats around your block, you may have seen them scratching a tree trunk, stretching as long as they can. This behaviour is vital in communication in the feline world by marking visually (through the traces left) and olfactory (through the substances secreted by the glands between the fingers), sending the message to other cats that this is their territory.
Cat Trees Fulfill Several Functions
Cats love lounging on the couch as much as they love climbing. Well, they inherited from wild cats the exact basic needs: to mark the territory (by scratching, by depositing urine and feces, and by rubbing objects with those parts of the body that have glands that secrete pheromones), to climb or hunt every day. Cat trees increase the cat's territory vertically, which is very useful in a small space and if there are other cats. Providing such ensembles can maintain peace in the house because cats with a higher social status can claim their "branches" above, avoiding fights.
It gives shy cats a place where they feel safe, cannot be easily reached, and cannot be taken by surprise. That is useful, especially if other animals or children bother the cat. Plus, a cat scratching post has many advantages, such as scratching posts, boxes for hiding, and branches with beds for sleeping and playing. Kittens also need posts in which to exercise and to learn their physical abilities. These cat accessories have lots of benefits. Therefore, it should not miss any house where a cat is.
Now that you are convinced of the usefulness of posts for cats do not close the article, and do not rush to the pet store! There are a few more things to remember when choosing such an accessory for your cat. It is more than just going to the store and selecting any random tree. You have to consider many factors, starting from your cat's age to the space in your house and the free space in the room where you will place it.
What Characteristics Must a Cat Tree Have?
The cat scratching post must be stable so that it does not topple over when the cat jumps into it at full speed. If it is not stable, the cat will avoid it. The taller the tree, the broader and heavier its base must be. Also, it should have poles covered with sisal rope, high enough for the cat to lie down as long as she is so that she can relax her back and shoulder muscles. The tree should have enough branches and beds in which the cat can sink and feel more relaxed and safe, having its back covered.
If you buy it on the Internet, read the comments of other buyers and the technical data provided by the seller regarding the maximum number of kilograms for which it is recommended. Don't panic if the cat won't use it at first. They usually fear and are reluctant towards any novelty in their environment until they realize it does not represent a danger. You can encourage them to come closer by praising or offering food rewards near the tree or on its branches.
You can also put some toys to attract the cat to the cat scratching post, or you can play with fishing rod toys next to it so that it associates it with pleasant activities, not with fear. And as a final recommendation, put the tree in a room where the cat likes to spend its time and, as much as possible, near a window where the cat can watch everything that moves like on TV. Especially birds. Now that you have everything there is to know about this cat accessory, you can go to the pet store to buy one or order it online.