How to make your cat's scratching
surface irresistible

»Look for a scratching post with a solid base that is sturdy and tall enough to allow for a good stretch.

»Try a scratching tree that has high platforms and a wide post for climbing and perching.

»Place the tree near a window; cats like a room with a view.

»Provide more than one scratchable surface (untreated tree bark and sisal are good choices) and keep them in heavily trafficked areas (preferrable to out-of-the-way areas.)

»Rub catnip all over the scratching post and leave toys around it.

»Use positive reinforcement whenever your cat scratches the post rather than scolding when he or she scratches inappropriate objects.

»Put double-sided tape or bitter-apple spray on any inappropriate places your cat has been scratching.

Cats like to use their claws-this is simply a fact. They will scratch to mark their territory, scrratch to exercise, scratch to shed their old claws and make way for new ones, and scratch for the sheer fun of it. It's also a fact that most humans like to preserve their furniture, which is why too many people plan to declaw their cats when they adopt. But there's grave misconception in this countr that declawing is as benign as a feline manicue. It isn't. Declawing is an inhumane and unnecessary solution to a problem that can be easily and humanely resolved in other ways.

Though still legal in the United States, the declawing procedure is considered so cruel that it is banned in many countries. It involves surgery in which not jus the nail, but the first bone of each toe is removed, a process akin to amputating human fingers at the first knuckle. Recovery may be painful-studies have shown that for weeks afterward, cats still won't put their full weight on their feet. "In some cases declawing reportedly also leads to behavioral problems, such as biting or not using the litter box," says Nancy Peterson, companion animals issue specialist for The HSUS. Perhaps most disturbing is that declawing removes a cat's first line of defense, putting the animal in extreme danger should he or she ever get out of the house. Cats should always be kept safely indoors, but if a cat is declawed, that rule becomes imperative.

Designate a Scratch Zone

Asking a cat not to scratch is as good as asking a car not to be a car. Cats naturally claw prominent objects in their "territory." If they aren't provided with an adequate surface in the house, they will choose their own, so it's important to provide your cat with at least one scratchiing post. "People don't realize that the majority of cats can be easily trained to scratch in appropriate places, like on a scratchng pas or post," says Peterson. "Too many people make no attempt to teach their cats before they resort to declawing."

Ilona Rodan, DVM, of the Cat Care Clinic in Madison, Wisconsin, won't discuss declawing unless she feels that a cat owner has truly exhausted all of the alternatives. "In addition to scratching posts, I recommend nail trimming." Regular trims often help deter cats from scratching or at least reduce any damage that's done. And although the idea of clipping their cats' claws might be daunting to some pet owners, "everyone should be able to do it if taught properly," says Rodan, who recommends that owners get nail-trimming lessons from their veterinarians.

In the beginning, she suggests taking it slow, first gently petting your cat's feet and offering treats to get the animal used to having his or her paws handled. Then try clipping one or two nails, or the nails on one paw. Eventually, your cat should become comfortable enough for you to trim all the nails at once. And if you can't make clipping work for you, you can equip a cat with soft plastic claw caps.