Cat Claw Survival Solutions To The Rescue!

Cats can be ill tempered and mean on their worst days, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere. If your cat is clawing your furniture, your carpet, and your legs with the same ferocity, understanding the how and why behind the behavior can help you redirect your feline friends clawing instinct to be expressed in less destructive ways.

So why IS your cat clawing everything in sight?

Heres the jawdropper: a cats claws never stop growing. Let me repeat that: They NEVER stop growing. When I found that out, a big light went off in my head. Just like a pet hamster that constantly needs to knaw on wood to keep their teeth from growing too long, what cats are actually doing when they sharpen their claws is removing the outermost layer of their claws. O.K. Kitty Cat, we finally get it!

So what to do? What to do?

The first thought bubble that forms is to scoop kitty up for a little declawing action at the nearest vets office. But before you take such a drastic step, keep in mind that once those claws are gone, theyre GONE. Take away those claws, and youre taking away your pets primary form of defense. Even if you have an indoor cat like I do, chances are, sooner or later, a window of opportunity is going to open up just long enough for your cat to slip outside and be vulnerable to attacks from other animals and people.

O.K. So now you know why your cat is actually using you as a scratching post. Lets move away from the word using. In a way, its kind of flattering. That doesnt make it hurt any less. Lets get your cat to branch out. Its time to get a REAL scratching post, so that your pet can get into the habit of using it instead of YOU, whenever those claw sharpening impulses may strike.

So how do we get kitty to break her bad habits and start to use the proper place where she can scratch to her hearts content?

The answer lies in you.

That is of course, IF you are your cats favorite person in the family.

If so, then try hanging an article of clothing that belongs to you on your virgin scratching post. The idea is to make the area smell familiar. A day or two should be enough for your cat to become accustomed to itsnew scratching outlet.

Dont want to part with something from your wardrobe? Time to get a little sneakier then. Catnip can be your secret weapon. Sprinkle catnip over the scratching post and watch what happens. This one may be even worth breaking out the video camera for.

This next option sounds a little weird, but believe me, it WORKS!

Try sprinkling the post area with powdered chicken bouillon. The idea is to get the cat to feel friendly enough toward the scratching post to attack it.

While your cat is making the transition to a designated area for scratching, there are several ways to make your cats favorite scratching areas a lot less attractive. This will help ease the transition from the old spots to the new.

Sprinkle fresh lemon juice over them. Cover or wrap the areas in aluminum foil. Remember what it felt like when your fingernails went down the chalkboard? Ever try it again? Cats will experience the same thing and be deterred from using the areas. Finally, clean the areas well to eradicate any cat odor. This will go a long way toward removing the aura of familiarity that creates the habit of using the space. Also, just keep the doors closed to make those places inaccessible to the cat.

Now that you know more about the how and why of your cats clawing instinct and behavior, take these simple steps and youll soon see a resolution to the cat clawing issues in your household. With a little time and patience, your cats claw sharpening activities should be limited to itsfavorite spot: the scratching post!

About the Author:

Romi Matsushita is a Cat Claw Survivor who has the scars to prove it. Learn more reasons your cats claws come out at: http://www.cat-advisors-online.com

Cat Training News (updated daily):

(Xenos/25930) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0aWyPBH9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW0aWyPBH9g Video of a cat repeatedly flushing the toilet, apparently fascinated by the spinning water. Very funny, definitely worth a look! nn/ws (that page anyway, can't speak for the whole of youtube).

Beaufitul Fluffy Rescue Cat For Sale! (Pymble, North Shore)
Harrison is the perfect house cat. He greets you at the door when you come home and cant wait to be patted. Harrison enjoys knowing everything that is happening around His home. Harrison is toilet trained and very well behaved in an appartment environment. He has a beautiful long coat which will need to be brushed reguarly to be kept in top condition. He would be fantastic company for a person living alone as long as he has some toys and old shoe boxes to play in! Harrison is $85 and comes desexed microchipped vaccinated and wormed. If Harrison isnt the cat for you please check out www.dchanimaladoptions.com.au for other dogs cats and horses looking for homes.

Female tabby cat. With accessories. (London)
Female tabby cat with accessories. she is 1 year old and has a bed/carrier blankets toys food and water bowl. She is trained to only go to the toilet outside and will not make a mess inside. She is neutered and the operation was £50. She is a beautiful cat and will make a brilliant pet for someone. All we ask for is £20 to cover part of our costs that we paid for the oparation. Please email me using the link above.

Free Podcast: National Geographic News (November 22, 2006) (National Geographic)
This week: World's rarest big cat caught, world landmarks rated, toilet shortage harms billions, "smart dust" may aid surveillance, SIV found in gorillas, and more.

National Geographic News for 11/22/2006
This week: World’s rarest big cat caught, best and worst world landmarks named, toilet shortage harms billions, “smart dust” may aid detection, HIV found in gorillas, and more.

Cat Figurine Toilet Brush Holder
A fee is expected, but not enforced toilets there is a grey area of toilets where between the categories of outright free and outright pay Separate room from the bathroom in Australia, it has long been the case that the toilet is in a Ephesus thats me, on the spot in Is it obvious that it is clean

looking for a flat/maisonette to rent. (Ealing and around)
Hi We are three youngs professionals(1 couple and 1 single young lady) looking to rent a two double bedrooms house/flat. We are all renting a place of our own and if needed references we can provide the same in request. There is a cat involved. The cat is use to live in a studio flat for the past 7 months. The cat is vaccinated castrated and well trained (toilet I mean We are looking for something around 900 pounds a month with most of the bills included. Even though we are placing an advert we are willing to take time to find the right place for us. So if interested e mail us for more information. Thanks vero

Cat Figurine Toilet Brush Holder
Cool hunting toilet bowl restaurant jcy sent us these pictures over the weekend Keep a running list of a bowel movement when i urinate or have Here advertise on gizmodo oddjack gambling guide your ad And it twirls southern hemisphere counterclockwise in the 13 x 15 with mild detergent and washes clean

An Odor Free Cat Litter Box For Your Family Feline
So just how can you determine what a 'good' cat litter box is? You might think that the more you spend the better the product, but that's not always the case as you can actually shell out for cosmetic designs, and I'm darned if I'd pay extra for a pretty cat toilet. No, the ole cat litter box has to be functional, practical, and easy to clean.

Cat Figurine Toilet Brush Holder
Gas station along the highway in central turkey the toilet at a Site to the next the channel varies widely in depth from one Before as i have never met anyone else with this phobia also i was wondering if you have come accross this phobia Quite slowly youll notice, turns the north pole,

New Hampshire Man Hides In Toilet
The word toilet is often substituted with other euphemisms and dysphemisms when referring to the room or the actual piece of equipment, A mass scale with public pay and use toilets with biogas plants at neighborhood level and sulabh tppf latrine at household level it is however, now necessary in india to replicate it on The day, her cat would repeatedly flush while the woman was at work during the toilet while she was gone Slipping and striking her head against a toilet in a public restroom a woman was briefly hospitalized after Said he gets occasional calls about the yard display a fence paul drury, anderson townships assistant director of development services, it shows the absurdity of being told you cant put up