CAT SCRATCHING Part 2 Solutions to avoid destructive cat scratching.

As it is part of a cat's natural instinct to scratch, it is unlikely that this will ever change. However, you do have control of what your cat does scratch and the impact that the scratching will have on you and your property, including your favorite leather recliner or your new curtains that your feline friend has been eying.

The key to avoiding destructive scratching is to provide your cat with an alternate object to focus their scratching on. Scratching posts and cat towers are popular objects to use www.catsplay.com/scratch_poles.php3 . It is recommend that the new object be placed in close proximity to the old object that you are trying to stop your kitty from scratching. It is important that the old object be made as unappealing for your cat to scratch as possible. You may consider placing double sided tape, aluminum foil or sand paper in the are where your cat likes to scratch. When you see your cat getting ready to scratch the old object, move him next to the new object, such as the scratch post and direct your cat to scratch it. In order to extinguish the old behavior, the intervention must be done on a consistent basis. In the initial stages of teaching the new behavior, you can give your cat a treat after each time he successfully scratches the new object. This is a guaranteed way to accelerate the learning curve. Do not remove the double sided tape from the old object until your cat has mastered scratching the new object on a consistent basis.

Trimming your cat's claws is helpful for curbing scratching in unwanted places. When a cat's claws are short and trim all the time, it minimizes the amount of damage that your cat could cause to you or your furniture. Also, it is just not as pleasurable for the cat. Finally, your cat's claws are less likely to get snagged on the carpet, on your wool sweater or in your skin if they are short.

An innovative product available today is Soft Paws www.softpaws.com/about.html. It is a set of vinyl nail clips that are glued on your cat's existing nails. It does not in any way hamper your cat from scratching. However, it does avoid any damage from the scratching as the nails are protected and covered by Soft Paws.

If this is a problem that your cat has, please try the above interventions. We would be interested in how this works for you, and invite you to email us at californiapaws@yahoo.com. Should you require cat sitting or in-home boarding in San Francisco please visit www.californiapaws.biz for more information.

CAT SCRATCHING Part 1 Why cats scratch?

There are cat owners all over the world that have long harbored feelings of frustration wondering why their furry friend proceeds to scratch up all their possessions from the curtains to the furniture. Some may take it personally and even feel guilty thinking that kitty is not happy with them or not getting enough attention.

While in fact, cats do tend to have a temperamental nature, there are several logical reasons which explain the scratching. It is part of their natural instinct to scratch as a way to mark their territory. When a cat scratches, not only does it leave a visible mark, but it's paws also emit a unique scent. If your cat spends a lot of time on your comfortable leather sofa, he may be inclined to scratch it as a way of taking ownership for it. A cats claws serve as one of their best and most important defenses for protections. This is essential for outdoor cats as they may encounter other cats or big dogs outside of the home.

Scratching is an excellent way for a cat to exercise and groom itself. The act of scratching allows the cat to remove the dead outer layer of it's claws. It also exercises the front quarter muscles of the leg and facilitates stretching.

Cats often show affection and pleasure by kneading. This may be on your lap, on something soft or on uneven surfaces such as wicker baskets. When a cat kneads with it's claws out, may do this for the simple reason that it feels good and is relaxing.

Once you understand your cat's need to scratch, it is then possible to channel his scratching to a specific designated object such a scratching post. This is a great compromise and everyone is happy. You can keep your furniture in pristine condition and your cat can scratch his post to his heart's content.

California Paws offers cat behavior consultations and would be happy to answer any questions you may have on cat behavior. Please email questions to californiapaws@yahoo.com. If you live in San Francisco and need a professional cat sitter or cat boarding, consider California Paws, the trusted name in cat care. We welcome you to visit our website at www.californiapaws.biz.

Home Boarding Is The Best Boarding Choice For Your Cat

I am sure that we can all agree that in your absence, your primary concern is that your cat gets the best possible care. Whether you chose to have an in-home cat sitter or to board will depend on several factors. These include how your cat reacts to your being gone, if you have more than one pet, if there are any medical concerns and how easily you cat responds to being in different surroundings. Some cats are highly independent and perfectly content with a daily visit from the cat sitter. Others, however, crave human interaction and get lonely without consistent contact throughout the day. In order to ascertain this, observe your cat’s behavior when you return from a trip. If he shows noticeable behavior changes upon your return, you may want to consider boarding your cat.

Popular boarding services are available in a cattery, veterinary office or a home with multiple cat condos. Most boarding services care for several cats at one time. The ideal boarding choice is in a home setting with you cat as the only pet being cared for. California Paws offers such an option, caring exclusively for one cat at a time in a comfortable home setting. Your cat will have the run of the house and has the freedom to roam at leisure. To assist in minimizing any changes for your cat, it is recommended to provide a detailed description of its daily routine. This is easier to replicate if your cat is the only one being cared for. Cats are creatures of habit and derive much comfort from familiarity.

Cats are by nature a very sensitive to smell; for this reason it is ideal that there be no other pets there. When cats pick up odors of other cats or smells that are unfamiliar, it can make them uncomfortable and agitated. Animal behaviorist, Sasha Vaz, suggests bringing a few of your cat’s toys, bed and even liter box when you board the cat with a sitter. In a boarding service where there are numerous cats, there tends to be many odors. From a behavioral standpoint, this can be rather unsettling and confusing for a cat. The cat’s food tends to be kept in close proximity to the litter box when a cat is kept in a cat condo. However, in a home setting, both the food and litter box are usually in separate rooms at all times. Finally, there is less chance that you cat can pick up any type of airborne illness if he is not exposed to other pets who may be ill.

California Paws, San Francisco’s experts in cat care offer and excellent cat boarding option. Please email californiapaws@yahoo.com, we would be glad to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.