^{Is your couch ripped to pieces?  Are there holes in your curtains?  Are the edges of your carpet or rugs in tatters?  The cause . . . your cat is acting instinctively and scratching.  Scratching is a normal behavior in cats that is impossible to eliminate; however, the behavior can be guided and manipulated so that the owner and their cat can live in peace.  Cats scratch for a variety of reasons.  Scratching helps to remove the outer layer or sheath from the nail, it is a way for your cat to stretch his entire body, it is a form of marking territory by leaving a visual as well as a scent marker, it is a form of play, and a way of communicating dominance to other cats in the household.  The objective is to give your cat other options for scratching rather than your prized possessions.}


·Where does your cat scratch? In order to substitute appropriate objects for your cat to scratch the owner needs to determine where and what type of things their cat is scratching.  Does your cat prefer vertical or horizontal surfaces?  Does she like rough or soft surfaces?  Are the scratched items situated up off the floor?

·Cover the areas that are being scratched. Make these areas unappealing to your cat by putting sticky tape, aluminum foil or sandpaper over the areas.  You can also cover the area with an old bed sheet or a plastic carpet runner with the points projected outward.  This is only temporary until your cat begins to use the new appropriate scratching objects.

·Provide appropriate scratching objects. These could include sisal posts, corrugated cardboard boxes (can be filled with catnip), an old piece of carpeting, or even an old log.  Allow your cat to scratch to her hearts content.  Do not remove the objects once they are shredded, as this is when they are best.

·Placement of appropriate scratching objects. Place the new scratching objects near the undesirable objects that your cat was scratching.  Try to mimic the position of the original scratched object (place it vertically or suspend above the ground or lying flat on the floor).  As the cat uses the new scratching devise, if it is in an inappropriate place the owner may gradually move it to a more appropriate position.  However, do not place the new object in an out of the way room or corner.  The reason for scratching is to announce that your cat is at home, and she will want that to be accessible to other cats in the household or even to her owners.  If the object is placed out of the way, your cat may stop using it and return to the object that you did not want scratched in the first place.

·Trimming nails and Soft Paws. Trimming your cat's claws is not difficult, and it limits the amount of damage inflicted on carpeting and furniture.  Trim the white of the nail.  Never trim into the pink.  A commercial option consists of placing a covering over the front paws to eliminate destruction of your property.  Soft Pawsrounded vinyl caps that are glued onto only the front pads.  These can last up to six weeks.

  

·Declawing. A final option is to declaw the front paws.  If you decide that declawing is the answer, it is easier on your cat to have it done while they are still a kitten, and even better to have it done at the same time you have your kitten altered.  Remember to only declaw the front paws.