How to Prevent Cat Scratching
Does your cat or kitten attempt to destroy all of your furniture, rugs and soft things in your home in search of something to scratch? You can't blame him or her if you haven't provided something to scratch. Cats have a natural need to scratch so as their owners we have to find something to satisfy this urge.
There are many cardboard posts that are inexpensive and easy to use. You just put one wherever your cat tends to scratch to encourage scratching to take place there instead. You can also add some catnip to attract your cat if he or she enjoys the herb.
You can make your own scratching post out of lumber, old carpet, rope... There are hundreds of tutorials available for free, including cool geeky ones if you're into Star Wars and other pop culture.
There are also ways to discourage scratching. From using tin foil or anti-scratching tape on your furniture to spraying your cat with water (or spraying the area with something unpleasant, like vinegar), you can deter the scratching, but ultimately kitty's not going to stop without an alternative.
What do you do to help with your cat's scratching?
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia