How to Keep Your Cat from Scratching Your Furniture

If you have an indoor kitty, you have probably already found out that you are going to have to do something to keep it from scratching up all your furniture. Cats are notorious for this for sharpening their claws is one of their instincts. They aren't clawing up your furniture to defy you but rather because it is part of their nature. However, if you do not want your cat to ruin your furniture, there are a few preventative methods that you can take to ensure your home's safety. Below is a list of all of the available options.

-De-claw. De-clawing is a major surgery that completely removes your kitten's claws. Hence, it will never be able to claw your furniture again or scratch you while playing. However, as de-clawing is a major surgery, it can be quite painful, even to a young kitten and it can alter the kitten's balance and mood and temperament. Plus, it's quite a costly surgery, depending upon your vet and location.

-Nail Caps. If de-clawing isn't for you, then there are nail caps, which are exactly what their name implies. They are tiny caps that cover your cat's claws. You can get them in a variety of colors. However, new ones must be purchased periodically when they fall off or when your kitten is growing.

-Nail Trimming. Good old-fashioned nail trimming is an option as well. You can buy pet nail clippers and filers at Petco, Petsmart, or even Wal-Mart. In addition, there is now a product called Pedi-Paws, which is a battery operated nail filer that safely files down your pets nails. However, if you choose to trim your cat's nails, you must keep them trimmed and filed down, which means that you will have to manually do this yourself every week or so. And keep in mind that some cats are more tolerant of this measure than others. If you have a temperamental kitty, chances are it will not allow you to trim its claws.

-Scratching posts. Scratching posts are yet another option. Buy your cat a scratching post and hopefully it will begin to use it on its own. However, sometimes you must train your cat to use the scratching post and this can prove challenging to some cat owners because each cat is different.

Those are the available options that can prevent your cat from scratching your furniture. Which option is right for your and your cat is determined by your personal preference. You might have to try more than one before you find the one that works for you.