Clawing and scratching on objects enables cats to keep their claws well-trimmed while giving their paw muscles a good workout. These are natural behaviors that even domestic cats engage in. However, scratching and clawing can become a destructive behavior especially if your kitty loves doing it on your furniture or carpet.

If you have problems with your cat’s scratching and clawing behavior, declawing is NEVER an option. This is a very painful procedure to remove entirely the cat’s claws and prevent them from ever growing back.
Fortunately, there are some cat-friendly options to lessen or stop your pet from clawing and scratching on “illegal” surfaces such as furniture and carpets.

•    Install scratching posts or scratching pads so your cat will have a “legal” scratching surface. There are many types of scratching posts to choose from. Make sure you know your pet’s preferences before buying one, or he will ignore it and choose to scratch somewhere else.

•    Make your cat’s “illegal” scratching surfaces inhospitable to his sensitive paws by covering them with double-sided tape.

•    Spray the “illegal” scratching surfaces with cat-safe deterrents such as bitter apple or citrus sprays. Cats hate the smell and taste of these products.

You should seek help from your veterinary clinic Fox Chapel PA if you are dealing with undesirable pet behavior that you can’t seem to correct successfully.