How to Treat a Cat with Habits

So, little pussy is driving you mad by destroying your furniture, your house plants, pooping in the wrong areas and is generally stressing you out. Here is how to manage a cat with bad habits:

Firstly, all cats are not easy pets and some need a stimulating environment in order to behave. If you find that your cat is using your furniture as a scratching post then it is high time that you bought one and taught your cat how to use it instead of your prized possessions. When you have bought your new cat scratching post place it in the area that it is already using and entice the cat to use the post instead. Ok, I can hear the naysayers now: "what if the cat does want to use the new scratching post?." Well, it is quite simple really. Place the new scratching post in the area where the cat is already scratching, entice the cat over to the new post by playing with it, try dragging a piece of string around the new post and attract your cat over to investigate. You can spinkle the new scratching post with catnip once a week and the potent smell should attract kitty to their new toy. Another little thing that works is if you run your own nails over the scratching post as the sound will entice the cat to have a look. The first time your cat uses the new post instead of your best curtains, praise and play with the cat in order to let it know it has done the right thing.

A destructive habit in a cat can be easily turned around by patience, removal of the item that is being destroyed and thinking about what the cat would like it to be replaced with. I do not mean that you have to put your sofa into another room, however, if you try to think like a cat you will get better results. Feline destruction can be managed by replacing an item with a new one which will provide your cat with physical and its mental needs. By thinking like a cat this will help you to understand why your houseplants are being scratched to pieces and your new leather sofa has teethmarks all over it. A cat needs not to feel bored or isolated by you providing the appropriate environment.

Other hints about what cats like and dislike in the furntiture department include; cats love something they can get their claws or teeth into so materials such as leather, raw silk, Haitian or Herculon cloth is a paradise for them. Cats dislike plastic covers or cloth that is not tactile because there is nowhere to put their beautiful nails. You could always introduce a toy for your cat or chewable treats and manage your feline problem by taking time to think about it. Cats also love plants so if this is your problem then either remove the plants from their location or every time kitty decides it is going to rip your plant to shreads, pop a baloon as cats hate loud noises. Kitty will soon get the idea that it is no fun to play with the loud plant in the corner of your room.