It's natural for your kitty to scratch. Cats have claws in the first place because in the wild, they are absolutely necessary for hunting and defending themselves when threatened. When they were domesticated by humans, their claws or their instincts did not simply disappear. A lot of people end up removing their cat's claws because they find scratching to be such an undesirable behavior. But remember that this is surgery, which can be painful and there can be complications involved. You and your cat do have another choice!

Scratching posts are a very simple way to deal with a cat with a scratching problem. The basic instinct to scratch can be dealt with by having scratching posts cats can utilize to express this instinct. A rough material such as cardboard, sisal or burlap is usually used in the construction and manufacture of scratching posts. The cat scratching instinct is satisfied by scratching on this rough surface at the same time it helps remove from the claw area dead skin and nails.

You can easily alter your cat's inappropriate scratching behavior by buying him scratching posts. There are models to fit every budget from inexpensive cardboard scratching posts for sale at around five to ten dollars up to luxury cat condos that cost hundreds of dollars and serve basically the same purpose. Keep in mind that since cats are territorial and mark their territories by scratching, you must provide more than one scratching post per cat.

If you've tried that and you still find scratched furniture, purchase some bubble wrap or double-sided tape to cover the scratched area. The cat will find the texture very unpleasant to scratch, and will likely give up on that area after a week or so. This is a very inexpensive solution to saving your furniture, and it neither harms the beauty of your home or your cat.

Another idea to try if you are having trouble with a cats behavior is to clip your pet's claws. You may use a special grooming tool available at a pet store, or simply use human fingernail clippers. Gently hold your cat and lightly squeeze his or her paw pads. This will force the claw to come out. Then you can carefully clip off the end of the claw with the clippers. Make sure to cut only a small amount at the end, or it may cause pain to your cat.

If you haven't successfully altered your cats behavior by using scratching posts and covering the scratched surfaces, then you can try using claw covers. Claw covers are like artificial nails for your cat. They can be applied either at home or at your vet's office, and come in a variety of fun colors. A small amount of special glue makes them cling to each claw. The slippery, blunt surface of the claw cover will protect your carpet and furniture.

Cats have a natural instinct to scratch, so occasionally cat owners have to deal with problem cat scratching. By using scratching posts cats can let out their need to scratch without wrecking your furniture or drapes. Inexpensive models cost less than ten dollars. You can also try covering parts of your furniture with bubble wrap or double-sided tape. Your cat will dislike the texture and in a few weeks, stop scratching. Other ideas to curb your cats behavior are clipping your cat's claws (but only a little!) or buying claw covers. A dab of adhesive keeps these blunt covers on a cat's claws to save carpet and furniture.