No cat sets out to intentionally destroy the couch or the curio cabinet. Your feline very simply needs to exercise and sharpen her nails, and all you have to do is ensure that you provide this to ensure a worry-free pet.

Provide a ready-made or self-made scratching post ideally covered with Sisal rope. It’s a good idea to avoid carpet-like materials on scratching posts because this might only serve to give your cat mixed messages. Also remember that your scratching post need not be a post at all and can quite easily be a piece of corkboard or corrugated cardboard placed on the corner of a wall.

Always give your feline an endless stream of positive re-enforcement when training her to use her scratching board. If she goes to scratch the carpet or other undesirable objects, immediately pick her up and place her on the scratching board. Place her paws on the board and move them up and down to imitate her scratching motion.

It’s also a good idea to trim your cat’s nails regularly. It’s good to get her used to this when she’s still a young kitten. Softly press on each pad of her paw and you’ll see the nail pop out from underneath the protective sheath of fur. With a common human nail clipper, cut only the very end of the nail, making sure you do not get close to the dark area – which is blood filled and sensitive.

Extreme Action

Of course, there are those felines who pay no heed to scratch-posts. That rare one comes along who likes everything, even wood panelling! It is important that you understand that your pet is not trying to destroy your property purposely. She just happens to have a rather strong natural instinct to keep herself fighting fit. Please make a commitment never to declaw your cat no matter what. This is a rather inhumane thing to do. With some hard work and patience, it is possible to convert even the most ardent scratcher.

Use reversible tape, some balloons and a bitter apple spray on the furniture and the area your cat is attacking.

Also, keep a spray bottle filled with water handy – spray at your cat when she starts her nasty habit. You can also shake a can filled with beads or coins to scare her off the moment she attempts to do the wrong action. Don’t worry; your cat won’t become scared of you personally unless you are spraying her without good reason. It’s all about creating a bad association with the undesirable action your cat is performing.