Most people believe that when you own a cat no training is necessary. Well, soon after owning a cat they find out different, and the surprise of living with their beloved pet can become frustrating.

When owning a cat you come to realize they are not the little angels you thought they would be. One major issue with owning a cat is that they scratch whatever they can get their claws into. There's no reason to get discourage. There is solutions to your cats behavior problems. Take this advice on how to stop cat scratching.

Understanding Your Cats Need to Scratch

There are two reasons your cat feels the need to scratch. One reason is to keep them in good shape. Cats are natural hunters, even though they are now domestic they still have this instinct inside of them. In your cats mind this is the most vital part of their bodies, since they need them to hunt. And they scratch to maintain their sharp claws, keep them trim, and under control.

The second reason why cats scratch things is because they are marking their territory. They will also spray their territory and rub their scent on it too. If someone or something new has just been introduced into your cat's environment then there is a good chance that they will start to scratch things more frequently. Therefore most of the time, problem scratching is caused by your cat feeling threatened in some way.

Preventing Problem Scratching

While it may be natural for your cat to scratch, there are things that you can do to eliminate the problem. The easiest thing to do is to provide your cat with proper scratching posts. You can purchase these from most good pet stores, or you could easily make your own.

Make sure to place the scratching post in a high traffic area. Somewhere everyone in the household goes frequently. Your cat needs to feel they are marking their territory, and if the post is hidden somewhere it can't convey that message.

If you have a problem with your cat using the scratching post, there is a few solutions. You can hang toys from it so your cat while playing marks the post as theirs. Get catnip and rub it on the scratching post. Make it part of your cats life. Feed them by it, and play with them by it. This will make it so your cat becomes possessive of it.

To be successful, you must remain persistent. If your cat scratches something it shouldn't, always reprimand the cat. When your cat scratches the post, reward them. Always start this training as soon as you are able. The younger the cat the more successful this training is.