Shandong Lion Cat

　　To train cats not to scratch walls, you must first understand why cats scratch walls and then address their motives accordingly. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy to win every battle. First, let’s talk about why cats like to scratch walls.

　　1. The Purpose of Cats Scratching Walls

　　Whether cats scratch walls, furniture, or trees, they usually have two purposes: one is to remove the dead shells on the outside of their claws through scratching, exposing the newly grown sharp claws, which is what we commonly call claw sharpening; the other is to leave their scent through scratching, marking their territory and sending territorial signals to other cats, meaning to occupy territory.

　　2. How to Solve This?

　　Regarding cats sharpening their claws, owners usually trim their cats’ claws, which is indeed a once-and-for-all good method as long as it is done regularly. However, this often causes cats to resist because cats dislike having their claws trimmed. Forced claw trimming may also cause cats to feel down. Another method is to place a cat scratching board and train the cat to perform destructive behavior on it. This not only satisfies the cat’s instincts but also protects the walls well.

　　For territorial occupation, cats can be neutered. Post-surgery cats tend to be gentle and rarely scratch walls. Also, owners should try not to move furniture frequently, as many scents change with the furniture, requiring the cat to readapt. (Source：PetsZone)