| Cats' claws are part of their balancing mechanism, | | | | become introverted or even aggressive (it will still have |
| which is why they are able to spring high onto a | | | | teeth, so beware). In short, it will be miserable and you |
| surface and remain there without falling. If they do fall | | | | will be the cause - can you really live with |
| or the leap is too far, they can catch hold of some | | | | that?Anyone who decides to have a cat knows full |
| surfaces, such as tree bark, with their claws and thus | | | | well that cats do scratch on occasion, so if they're not |
| save themselves from a tumble to the ground. Apart | | | | prepared to put up with that, why have a cat, why not |
| from the extremes of leaping and climbing, the claws | | | | adopt a small dog or a goldfish - now that won't harm |
| provide balance for normal walking, running and | | | | the precious furniture, will it?In any event, there are |
| stretching. In addition, the claws are the cat's weapons, | | | | plenty of ways to prevent cats from scratching the |
| for use against other animal, or indeed human, threats | | | | furnishings. Contrary to what dog owners would have |
| and enable them to dig so that this fastidious creature | | | | you believe, you can train cats.Firstly, buy a scratching |
| can cover up it's toilet area with fresh earth.Cats | | | | post and introduce your cat to it. Alternatively, you can |
| scratch objects to mark their territories. There are | | | | use a rush floor mat. When the cat starts to scratch, |
| glands in their paws containing a secretion, which | | | | pick it up and place it by the post or on the mat. You |
| transfers to the scratched area and which is | | | | may have to demonstrate what it's supposed to do |
| detectable by other cats, although not by human | | | | but it will soon catch on. Imagine the fun you can have, |
| noses. They also scratch to remove the old, | | | | crawling around on the floor, pawing at a piece of cat |
| rough-edged claw which falls off to reveal a new claw | | | | furniture!Secondly, in exactly the same way that a dog |
| beneath.It beggars belief that a person will put their | | | | only understands a human's tone of voice, not the |
| own possessions above the contentment of their pet, | | | | actual words that they're saying, so does a cat. If you |
| but it is a fact that this does happen. Some humans | | | | say the cat's name loudly then "NO" in a stern tone, |
| (fortunately, relatively few), in their own selfish way, | | | | wag your finger at the cat, then pick it up and put it |
| don't want their expensive furniture or carpets ruined | | | | outside or by the scratching post or mat, it will soon |
| by a scratching cat, so they solve the problem by | | | | understand that clawing at the carpet or sofa is not |
| having the cat's claws surgically removed. This can | | | | acceptable behaviour. However, you must be |
| only be done by a vet and many vets will require a | | | | consistent. You can't ignore the scratching one day, |
| medical reason to do so and will not pander to the | | | | then shout about it the next and never, never hit your |
| vanity of a human. However, some will undertake the | | | | cat or threaten it, particularly after the event. It won't |
| required operation, particularly if the alternative is the | | | | have a clue why you're angry.Thirdly, as with dog |
| destruction or re-homing of the cat and others just | | | | training, reward lessons learnt with treats, tickles and |
| have no scruples at all.In addition, cat owners should be | | | | cuddles.If you really can't train your cat, just put a |
| aware that de-clawing a cat can change its | | | | throw over the sofa and enjoy its company. What are |
| personality completely. It may be in pain and it will | | | | a few rips or tugs in the cover of your armchair |
| certainly be confused. It may not be able to jump at all | | | | compared with the purring companionship of a happy |
| even onto the armchair or the window sill and it may | | | | cat? |
| not be able to enjoy a game of football. It may | | | | |