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Tag: scratching posts

  • Natural Habitat for Your Cat at Home | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Cats are amazing creatures with wild instincts that remain strong, even after thousands of years of living alongside humans. Understanding these natural behaviors can help you transform your home into a space where your feline friend can truly thrive.

    Vertical Space is Essential

    In nature, cats climb trees to survey their territory, hunt, and escape danger. You can recreate this by adding cat trees, wall-mounted shelves, or window perches throughout your home. These elevated spots allow your cat to observe their surroundings from above, which makes them feel safe and in control. Consider creating pathways that let your cat move from one high spot to another without touching the ground.

    Hiding Spots and Cozy Spaces

    Wild cats spend much of their day resting in secure locations. Provide multiple hiding spots like cardboard boxes, covered beds, or cat tunnels in different rooms. These spaces give your cat somewhere to retreat when they need privacy or feel stressed. Remember that cats often prefer several small resting areas rather than just one large bed.

    Satisfy Their Hunting Instincts

    Cats are natural hunters, and this drive doesn’t disappear indoors. Use puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys to make mealtime more engaging. Schedule regular play sessions with interactive toys and food to simulate the stalking and pouncing behaviors cats would use in the wild. Rotate things regularly to keep things interesting.

    Scratching Opportunities

    Scratching is a vital natural behavior that helps cats mark territory, stretch their muscles, and maintain their claws. Place scratching posts or pads in multiple locations, especially near sleeping areas and entry points to rooms. Offer different textures like sisal, cardboard, and carpet to discover what your cat prefers.

    Sensory Enrichment

    In their natural habitat, cats experience various sights, sounds, and smells. Some cats enjoy cat-safe plants like cat grass or catnip. You might also consider playing nature sounds or videos designed for cats.

    Territory and Resources

    Cats are territorial animals that prefer having their own space. If you have multiple cats, ensure each has access to separate food bowls, water dishes, and litter boxes in different areas. The general rule is one litter box per cat, plus one extra.

    Making these changes can significantly improve your cat’s quality of life and reduce stress-related behaviors. However, every cat is unique with individual preferences. Consult with your veterinarian about specific enrichment strategies that would work best for your particular feline companion and their health needs.

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    Animal Wellness

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  • Best scratching posts and cat trees | Animal Wellness Magazine

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    Find out what to look for in scratching posts, cat trees, and condos to keep your cat happy and your furniture safe. Includes tips on styles, materials, placement, and multi-cat household needs.

    Scratching is quintessential feline behavior. Satisfying this natural instinct means providing a selection of surfaces for your cat to scratch without resorting to your furniture. The ideal feline environment includes both horizontal and vertical surfaces, especially in a multi-cat household. Here’s what to consider for the best scratching posts and cat trees.  

    Check it out: A well-designed scratching “tree” set-up provides a great place for your kitty to comfortably view her world and, of course, perfect that feline manicure.

    Buying a scratcher for your cat: what to look for

    Scratching posts, cat trees, and condos are now available in many styles, configurations, and price points. Be sure to shop around before making a purchase, while keeping the following factors in mind:

    • Make sturdiness your priority when selecting a product. A scratching post or tree that wobbles or tips is sure to discourage – or even scare – your cat. 
    • Think about where your cat likes to hang out and what types of surfaces she’s attracted to. Does she like to be out in the open with a view of her surroundings? Or does she like curl up in a cozy corner? There’s a scratcher to suit all feline preferences.
    • Pick something that’s the right height for your cat. The scratcher should be tall enough for your kitty to fully stretch out. 
    • Look at the covering. Most scratchers feature a combination of sisal and carpeting. Make sure sisal is securely wrapped and glued — there’s a lot of torque in those claws! Choose carpeting with dense pile to maximize durability.

    Check it out: More elaborate cat tree/condo configurations incorporate perches, hammocks and cubbies. 

    Scratchers with style: something for every décor 

    Manufacturers now design scratching posts, cat trees, and condos to match the décor preferences of cat parents. For example, a rustic scratcher made from recycled tree limbs suits a log home, but may clash with sleek, contemporary décor. 

    Whatever your style, there’s a scratcher to match it. Here are just some of the available options:

    • Realistic-looking “trees” with perches tucked inside
    • Vine-shaped posts with perches
    • Cactus and floral shaped designs
    • Scratchers that double as end tables, with cardboard sides dedicated for scratching. 
    • Wall-mounted designs to enable secure feline surveillance; these are great for expanding territory in smaller, multi-cat homes. 
    • Different-coloured carpet coverings to coordinate with your décor. 
    • Scratching wraps that can be secured around vulnerable sofa arms and sides.

    Check it out: Faux fur is another covering option but doesn’t offer the scratching satisfaction of carpeting, sisal, or cardboard.

    Situating your scratcher: location is everything

    Even if you only have one cat, place scratchers, cat trees, and condos in prime spots around your home. Avoid out-of-the-way corners. Cats like to survey their domain from secure locations that still enable them to interact with family members. It goes without saying that window locations are ideal!

    Check it out: You can prevent boredom by rotating the scratchers in your home. 

    When it comes to the best scratching posts and cat trees, don’t be stingy. The more surfaces your cat has for scratching, the happier he’ll be — and the less likely to use your furniture!

    Additional options: from cardboard to concrete 

    Cardboard scratchers: Don’t overlook these humble options  They’ve come a long way from the original $10 pet store special. Many of today’s cardboard scratchers are nice and large and include both horizontal and vertical surfaces. You can prop them against a wall or offer them as a comfy lounge. Lace them with catnip for extra attraction!

    Concrete pads: A more recent innovation, concrete pads are the indoor cat’s answer to lounging outside on a toasty sidewalk. Cats are attracted to concrete because its porous texture absorbs heat or offers coolness.

    You might wonder how your cat can use concrete as a scratcher. Even though he can’t sink his claws into it, he can still sharpen them against the surface. It’s similar to how we use an emery board to file our nails. 

    Give your cat a variety of scratching surfaces

    The scratchers in my own house include the following:

    1. Simple sisal-wrapped pole, a little less than 3’ tall
    2. Well-used sisal/carpet combo with a curved perch (the 45° carpeted section is “well loved”)
    3. Tall sisal-wrapped pole topped with a large square carpeted perch
    4. An almost 5’ cat tree with two curved carpeted perches, a cozy carpeted barrel (with lookout) and two vertical sisal support
    5. Collection of cardboard scratchers. 

     


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    Sally E. Bahner specializes in cat-related issues, specifically nutrition, holistic care and behavior. She has offered her services as a feline behavior and care consultant and gives classes on cat care. Sally is the resident cat behavior expert on Tracie Hotchner’s Cat Chat radio program, and a member of the Cat Writers’ Association and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants.

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    Sally E. Bahner

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