SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post Cats scratch for a variety of reasons, none of which are to be nasty, destructive or "disobedient". Cats scratch as a natural activity that performs several innate functions. Scratching tones and stretches the muscles and ligaments that run from the cats paw all the way down the spine. It also relieves stress, removes old nail sheaths from the claws and markes territory-all activities that cats do in the wild. The SmartCat scratching post is superior to others on the market because of its 32" post that truly allows the cat to STRETCH. The sturdy base eliminates wobbling and tipping which typically discourages the cat from future attempts to use the post. Fibrous and durable sisal material naturally inspires scratching and is superior to carpeting which snags nails and encourages scratching on other surfaces (such as your sofa). The finest materials and workmanship guarantee a scratching post that will remain attractive and useful. Assembles easily with two screws (included) and a flat-head screwdriver. SmartCat Training Tips: - Place the post in a room where the cat spends a lot of time. Cats often like to stretch and scratch when they wake up from a nap.
- To introduce the post to your cat try using catnip as a lure. (For most cats a lure is unnecessary, but fun.) Rub or spray catnip onto the sisal material and call the cat over to the post. Scratch your nails along the surface of the material. This will attract the cat and at the same time teach him where to scratch.
- After your cat begins to scratch, praise him and give him a food treat.
- If your cat has already been scratching a piece of furniture, place the post directly in front of it. Temporarily cover the previously scratched areas with a few strips of double-sided carpet tape or clear double-sided tape strips that are designed for this purpose, such as Sticky Paws. This will help redirect your cat's scratching activities to the post. Most cats are easily trained but if your cat is the exception, please see catsinternational.org for free behavior counseling.
Important Note about declawing: Scientific journals refer to declawing as "elective mutilation". It is an amputation of the cat's toes comparable to the removal of the human finger at the first knuckle. It handicaps the cat physically, socially and psychologically for the rest of its life, predisposing the cat to certain temperament and behavior problems such as shyness, biting and litter box avoidance. By regularly trimming your cat's nails and offering a suitable scratching target you are providing a natural outlet for a normal, healthy behavior and you will be rewarded with a content and confident companion. The following is the Position Statement by The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights:Cat declawing, or onychectomy, is an amputation of a portion of a cat?s front toes and sometimes those of the back feet, as well. Declawing involves putting the cat under anesthesia and then cutting through each of the ten last joints, including skin, tendons, and nerves, thereby removing the distal phalanx (last bone) of each toe. The recovery from declawing can be painful and lengthy and may involve postoperative complications. These include infection, hemorrhage, persistent ?phantom? pain, lameness, and nail regrowth, sometimes requiring additional surgery. Because scratching is a natural behavior in cats, the human caretaker should redirect this instinctive behavior by providing environmental enrichments to alter the cat?s scratching behavior away from furniture. In addition to the substitution of an acceptable scratching post, the use of nail caps (Soft Paws), repellant material on target areas (Sticky Paws), and more frequent trimming of cats? nails frequently resolve the issue. Anecdotal evidence of behavior changes occurring post-onychectomy provides compelling support for the observation that declawing cats increases their likelihood of expressing litter box avoidance and aggressive biting. The studies done so far to analyze this relationship have been limited in their ability to control multiple variables and form a definitive conclusion. However, the observations of many veterinary practitioners and behaviorists give strong support for these connections.
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