Keep Your Cat from Scratching Furniture - Part 2 of 2

Last week, we talked about why your cat loves to scratch. This week, we'll describe how to get him to do it in the right place -- the scratching post.

Step 3: Deter Bad Behavior
Not all experts agree on the specifics of how and when to use positive and negative reinforcement to train your cat. Here are a few of the most commonly recommended do's and don'ts:

• Do try to distract your cat by making a loud noise while he's scratching the furniture -- not after -- so he makes the connection between the startling noise and the undesired behavior.
• Don't take your cat to the post immediately after distracting him from inappropriate clawing. Your kitty may learn to associate his post with the loud noise.
• Don't ever physically punish your cat. This could cause a fear-driven, aggressive response and weaken your cat's trust in you.
• Don't force your cat to scratch the post by placing his paws on it. It might backfire and make him avoid it altogether.
• Do give praise and treats whenever he scratches the post.

Step 4: Find the Perfect Post
To make your cat's post more enticing, follow these suggestions.

• Provide the right angle. Offer both vertical and horizontal scratchers.
• Find the right surface. Experiment with a variety of textures -- including corrugated cardboard, carpet, sisal rope, and soft wood -- until your cat finds one he prefers.
• Go for sturdy, stable, and tall. If your cat can't stretch to his full body length when scratching, he'll more likely choose the back of your dining room chairs rather than a too-short post. Also, a wide base prevents wobbling.
• Add some height. A tall cat tree may keep kitty from climbing screens and drapes.
• Have extras. Put a few posts throughout the house in easy-to-get-to spots.

With a little patience and perseverance, these steps can help save your furniture without resorting to declawing your feline buddy, which is a potentially risky and controversial procedure (even among veterinarians). Look for more on this topic in a future tip.