Claws are serious business!  From theory to practice, an important piece of indoor cat care is understanding that scratching is a necessary, normal, and hardwired feline behavior.  Scratching provides stretching, exercise, stress relief, and more benefits to your overall cats’ health.  Redirecting that behavior toward appropriate targets may help improve the quality of your cat’s life (and the lifespan of furniture).  Figuring out what works for your feline forever friend may involve a little persistence.

Queen Approved Tips

• If your cat has a prime object of scratch-affection, try placing alternate scratch-ables nearby to redirect attention.
• Experiment with materials: jute, corrugated cardboard, and other natural fibers are commonly used in scratching products.  What appeals to one cat, may not be as attractive to another.
• Alternate textures and materials: avoid carpet-styled scratching posts if trying to deter your cat from scratching the carpet, and other “feel-alike” substances that may replicate the feel of furnishings.
• Make sure to purchase safe, nontoxic products designed and made for companion animals.

Direct experience has taught the folks at CLAWtheory that in a multi-cat household, options are essential.  So instead of picking a single choice, we’re recommending some of our favorite products to help avoid that back of the sofa mani-pedi.

Queen Approved Products

• The Bergan Turbo Scratcher: it doesn’t get any better: affordable and irresistible, this play station has replaceable and reversible scratching pads that are easy to change and readily available.
• The Scratch Lounge: this wide based scratching lounge has a replaceable floor and three sides of scratch-ability with a super-dense reversible honeycomb.  Made in USA (100% recyclable materials).
• Petlinks Products: Sisal Solution, Mix n Scratch Ramp, Dream Curl, and Paw Pleasers- we love ’em all.  The shapes, angles, and varieties in these innovative designs, offer amazing choices and hours of fun.
• Stretch: don’t forget to include vertical scratchers that hang from doors or adjust to fit corners, to attract upright scratching activities.
• Disposable scratching loungers – available from many brands,  sturdy cardboard scratching pads can add variety to existing household options.