If your cat is like ours, they likely have an affinity for bedposts. It’s an understandable option for them. It’s often made of wood, stands up straight, and could easily be mistaken for a good place to scratch.
Of course, we don’t want them ruining our beautiful bed frame, so we need to redirect them to an appropriate area area to scratch. To do this, they need a high-quality scratching post that they will enjoy. In this article, we will help you find the perfect one and help you protect your bedposts in the meantime.
Even if you have already tried a scratching post, you may not have picked the best one for your individual cat’s needs and desires resulting in continued scratching on unwanted items in your home.
Choosing a scratching post that appeals to us rather than ones that appeal to cats is a common error made by most cat owners. When it comes to picking the best scratching post for your cat, a little knowledge goes a long way. The goal is to present an alternative that your cat will like clawing even more than your bedpost; but, to do so, you must choose one suitable to your cat's preferences.
Choose a Tall Scratching Post
It is important that the scratching post is tall enough to allow your cat to extend fully while scratching. Essentially, it implies that your cat may completely open out their body and exercise their back and shoulder muscles, which is essential for their health and flexibility. Your cat has to be able to scratch in whatever posture they desire for this to be effective.
Choosing a scratching post that is at least the length of your cat's body is recommended. Most cat lovers will tell you the best scratching posts are at least 31 inches tall, but the taller, the better. Your cat needs to be comfortable exercising whatever muscles they feel need to be stretched. Sometimes they may scratch normally whereas other times they will extend the full length of their body while scratching. That's one of the reasons bedposts are so appealing; they're tall!
Choose a Sturdy Scratching Post
Your cat will not use the post if it is wobbly in any way. The fact that cats enjoy scratching your bedposts is due to the fact that they are exceptionally stable. It's understandable that cats would seek out an immovable item to scratch on because trees are their preferred scratching surfaces when they're outside. They don't want to be unstable while scratching; they need to feel secure.
While Your Cat is Getting Accustomed to a Scratching Post
Choosing the best scratching post for your cat can be a trial and error process, or even if it isn’t, it can take some time to get them to stop scratching your bedposts. In the meantime, you don’t want further damage done. That’s where our Protection Tape comes in.
This safe transparent tape won’t damage the surface of your bedposts and will keep it protected. It has been tested against sharp cat nails and has successfully passed the test. Each roll contains 4in x 10ft of packaged tape in a dispenser.
It's easy to apply and won't leave residue for you to clean later. Simply remove the protective liner from one side of the protection tape. Apply your pet protection tape to the desired area and gently press out any bubbles that may be present to ensure a transparent and smooth finish.
Looking for additional cat training tips and tricks? Head to Free Will Animal Training.
Written by Amber Drake