Cats love to scratch things, from the curtains to an unruly pet; cats use their claws for everything. Unfortunately this can cause a lot of damage to your favorite possessions. All the same, a cat's claws are a very useful tool that must be regarded with certain respect. The behaviors behind the destructive actions you might be experiencing are natural to a cat.

There is no solutions to stop a cat from scratching away. It is a behavior that simply goes along with being a cat, but there certainly are ways to cut down on the amount of damage that a scratching cat might cause. Many cat owners choose to declaw their cats, but this is not recommended for cats that may spend time outside where they might need to defend themselves.

Pet owners rarely fully understand the process of declawing a cat. Instead of simply removing the claws as many believe, the surgery actually involves amputating the ends of the toes from which the claws protrude. This can cause a considerable amount of pain during recovery.

There are other surgeries available such as removing the tendon that allows a cat to retract its claws, but this can create more problems as a cat will not be able to control the growth of its claws.

Many veterinarians will recommend that you purchase caps for your cat's claws. These caps reduce the damage your cat might cause, but only last around four to six weeks.

The actual behavior of scratching has a number of causes. Scratching is a form of exercise for the cat and a chance for her to develop different set of muscle groups across the legs and back. Regular exercises will prevent joint problems down the road. It is also an excellent pastime for a cat who might otherwise become bored. A cat's claws, just like a human's nails, continue to grow and a cat needs to find a way to keep them in check. If your car allows her nails to grow and do nothing about it, they might start to grow inward and cause an infection. Living in a home situation where a cat will only encounter carpet or at best tile, a cat needs to find an alternative to keep the nails short.

Getting a scratching post for your cat is one of the best solutions. Scratching posts are made using materials that a cat will find very appealing for scratching and these devices will probably save your couch and curtains from a lot of damage. The scratching post can be position in an area where your cat loves to scratch. Provide it as an alternative, but also try to cover up the area where the scratching is the worst using something like sandpaper or another material your cat will have a difficult time scratching.

If you catch your cat scratching, try to distract her by making a sudden noise such as a clap or whistle. This will remind her that this is your house with rules to follow and that you are keeping an eye on her. Make sure that you don't frighten her too much however because she may learn to be afraid of you.