Cheap Pet Insurance

January 3rd, 2010 by Carol Navagato

Is your cat terrorizing your furniture? Cat owners everywhere have to face the issue of their favorite furniture being scratched chewed or even sprayed. In the case of spraying, it is your kitty’s need to mark the area as his or her own, but in the case of scratching there are also some other serious needs involved.

Cats claws are made to grip and hold their prey. The claws grow continuously, and are designed to be kept in shape by being worn down. Cats NEED to scratch to remove the outer dead layer of the claw, and allow the new nail to grow. If there is no place to scratch, the cat may either take it out on your furniture or try to actually chew off the old claw sheath. And your cat needs to stretch out those back muscles too!

So what is the answer when kitty is taking care of HER needs by terrorizing YOUR furniture? When you substitute a sturdy piece of cat furniture, such as a cat scratching post, a cat tree, or kitty condo, you cat can fulfill her need for scratching, as well as having a place to stretch, play, and nap. Choosing the right piece of cat furniture is the key.

So how do you choose just the right piece of cat scratching furniture? It is a good idea to get it to be tall enough for kitty to stretch out to full length when scratching. That would usually be about 4 feet. There should be a rough surface such as rope or sisal to help clear the nail sheath. Placement of the new furniture is important too. Kitty will want to be near enough to you to be part of the family, not off in some far part of the house. A sprinkling of catnip will also do wonders to entice kitty to her new furniture!

Cat scratching furniture comes in a huge variety of styles and sizes. You may choose a simple sisal scratching post, or a fancy cat tree with climbing, playing and sleeping areas. With a little imagination and care, you can select a piece of furniture that will fit the needs of you kitty as well as fit beautifully in your home.

Want to find out more about cat scratching furniture , then visit Carol Navagato’s site on how to choose the best cat scratching post for your needs.