New Scratching Post Coming

Soon, a second type of scratching post will be joining the cedar one at naturalscratch.com.  I have high hopes for it because our three cats have reacted so well.

It's not a replacement for Natural Scratch; rather it's an expansion of the line.  The idea for it came--as did the idea for the current Natural Scratch--from a book about cats that my wife purchased many years ago.  

I have been working weekends to design the post and spec where to get the parts.  Think it's going to be a hit with many cats.  

Cat scratching debris

Ranking up there with the sound of a cat clawing Natural Scratch is the light debris produced by scratching that is deposited near the base and that can be vacuumed away easily.

This indicates that the post is receiving regular feline visits. Also, it is evidence that off-limits items in the home are being left alone.

These are excellent developments in the life of anyone providing a residence to a cat with claws.

Cat scratching in a perfect world

In a perfect world, cats would do exactly what their human companions want them to do with little or no prompting. For example, when presented a scratching post--any scratching post--and told to claw it exclusively, the cat would do just that.

However, our world, though endlessly amazing, is far from perfect.

Many cats will ignore a well-suited scratching post, even Natural Scratch, and target something that is strictly off-limits. In these cases, the problem is that the cat hasn't come to the obvious conclusion that the post is perfect for scratching and approved for scratching and he or she should claw nothing else.

What works to change this behavior to what we would expect in a perfect world is training. All cats can be trained to claw Natural Scratch exclusively, please find out more at http://naturalscratch.com/nstraining.html

Cat scratching customer comments

It's wonderful when customers take the time to let me know their cats like Natural Scratch. My intention from the start with this product was to produce a post and training method that works and preserves cat claws.

When cats claw something they shouldn't, humans rightfully are concerned. When cats redirect their scratching to Natural Scratch--thus solving the problem--many people breathe a deep and long sigh of relief.

On the heels of this, they sometimes write to let me know, which is wonderful. Please have a look at http://www.naturalscratch.com/nstestimonials.html

Cat scratching sounds

A cat tearing into a couch or a door frame with her or his claws produces a sound that is unmistakable. Humans in the vicinity often react quickly and tell the cat to stop.

This is good and should be repeated whenever a cat scratches something it shouldn't.

Step two in eliminating this inappropriate behavior is providing an alternative (Natural Scratch) that the cat likes; Step 3 is letting the cat know this is the only place it may scratch. Everything else is off limits.

Doing this naturally takes training, but it can be accomplished fairly easily using the instructions that accompany Natural Scratch. Have a look at http://www.naturalscratch.com/nstraining.html

Cat scratching treats

Dolphins jump out of the water and pass through hoops; then they dance across the surface on their tails. Then, usually, a trainer offers praise and a fish treat. This is how training generally works.

Intermittent reinforcement is stronger than constant but regardless of how often a reward is offered it has to be something the animal--in the case of scratching, cats--will perform for.

Try different store-bought treats with you cat or, if your gal or guy is fussy, try different table scraps. For example, small pieces of bread or vegetables. The range of foods customers have told me their cats love is astonishing. All cats crave some sort of treat, it's just a matter of isolating which...

This done, training a cat to do what you want it to and to avoid doing what you don't want it to becomes pretty easy.

Cat Poem

I wrote the following poem about a friend's cats about 25 years ago and came across it yesterday. Thought some visitors to the blog might enjoy it.

I Give Them Love

People look at them
See they want to be friends
See the warm and selfless
Natures of their hearts
They rub against your skin
Then they tilt their chins
And look for your touch from above
And people think it strange
That they have such romantic ways
But it’s all because, I give them love

If you softly stroke their fur
You can hear them purr
And their eyes will close
And they’ll begin to dream
Their motors shake their cheeks
And if only dreams could speak
They’d be asking for your touch from above
And people think it strange
That they have such romantic ways
But it’s all because, I give them love

Later when they rise
The feline dreams pass from their eyes
They stretch and pad quietly
Across the floor
Their tails are waving high
Saying, “For now, goodbye,
But we’ll be back soon for your touch from above”
And people think it strange
That they have such romantic ways
But it’s all because, I give them love

©1983 Ted Schaar