How to Stop Your Cat from Scratching the Carpet

One of the common complaints of cat owners is a cat who scratches the carpet or furniture. It can be very destructive and cause stress in your home. The following tips will help to stop your cat from scratching the carpet.

 

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Why Do Cats Scratch?

Before I get into things you can do to change this behaviour, it's important to understand why cats need to scratch. Cats scratch for health reasons and also to communicate with you. Firstly, cats need to wear down their claws naturally. Indoor cats claws don't get worn down as quickly as outside cats. I wrote an earlier post on trimming your cats claws here. 

Secondly, cats scratch to communicate with you. Did you ever notice that your cat scratches when you return home from work? He is trying to tell you he is happy you are home. Of course, if he does this on your sofa or carpet, you will not appreciate it. Cats also scratch when they wake up from a nap to stretch their muscles and wake up.

    

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Cats love to mark their territory with their scent. There are scent glands in their paws, and when they scratch something it's their way of marking it as their own. Scratching is normal cat behaviour. It is part of their nature and something you should not try to change. You can however, direct them to scratch on designated scratching posts or cat trees.

 

Cat Scratching Posts

There are several different types of cat scratching posts. There are both vertical and horizontal posts, as well as wood and corrugated cardboard scratchers.

Kong cat scratcher available on Amazon

Cats like different textures. If your cat is scratching the carpet, consider getting a scratcher that has a carpet like texture to it. If your cat likes to scratch wood (like door frames or coffee tables) buy or make a wood scratcher. You can sprinkle a little catnip on it to attract the cat or add a little toy nearby.

 

Place the scratching posts near where your cat likes to scratch. If you catch him scratching the carpet or furniture, pick him up gently and move him to the scratching post. You will have to do this a few times for the cat to learn. You can also discourage him from scratching certain areas by using aluminum foil or a heavy plastic sheet over the area. They don't like that texture and will avoid it. Cats also don't like the smell of citrus. You can wipe down the wood with a citrus solution and they will stay away from it.

Scolding doesn't work unless you catch him scratching. If you yell afterwards, he won't understand why you're upset and will be afraid. This will cause more stress and your cat will act out more. Remember he is not trying to misbehave, he is only doing what comes naturally. Your cat wants to please you, it's up to you to teach him where to scratch. Positive reinforcement works well. When he uses the scratching post, praise him and pet afterwards so he knows you are happy with him.



This video gives you some tips on how to stop your cat from scratching the carpet.

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Is Your Cat Stressed?

A stressed cat is the main reason for common misbehaviour. Sometimes you may not even know about it until your cat starts acting out. Long term stress like being bullied by another animal, a noisy environment, or changes in their lifestyle can make cats more anxious and lead to disease.

Some cats deal with stress very easily, whilst others are more high strung. I had a cat that was very timid and she would go running at the slightest noise or disturbance. She was a former feral kitten and we think that led to her being so sensitive. A cat that hasn't properly been socialized will also be prone to stress.

Signs that Your Cat is Stressed

• Hiding or being withdrawn. This is usually the first sign of stress. Cats that hide from you or other animals are scared of something. 
• Extra attention. By contrast, some cats will want extra petting and cuddling when they are anxious. They are seeking reassurance from you to make them feel safe. 
• Litterbox aversion. This is one of the most common symptoms. If your cat is avoiding the litterbox, he is trying to tell you that something is wrong. 
• Excessive meowing. Your cat is literally trying to communicate that he is upset. 
• Eating schedule changes. A cat that has little appetite or conversely, eats more than the usual is a sign of stress or depression. 
• Scratching or excessive licking of fur to the point of bald spots. 
• Aggressive behaviour. Being aggressive with humans or other animals is a sure sign that your cat is stressed out.

How to Reduce Your Cats Stress

Cats hate change. Seriously. They love things to be reliable and have the same schedule. That goes for mealtime, playtime, sleeping, etc. They like to know you'll be home by a certain time and hang out with their according to a routine. It may sound boring but cats love a set schedule. It makes them feel secure and safe in their home. They will be less likely to feel anxious or act out.

Cats don't like sharing. They have the "what's mine is mine" attitude about their possessions. If you have multiple cats, make sure they each have their own food and water dishes, toys, litterboxes, scratching posts, etc. If you have issues of one cat bullying the other or taking possession of toys, try to put their things in a separate part of your home to avoid conflict. It will give the bullied cat a safe place to hang out and feel secure.

Just as in humans, stress can lead to health problems. The best way to keep your cat calm is too see things from their perspective. If they are hiding because they are afraid of another cat or dog, think how you would react in that same situation. If your cat is anxious, try to omit the cause of his stress and make him feel safe. This will keep him healthy and happy.

Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

February is pet dental month, it's a good time to have your cat's teeth checked out. Cats need regular dental care or they will get oral disease by the time they are 3 years old. Brushing your cat's teeth is an easy thing you can do to keep them healthy.

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Over 80 percent of cats that are older than 6 years have periodontal disease. If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems and shorten your pets life. You should start with a yearly dental exam when the cat is age 2. The vet can determine if a tooth cleaning/polishing is necessary. It will take 30 minutes, your cat will need to be anesthetized for the procedure.

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Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

Here's an informative video that shows how easily you can brush your cats teeth.

How to Trim Your Cats Claws at Home

It's not hard to trim your cats claws at home. Doing so will protect your furniture and woodwork, as well as keeping your cat healthy. You will save money spent at the vets or groomers that clip their claws.

You can use various nail clippers for this job. There are the regular human nail clippers, pet nail clippers, and the clippers that hold the claw in place. You can use any of these for this purpose.

Trimming Cats Claws

Try to begin with the nail clipping when your cat is relaxed. If the cat is nervous or stressed, it will be more difficult for both of you. It's easiest if you start trimming claws when your cat is a kitten, so they will get used to it. You can hold your cat in various positions. You can hold them in your lap or put them on a table. You can also hold them in a cradle-like pose. One of my cats is a very frisky fellow but he loves being cradled, so this position puts him in a mellow mood. If your cat is really agitated, you can wrap them in a towel to prevent yourself from being scratched.

While holding the cat, use your other hand to gently take their front paw. Softly squeeze the paw you are holding. The cats claws will be visible, they are clear. Use your clippers to trim the tip of the claw. Don't go to far up to the "quick". This is where the blood vessels are. If you cut it, the claw will bleed. If that happens, use cornstarch to stop the bleeding. You only need to clip the very tip of the claw.

After you have clipped the claws on the first paw, proceed to the other front paw. If your cat is too stressed, take a break. You can always continue in a couple hours or a day later. Rear claws don't grow as fast and don't need to be trimmed as often. You should still trim them occasionally.

After the clipping is complete, pet and stroke your kitty to relax them and offer a small treat as a reward. Once you do this a few times, both you and your cat will adjust. It's not difficult to trim your cats claws at home.

Dental Health: How to Take Care of Your Cat's Teeth

Dental health is very important for your cat's overall well being, yet it is often overlooked or neglected. Most cats have some evidence of gum disease. If your cat hasn't received proper dental care, this can lead to serious medical problems. As in humans, dental health is very important. If we neglect to care for our teeth, we are more susceptible to disease and illness. The same is true for our feline friends. Since cats can't brush their teeth, it is up to us to help them.

If your cat has gum or dental disease, bacteria from his teeth can move into their blood. If the bacteria goes to vital organs, it can cause infections and put your pet's life in danger. A cat with gum disease is often in pain. They will avoid food and not get proper nutrition. Imagine if you had a bad toothache and had no pain reliever. You would be miserable and avoid food too. The cat may lose his teeth and also develop infections.

How do I stop this from happening? It's all about prevention. You should take your cat to the veterinarian for a full dental checkup. The vet can schedule your cat for regular cleanings to stop the disease from getting any worse. After the cleaning, you will be instructed to clean your cat's teeth. There are special toothpastes for cats that you can use. Once your cat gets used to having his teeth brushed, it will be less of a chore. Some cats will fight this obviously, especially older animals. You can also use a special dental rinse or cleaning pad rather than the toothbrush. You can get both of these from your vet. Another great preventative is dental treats. Give them to your cat on a daily basis to help control dental bacteria.

Feeding Your Cat

What you feed your cat is very important for your kitty's health. You should give your cat the most nutritional food available. Avoid any cat food that is made with by-products like bone meal or animal digest. High sugar and/or carbohydrate content is also unhealthy. Any cat food that has these ingredients is just like a human living on junk food.

Cats require protein to survive. This means lots of fish, chicken or other meats. My cat adores turkey and avoids fish, strange as that may sound. Most cats go crazy for fish. This is very healthy and gives them lots of protein. Cats require taurine to survive. Never feed your cats dog food because taurine isn't an ingredient in dog food. You should feed your cat a low carbohydrate diet, though they need some carbs. Avoid feeding them "people food" or table scraps. High sugar/carb content can lead to your cat becoming sick. They could get cystitis, diabetes or a urinary infection. At the very least, they will become overweight and this will cut down on their quality of life.

Dry food or wet (canned) food? Dry food has it's advantages. It's inexpensive, even the higher quality brands don't cost that much. It's easy to clean up. You just pour the kibble in your cat's dish. You can leave it out during the day and the cat can eat it when hungry. Some cats are "grazers" and nibble all day long. The downside is it can lead to health issues. Cats that live on a dry food diet are more susceptible to diabetes and urinary infections. In fact, diabetic cats should avoid dry food because it will affect their blood sugar.

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Wet food is more preferable to cats. They love the taste and it is a real treat for them. It is more expensive than buying kibble. You should refrigerate unused canned food to avoid it going bad. If you feed your cat all canned food, there is a risk of your cat becoming overweight. A happy medium is blending both foods. You can mix the kibble with the dry food at every meal. You can also feed wet food once a day and give kibble the rest of the day. Whatever option you decide, your cat's diet is an important part of his overall health.