Scratching just comes naturally to cats. An instinctive activity that begins when kittens are five weeks old, scratching allows cats to leave chemical and visual signals that, among other functions, serve as "messages" to other cats and animals. However, what is entirely normal for your cat can become a big problem for yu if he starts scratching your carpets and furniture. If this happens, you can cover or remove the tempting object or declaw your cat. Unfortunately, declawing your cat is a surgical procedure that requires your cat to spend the night in the hospital. Therefore, an easier, more practical solution is to provide your kitty with a special scratching place, usually a post, of his own. As befits the feline reputation, you may find that your kitten or cat may be slightly picky about what kind of scratching post he or she will agree to use.

Not all commercially available scratching posts are equally attractive to cats. Therefore, it may require you trying several different ones until you and your cat come to an agreement.

The most important characteristics of a post are that it be taller than the cat when he stands on his hind legs, sturdy enough not to tip over and located in a prominent, easily accessible area of your home.

Whatever post you agree on, the scratching post should not be changed as long as your cat is still using it. The more scratched and awful looking, the more your cat will love and use it- instead of your furniture!