How to teach a kitten to scratching: 10 practical ways

The kitten in the house is not only affection and delight. Affectionate games with your beloved pet overshadowed with damaged furniture and scratched carpets. Cats, which by their nature need the natural sharpening of their claws, spoil the property. Everything is used - wallpaper, sofa upholstery, corners and even favorite shoes. Thus, the cat removes dead scales from its claws. In addition, in the claws of this animal are glands that produce a special smell - a secret. It serves to mark the territory.

As soon as a kitten was brought to your house, you need to train it in time not to spoil things and furniture, but to sharpen your claws in the space provided for this. To teach a cat to claw is much more difficult than to the tray. After all, in its essence, it is a very clean animal, which is not accustomed to crap where it eats and rests. But sharpening claws in a certain place will be difficult enough to force a cat. But with the right approach, patience and perseverance to make it possible.Here are some effective methods to teach a kitten to scratching.

10 practical ways to teach a kitten to scratch

1. To begin, introduce your pet with a new toy. Pick up a feather or a candy wrapper on a rope and play with it near the scratching post. Try to make the kitten involuntarily cling to the surface of the accessory. So he will be able to feel it with his paws, he will understand why this object is necessary. It is important that the game was a joyful and fun atmosphere. The cat understands by the intonation of the voice and the look, whether you are satisfied with its actions or vice versa, you condemn it. If it scratches carpets and furniture - do not leave it unpunished, show the animal that you do not like it. The kitten does not understand the words, but understands the tone of the human voice. But when the baby starts using the scratching post, on the contrary, praise him and encourage him with his favorite delicacy. He will understand that it is possible and even necessary to scratch.
2. In no case do not take the kitten's paw in the hand and do not spend it on the subject. He will not understand why you are doing this and will feel weak and defenseless.Thus, you are likely to cause a dislike for this accessory.
3. The cat responds very well to odors, so you can play on this. Apply a small amount of valerian to the scraper, and your pet will not be able to tear itself away from such an accessory. And the corners of the furniture and other places favored by the kitten must be protected by sprinkling juice of grapefruit or lemon on them.
4. Try to keep the claw where the kitten spends the most time. Cats usually like to sharpen their claws right after sleep. Anticipate the action of your pet and place this object nearby.
5. If the scraper is vertical, you can hang a bright toy on a string on its top. The kid will play and unwittingly sharpen his claws. Gradually, he will become accustomed to the use of a scraper for the intended purpose.
6. First, you can place this accessory near those places that the cat likes to scratch - the corners of the furniture and the legs of the chairs. When the cat starts to get used to the claw and does exactly what you expect from it, you can gradually move the object to where you think it should stand.
7. To attract the attention of the animal, you can use catnip, which can be bought at the pet store.
8. If you are unable to teach an animal to scratch by these methods, try the following method.Ask someone of your friends a cat that has been used by another cat. Usually these items retain the strong smell of the previous owner. When your cat senses the smell of an alien cat in its territory, it will begin to actively scratch the scratching post, in order to kill the smell of another's animal with its secret.
9. If you are unable to wean an adult cat from scratching furniture, you need to spray it with water from a spray bottle during her crime. This is a very effective way - the cat will think before sharpening its claws on the sofa again.
10. Be patient with your pet, do not expect that he will understand the purpose of the scraper on the first day. If he plays pranks again, do not shout at him with a foul language. A strict and loud "Do not" is usually enough. Scold the cat for the wrong actions and encourage for the faithful. Be consistent. The cat is oriented for several days.

In order for the cat to become accustomed to the claw, the object must be suitable for the animal. In pet stores there is a huge selection of cat accessories. Very interesting are the complex facilities, which are a play area, a place to sleep and a built-in scraper. However, such copies are not cheap.

Conventional claws can be vertical and horizontal. Before you buy, follow your pet, as he prefers to scratch his claws - stretched out on the floor or standing on two paws in a vertical position. Making the right choice regarding your pet's preferences can significantly speed up the process of learning and dating a kitten with a claw.

If this option is not affordable for you, you can make a scraper yourself. To do this, you will need a solid and stable base, a wide-diameter pipe and a soft material - carpet or cord. A round or rectangular base is best made from a piece of chipboard. To its center you need to attach the pipe using the corners. When the construction is done, it is necessary to sheathe it with a soft material. Kovrolan best glued to building glue. However, the glue should not have too sharp smell - otherwise it will scare the animal. The string can be wound tightly on the tube. Mounts must be very strong, so that the cat does not ruin your design on the first day of its use.

The cat needs to be trained and its behavior adapted for life in a human dwelling.Only such “cohabitation” will bring joy, harmony and love.

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