Norwegian Forest Cat

　　Cats often scratch while stretching, and they usually like to scratch the same spot. This is not good for our furniture because cats’ claws are very sharp, which can easily damage our furniture and cause serious loss. So how can we prevent cats from randomly scratching furniture?

　　Before training, prepare a wooden post about 70 cm long and approximately 20 cm in diameter, which is suitable. Fix it upright near the cat’s bed to facilitate the cat’s scratching. The wood should be solid in texture.

　　Training should start with kittens. During training, bring the kitten to the wooden post, hold the kitten’s two front legs with both hands, and place them on the wooden post, simulating the cat’s scratching motion. This way, the secretion from the glands on the cat’s paws will be spread onto the post. After multiple trainings, combined with the scent of the secretions, the cat will be attracted to the wooden post to scratch. Developing this habit means it will no longer scratch the furniture, thus protecting the furniture’s cleanliness and appearance.

　　For cats that already have the habit of scratching furniture, during training, first cover the scratched area with a plastic sheet or wooden board. Then place a solid wooden post or board at an appropriate position in front of the scratched area. Use the same method to train the cat to scratch the post or board. Once the cat develops the habit, slowly move the post or board to your desired location. Each time moving the board should not be too far; 5 to 10 cm is appropriate, and it must not be rushed.

　　Training cats is different from training dogs; it may require more time. Owners need to be patient to educate them. After a long time of training, it is believed that cats can definitely break the bad habit of scratching furniture. (Source：PetsZone)