Your cat has many wonderful habits, but scratching things up around your home probably isn’t one of them. How can you get your cat to stop doing this?

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. Not only does it promote healthy claws, but it also gives your cat a good stretch and lets him leave visual reminders to others regarding the territory he’s claimed. However, this doesn’t mean it has to happen on your furniture. If your cat is scratching things around your house, try offering an alternate item to scratch on. There are many scratching posts, mats, and climbing trees available that your pet can utilize. If your cat is very persistent and doesn’t naturally use the new options, there are sprays available to help deter your cat from areas you’d rather she not scratch. Your local Abilene vet clinic can offer additional advice if needed.

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You were excited to bring a new puppy into your home, and now that he’s adjusted to his new living environment, its time to amp up his training a bit. One issue you’ve noticed is biting during playtime. Why does your puppy do this?

Your puppy is learning about the world around him in any way he can. Biting and chewing give your pet valuable information about his surroundings. It also offers your pet a way to interact with you how he would interact with his littermates. However, it certainly isn’t a behavior you would like to encourage. When you are playing with your pup and he bites you, he doesn’t necessarily intend to cause any harm. This means that he needs to be taught not to play this way. Removing your attention when this happens is a good way to teach him that biting isn’t tolerated. Your Abilene vet can offer additional advice if needed.

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