Living In Harmony With Cat Claws

The primary reason Natural Scratch posts exist is to preserve cat claws. People have trouble with claws because of their potential to destroy fine things in apartments and homes. Declawing, however, is a radical and unnecessary solution.

Training is the key and two things make is possible: 1. A training method that teaches you how to train your cat or cats to claw an approved post; and 2. a post that your cat or cats like.

Natural Scratch fills the bill in both cases. Please visit naturalscratch.com to learn more.

"Seconds" now available

A new shipment of cedar posts arrived on Tuesday and, as usual, it includes a number of "seconds." In this case, 17.

Seconds are posts that have more blemishes and flaws than is usual for the white cedar we use.

These are just as effective with cats and kittens, but I sell them for seven dollars less than the standard Natural Scratch cedar. You can read all about them at http://www.naturalscratch.com/buysecond.html.

Goal is to use the resource better.

32"-Tall Cork Post Now Available

Please visit http://www.naturalscratch.com/CorkScratch.html to see and read about the new Natural Scratch 32" cork post.

It joins the 24" version that I have offered for about six months now.

These are attractive posts that definitely appeal to cats.

Have a look and place an order with confidence. All Natural Scratch posts are guaranteed.

Robin update

The robin chicks grew rapidly.

Yesterday, I looked closely and noticed that the nest was empty. One of the fledglings, however, was perched on a branch nearby. It looked ready to launch itself into the world and must have because when I returned later it was gone.

It's amazing how quickly these new birds went from pale blue eggs to self-sufficient creatures.

The mother robin was nowhere to be seen.

Presumably she understands when it's time to stop feeding her family and take a break while awaiting her next pregnancy. A Web site informs me that robins lay two clutches each summer.

Now I'm wondering whether she'll return to the same nest for the second go around.

Robin's Coloration

A pair of robins built their nest outside our garage in the crotch of a small fruit tree. It's only about five feet off the ground.

The powder blue eggs hatched about a week ago and now the fledglings are being fed nearly constantly and growing rapidly.

When the eggs were being incubated several weeks ago, the tree was in full flower with a heavy coat of white blossoms that were quite odiferous. They are all gone now, having turned a burnt orange that matches the robin's famous breast nearly perfectly. Moreover, the gray of the bird's feathers blends well with the tree's bark.

After making this camouflage connection, I've looked at other flowering trees and most have blossoms that turn a hue of orange--like the robin's breast--when they perish.

It's a cool adaptation.

New Natural Scratch Post Coming

A 32-inch cork post will soon join the 24-inch cork and 32-inch cedar posts at naturalscratch.com.

Some have been produced and packaged and are ready to go.

Bringing a new product to market requires an amazing amount of work; you'd think it would be a snap but truly it isn't. It takes time and money.

Goal always is 100% satisfied customers--cat and human--and that means making sure my products are excellent and effective before they are introduced.

Like all Natural Scratch products, it will carry a guaranty.

Nature, Red In Tooth And Claw

Two evenings ago, while walking the dog, a group of about eight robins flew furiously past me and seemed to be involved in some sort of fracas. They were squawking and screeching in a way I had never heard from these normally docile birds.

The robins landed on a lawn in front of me, and it was then that I noticed a hawk in the center of the group, just as it launched itself into the air with an orange-breasted bird dangling from its talons.

Like the earthworms and night crawlers that are often targeted by robins, the bird had become another creature's food.

The title of this entry is from a poem by Tennyson entitled *In Memoriam A.H.H.* It sums up well the daily struggle of so many Earthlings.