Anyone who has a cat, knows that cats like to scratch on stuff. Whether it be your furniture, your carpet, your walls, or a scratching post is entirely up to you.

Obviously, the best option is to either make or buy your cat a scratching post. This will ensure that they will be able to take care of their claws and mark their territory.

There are several options when looking to buy a scratching post:

:heavy_check_mark: You can look at your local pet store and get a cheap post for $2-$7. Note that these must be thrown away if they become too damaged.

:heavy_check_mark: You can purchase a small scratching post at your local pet store. These tend to be more sturdy and will last a little while. They are usually  $15+.

:heavy_check_mark: You can purchase a cat tree, this is the most long lasting option. They tend to be made extremely well, but that also means they tend to be expensive. They can cost anywhere from $50+. (Usually more expensive at local stores.) If you see a less expensive one, you either need to buy it quick or be extremely cautious of the quality of it.

You can also make your own!

I will be including tutorials later on in my blog for how to make your own scratching posts. I will not be listing them here due to the fact that there are several different ways of doing it. If you are curious about this, and you do not find a tutorial on here that interests you, I strongly suggest searching on google, Pinterest, etc.

There are two different types of scratching posts-vertical and horizontal:

Try both types to find out what your cat prefers, or offer one of each.

Okay, but where should I put the scratching post?

:heavy_check_mark: The posts should be located in prominent areas in your home, easily accessible by your cat.

:heavy_check_mark: Cats often scratch when they wake up from a nap so putting it near their bed would be beneficial.

Now on to training!

:heavy_check_mark: Attract your cat to the post using catnip.

:heavy_check_mark: Spend time near the post encouraging your cat to interact with it.

:heavy_check_mark: Play with the cat near the post and incorporate it into your play to get them use to it.

:heavy_check_mark: The most important step is to reward the cat every time they use the post. Have treats nearby and give one to your kitty whenever you see them scratching the post.

and :

:heavy_check_mark: Once your cat is using the scratching post you have provided, you can teach them that other things are off limits.

:heavy_check_mark: If you catch them scratching on anything else, make a load noise to startle them or squirt then with a sprayer filled with water or squirt gun.

:heavy_check_mark: It is important that they think the noise or water came out of nowhere. This way they will associate the bad thing with the behavior of scratching on that item and not with you.

:heavy_check_mark: If you prefer not to punish your cat, you can distract them or pull them away from the furniture and on to their scratcher.

:heavy_check_mark: It’s important to entice the cat to the scratching post and praise them for using it!