The following three tactics will help you redirect your cat’s scratching behavior. However, cats can be taught to scratch on more appropriate objects like scratching posts.
The scratch marks and claw sheaths left behind may also be displays of confidence.īecause scratching is an innate behavior like grooming or burying waste, it can be difficult to stop. Scratching is largely a marking behavior that deposits scent from special glands on the cat’s paws into his territory and removes the translucent covering, or sheath, from the claws.
One common misconception is that cats are “out for revenge” when they destroy household items, but these behaviors are usually part of normal investigation and play and, fortunately, can most commonly be managed with an appropriate plan and patience.Ĭats that scratch your favorite sofa or expensive drapes are not on a mission to destroy your home, but rather wish to satisfy certain needs. It’s not mine anymore.Many owners complain that their cats scratch furniture and carpets, chew on fabric, or munch on houseplants. These destructive behaviors not only destroy valuable items, but may also harm a cat’s health. I was planning on having that tree shortened and cleaned out. I’ve seen Black Bart scurrying up the tree with a trail of stuffing and I watched Itzy stuffing her mouth with same and jumping into her nest. They get along just fine.Ībout the dog bed: Well, all of the stuffing is almost gone, just enough left for spring. In the top story lives Black Bart (roof rat) and his family, and in the bottom story lives Itzy the squirrel and her siblings. I have a two-story “co-op” Cypress tree with a large circular dog bed at the base. 4 question, “Do squirrels build nests in trees?” Oh, yes indeed, as well as roof rats. I’m sure lots of other ideas are already heading this way from other cat people. Yes, it’s a BIG pain, but he’s worth it, the big lug. We’ve managed to work this out with Newman.
NO plastic or tape must be left accessible to the cat. A stick with a ball on a string to dangle from the table.įinally, you have to understand that you now have a little “child” in your home and forever more (as long as Plasteak lives there) you must childproof your house accordingly. Little balls that jingle and make other noises when they roll across the floor. While you are at the pet store, pick up some cat toys to bat around on the floor. It grows in a little pot and cats like to chew on and eat it. So try getting your cat some things to play with and other things that are safe to eat or chew.Ĭat grass (from oats and wheat) is available at most pet stores. Maybe the cat is bored and chews on things because it needs something to do. When you visit the vet, explain the situation and ask if he/she has any solutions to this problem.Ĭats chew on things for all sorts of reasons. Cats will sometimes chew on things when their teeth are hurting because it makes them feel good. I wrote about Newman’s fixation a few weeks ago when he squeezed into the back of a desk drawer and munched on a bunch of my son Karl’s tax receipts.įirst thing you should do is have Plasteak’s teeth checked by your vet to make sure they aren’t bothering her. If you don’t catch him, all that’s left when you return is a sodden heap of wet papier mache. We can’t leave photographs, receipts, or any kind of crunchy paper lying around on a counter or table without Newman making a try to get them. They have a chemical smell to them and he’ll raise his head from a deep sleep and look around if I walk into the room with a receipt in my hand. My cat, Newman, is obsessed with chewing on cash register receipts. Oh, she can smell the tape and the plastic. Gary Bogue: Cats: Why does my kitty chew on plastic and tape? – East Bay Times
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