How To Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture - Forever!
by Larry Chamberlain
Your cat scratching at your furniture can not only leave you out of pocket but also very frustrated and annoyed at your cat for being such a bad little kitty. Cats need to scratch, it is something that cats instinctively do, not as you may think, in order to sharpen their claws, but to remove the old layers of their nails.
Do not punish your cat for scratching, or for anything you see as bad cat behavior. Punishment is unlikely to have any beneficial effect whatsoever. Your cat simply will not understand if you try to punish her in any way for something she has done, cats do not relate punishment to the "crime", they are far more likely to relate the punishment to you!
Even cats that are allowed outdoors will sometimes scratch your furniture, although not as often as indoor only cats. Trees are the natural scratching surface for cats, and to a cat that is kept inside the arms and legs of chairs, and other furniture, sure seems like a suitable alternative!
The most common answer to this cat scratching problem is, of course, a scratching post, or even two. A great variety of posts are available from pet stores and online pet suppliers. They are fairly simple things to construct, but if you do make one yourself, be certain that there are no nails or other sharp things left sticking out to snag your kitty. And make sure that the base is heavy enough, if it falls over your cat will not want to use it again. Cover the post with rope rather than with carpet, the last thing that you want to do is give your cat the message that it is OK for her to scratch carpet!
Ensure that the scratching post is tall enough for your cat, cats like to stretch when they scratch it exercises their muscles. Spread cat nip on one of the platforms to make the post even more attractive to your cat, and attach a few toys to the post so that they hang down temptingly.
If you just put a scratching post down in front of your cat, what is she going to make of it? It may look like a good place to scratch and claw, but then she has been mildly admonished for scratching at things. You may have to teach your cat that it is OK to use the post, that it will not upset you, that scratching the post is what you want her to do.
Every time that you see your kitty about to scratch your furniture, pick her up and gently place her in front of the post. If she decides to use it give her plenty of praise and encouragement. Cover the furniture she scratches with some netting, or aluminum foil. Your cat should soon learn that it is unpleasant to scratch furniture, but great to scratch her post.
If your cat is in the habit of scratching wooden furniture, or doorjambs then strong smelling polish, or vinegar are often good deterrents, if you try the vinegar, check that it won't harm the surface of the wood. Some cat owners report that half an orange or lemon place by the problem has good results. Do not remove the disagreeable smells or covering from your furniture until your cat has been using her scratching post for about a month.
If your cat is a horizontal scratcher rather than vertical one, in other words she scratches up your carpet or expensive parquet flooring, try persuading her to use a piece of rush matting, tape the matting down to prevent the mat moving.
What ever you do to solve your cat scratching problem, do not even think of declawing, it is barbaric.
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About The Author
Larry Chamberlain is a lifelong lover of cats and lives in London England. He is the webmaster and owner of http://www.best-cat-art.com. If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com.
Larry@best-cat-art.com
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Buddies
by Gene Simmons
I have a very special granddaughter. Well actually, I have four of them but we’ll just limit our discussion to one of them today - the four-year-old. I am also fortunate to have a very special mother.
Mom and my granddaughter (we’ll just refer to her as “K”) have a very special relationship. It started the moment “K” came into our lives. Even though Mom was nearly 90, “K” was immediately attracted to her. Actually, “attracted” doesn’t adequately describe their relationship. It was more like they were long lost buddies who had been reunited after many, many years.
It didn’t make any difference who else was around. The instant “K” walked in the door, she’d always head straight to Grandma. That’s what she would call Mom instead of Gr 
Buddies
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Guide to Choosing a Computer System For Your Child
by Eugen Lisov
Before going further into choosing computers for children, I believe that you would like to know the answer to the following question:
Why do children need computers?
The easiest answer for this one is: “A child needs a computer so that he can play computer games”. Everybody agrees. Nevertheless, let’s not just limit on the short term use of the computer… Let’s analyze a little the world we live in and see what can acomputer do for children.
Computers are starting to have more and more importance in our daily life. Almost everywhere you go, you find computers. At office or at home, a computer is almost indispensable.
Not knowing to use a computer, you find many difficulties. Moreover, things will not get easier in the future, because Guide to Choosing a Computer System For Your Child
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Are You Too Critical?
by Kathy Thompson
First of all, Criticalness breaks up more relationships, than anything else. And that criticalness is usually over the children or money!
Criticalness can be seen in eyes that slant down.
They notice anything that is out of line and can spot problems and the flaws. Yes, they are naggers, faultfinders. They cause fear in other people. They make people afraid of them.
Your son asks you a question. “What does agile mean?” And right away you tell him his shoe is untied, or his shirt is dirty, or his hair is not combed, and has dandruf. You notice things that are wrong.
Now you have a choice on how you responded to your son. That is the negative choice.
The positive use of being critical is that you see opportunities a Are You Too Critical?
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Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat.
by Larry Chamberlain
Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present themselves for petting, and may seem downright scared of you.
Probably, this was not exactly what you had in mind when you decided to get yourself a pet. So, is it at all possible for nervous cats to overcome their timidity and learn to trust you? The answer is yes, but you will need patience, patience, and patience.
It is usual for a kitten to be cautious and timid for the first week or so in its new home, but some kitties remain nervous of you no matter how loving and caring you are to them. Kittens that spent the first weeks of their life in the company of humans and other pets, along with the associated sounds and smells, are far less likely to be nervous cats. They will Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat.
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