Some cats are so unique that they gain world wide acclaim! Whether it be for their actions or the fact that they are so well known. The world’s love affair with this cats doesn’t just stop with our domesticated friends, cats have been in the limelight, starring in tv adverts, films and animations.

You also have the famous “Cats” musical based on T.S Eliot’s famous Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. More recently we have also seen the rise of the internet cat – a ‘meme’ or kind of logo if you like. There was Keyboard cat a few years ago, a not too happy looking cat that seemed to be a musical whizz. More recently ‘Grumpy cat’ has taken over the internet- this little kitty has had his image super imposed on practically everything

Here’s a look at just six amazing top cats:

Bastet:

Although technically not an actual cat, Bastet is most likely one of the oldest cat related images found to date. The ancient depictions of Cat headed Goddess Bastet can be found all over the remains of the temples in Egypt. Cats were sacred during this period of history with protection, fertility and motherhood being aspects of life that she represented. You will often find remaining statues or images of Bastet as either sitting black cat statues richly adorned with gold jewellery or as cat headed goddesses.

Bastet Cat Sculpture

The Cheshire cat:

One of the most mischievous cats known! This kitty from Alice in Wonderland really does have something to smile about. What is he famous for? Well being purple and striped. He’s pretty good at disappearing too. ‘Grinning like a Cheshire Cat’ is a phrase that is said to come from the fact that Cheshire in the U.K was a region at the time with many dairy farms. So the abundance of fresh cream and milk would be enough to make any magical cat smile!

The Cheshire Cat

Larry:

Most head’s of State or Political Leader’s are known for owning cats! Abraham Lincoln had ‘Tabby’ the first ever White House cat. Larry is the British Prime Minister’s cat. He is mix of tabby and white, this domestic shorthair is also very dapper. Living at the world famous number Ten Downing street, Larry is notorious for getting into scraps with the Chancellors cat Freya who lives next door. Early in 2012 their fights made headlines much to the amusement of politicians. Nevertheless he is a very lovely kitty.

Larry

Garfield:

There’s no mistaking the bright orange fur and mischievous stripes of Garfield the cat. The brainchild of Jim Davis, Garfield is notorious for getting up to all sorts of mischief. Trouble certainly seems to follow this kitty around, but let’s face it most of our little darlings do land themselves in a spot of bother every now and again. The lovable roguish character started life as a comic strip in 1978. He soon found himself with a worldwide following and since then cartoons and live action animations have been made. His bright coat has spawned generations of Ginger cat owners to name their kitties ‘Garfield’ after the great cat himself!

Garfield

A Cat called Bob:
33 year old Busker James Bowen was once homeless and addicted to Heroin. Bob the cat appeared in the apartment block where James was staying. He had been attacked and lay there dying, although feeling rough himself James scrapped the money together and took Bob to the vet. Ever since then Bob hasn’t left James side and soon they were busking together on the streets of London. Here their unique friendship was discovered by a literary agent and now Hollywood is set to be working on a big screen version of their tale! This heart warming story is just one example of how loyal and loving cats can be!

Bob

Sylvester:

‘You tink you saw a puddy tat?’

Well you most definitely did! Sylvester has been chasing Tweety Pie since the late 1940′s. Although a cartoon cat he is regarded by many as a cat ‘icon’ in his own right- well he’s certainly earned it after all this time! He just can’t seem to get his paws on that bird no matter how hard he tries. Bird catching is in-built into your Cat’s subconscious, something that cat experts believe that every cat is born with- a hunting technique if you like.
Many of our cats and kittens have tried in vain to grab that little sparrow or pigeon in the garden! So it’s something that we can all relate to seeing…

Sylvester

Emily:
In case you didn’t know, Cats are truly amazing and no matter how long you have owned one and think that you know all there is to know about them: Cats always have the power to amaze!

Take the case of Emily the Cat, she disappeared without a trace one September day in 2005. From her home in Appleton, Wisconsin she appeared at a container Distribution centre. And made her way on a container and truck to Chicago.
She travelled to Belgium by ship and was soon discovered. Her ID tags were found and she was shipped back to her home.

Emily

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For example:

‘Is it ok to give them cat treats?’ or ‘Can I feed them the occasional slice of ham or other human food once in a while?’

Maybe you are concerned about what kitty is eating when out in the garden?

It pays to know your cats inner workings and emotions when it comes to food. It’s a well known fact that he or she is a natural born carnivore – just take a look at those teeth!

Those feline fangs are made to cut into meat just like their larger relatives in the wild. It is not unusual for your kitty to bring home gifts of dead mice or birds; perhaps you have received a few already. It’s in their nature to hunt so meat is a staple and necessary part of the cat diet.

Why meat?

Meat in cat food is specially formulated to have all the ingredients that your feline will need. These include an amino acid called Taurine which is essential for your cat’s wellbeing. Without adequate levels of Taurine he or she can suffer serious eyesight problems. There has even been a connection between enlarged hearts and Taurine free diets.

Cats need Vitamin A along with a fatty acid called Arachidone acid (only found in animal tissue). So cat food is formulated to provide kitty with everything he or she needs. It sounds like an obvious one, but its not a good idea to feed dog food or any other kind of animal food to your cat thinking it’s adequate. It is not and will eventually cause long term health problems.

Although raw food might resemble what you cat might be hunting in the wild you can’t ensure it has everything your cat needs. Plus it’s impossible to know whether or not the meat is infected with something that could be passed onto your cat or even to you!

Why is my cat eating flowers and plants?

Do not be alarmed if you find your cat munching on a few petals or blades of grass. This is quite common and many experienced cat owners will not be concerned about this behaviour. Cat do this to help regulate their digestive systems. The grass will bind together stray bits of fur in the cats stomach which will be vomited or excreted. Some cat experts
think that perhaps our feline friends are looking for those trace ingredients lacking in meaty diets.

Houseplants are a different case. We highly recommend that you protect them from your cats, especially the more exotic ones. You could try chicken wire or some kind of sturdy plastic fencing that keeps kitty away from pawing at the leaves or flowers.

But is the occasional treat ok – how about a little bit of cream or some chocolate?

Your cat will happily chew away at most things that you place in front of him or her. They will probably enjoy every tasty mouthful too! Keep in mind that putting on all those extra pounds can be just as dangerous for your cat as it can be for us humans. The excess weight gain can cause heart or other medical problems for your cat.

Most cat owners will tell you they do let their cats have that tasty treat or some other ‘human’ food. It’s easy to give in to temptation when those big saucer eyes are peering back up at you.

That once-in-a-while treat is fine…

Some innocent treats for humans can be deadly for cats -  chocolate contains a compound called theobromine which is toxic to cats and can be lethal. All chocolate is bad, but the darker the chocolate the more toxic it is!

Dairy foods in general are not a good idea for your cat. Milk, cheese and other dairy based products can cause sickness in your cat. Dairy and milk based products, like vegetative substances are not always digested well in cats.

It has been known for some cats to adore a bit of scrambled egg as well as fish, beef and pasta!

Keeping kitty hydrated

Your feline like any other animal needs water as part of their diet. Its hard to measure exactly how much water a cat will drink each day, as all cats are different and will require a different amount. We advise keeping an easily accessible bowl of fresh water near your cat at all times.

There is also a water supply in wet food. The more there is in the food the less your cat will need to drink. Dry cat food obviously will contain little or no water, if your cat eats dry food more than wet, they will have to make up for it through drinking.

Cats are prone to dehydration. A cat will easily be able to survive without food for several days, even losing most of its body weight. However a loss of fluids of only 10 or 15% will be enough to kill him or her. Be sure that you keep your cat hydrated as much as possible.

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When it comes to markings, we know that small feline family cats are related to their bigger relatives: Lions, Tigers and Leopards – all of whom have stunningly beautiful coats; nowhere else in nature are these markings rivalled.

That little splodge they may have under their chin, or that one pink ear and the other tortoise shell one. Your cats markings in many cases will allow him or her to camouflage themselves just like their family in the wild.

But every so often comes along a cat that has markings that are so unusual that they baffle even the experts!

One such cat is truly making a stir online, her name is Venus. She was born with some of the most eye catching markings on her fur, possibly ever seen on a domestic cat.

So dramatic are these markings that people have been questioning whether the photographs were in fact Photoshopped! But the truth is that these photo’s and Venus’s striking markings are completely genuine and not a hoax!

She was found as a stray cat on a dairy farm in 2009 in North Carolina USA. Because of her very strange markings the farm owner posted photographs of her online. This was where her current owner spotted and instantly fell in love with her. She was taken home and has been loved and looked after ever since!

So stark are her markings, that she has been described as a ‘Chimera’ cat. The Chimera is a well known name for those who take an interest in Greek mythology. It is a mythical creature with the heads of a goat, lion and snake, it is also a name that is commonly referred to the condition known as ‘Heterochromia’.

A ‘Chimera’ cat will be what scientists will say is the reverse of identical twins.

So far scientists have gathered that this condition occurs when two embryo’s merge in the Mother cats womb; so what would have been two different sets of genes, merges together to become one cat. The strange thing is that the two embryo’s still manage to keep their own sets of genes.

The kitten that is created will be born with a mixture of the two. This can be seen also in the rest of her fur which has a ‘mottled’ effect. Its a real combination of that tortoise shell with black- it’s almost as if Venus’s gene’s couldn’t quite make their mind up. One thing for sure, her markings really make her a true original!

But how can one explain the perfectly split face?

Well National Geographic’s Katia Andreassi thinks this is a fluke of nature. She says that female cats have two ‘X’ chromosomes so they are naturally drawn to having these sorts of markings. So Venus may not in fact be a Chimera cat but just prone to these markings!

There are ways in which her genetic condition can be found out and that is through DNA testing. With samples from both sides of the cat they should be able to find two completely different sets of Genes. This will tell us that she is indeed a Chimera cat, however it is unknown whether plans for a test have been made.

Another thing that is so unusual about Venus are her eyes: most cats eyes for those domestic breeds will be either green or yellow. A blue eyed cat is extremely rare when found in a common domestic shorthair cat. Siamese cats are the only breed of cat known to have blue eyes as it’s part of their genetic charecteristics.

Venus is not known to have Siamese genetics with only a small patch of white on her fur. So it doesn’t seem to explain why she has a blue eye.

While the experts are still baffled by Venus’s strange but very beautiful markings, she has been a busy cat! Venus continues to be a very happy and loved cat at her home in North Carolina.

Her fan base is growing with already over 22,000 followers already subscribed to her Facebook fan page. She has also had nearly 300,000 views of her video’s on YouTube too. Check out her fantastic feline Facebook page for yourself.

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Over the years, many experts in the field have studied cats and their behaviour; carrying out in-depth tests on their body language. They have found that one of the most expressive parts of the cats body are their ears!

There are a million and one fascinating facts about cat ears – for example, did you know that each ear contains well over two dozen muscles. These muscles enable your cat to independently move each of his or her ears 180 degrees, like little radar dishes scanning for sounds.

Proper interpretation of your cats body language will help you bond with your feline friends – this can only be a good thing!

You will be able to understand their moods, when they are suffering and you could even spot the very early signs of illness before they develop into something more serious.

Your Cat in Relaxed Mode

Your cats ears will point slightly to the side and forward, this indicates that he or she is content. There will also be a sense of well being and there should not be any signs of aggression or fear seen in your cats behaviour when the ears are in this position.

Your Cat in Alert and Interested Mode

Cats are very sharp and lots of things will catch his or her interest. This could be a small garden bird taking flight or even some leaves being blown around by a gust of wind. When your cats interest has been aroused, it’s ears will assume a straight upright position and they will sit forward along with the rest of your cats body – ready for action.

You will often also see your cats ears do this when you walk into the room they happen to be in. Its a friendly greeting, a little happy ‘hello’ to you after you get back from work, or come home after a shopping trip.

Your Cat in Nervous Mode

If your cats ears twitch its a sure sign that they are nervous and more than a little agitated. When this happens it would be a good idea to reassure him or her with a gentle embrace, maybe a few soothing words. However this twitching should only last a little while; any longer than a few hours it would be a cause for concern and it would be sensible to have your cat checked with their vet.

Your Cat in Aggressive Mode

When your cat moves their ears from a front facing forwards position to a backwards one – its an aggressive gesture.

When they move from a front facing to a flat position (where they lay down against the top of your cats head) this is also a show of aggression. These signs will normally be noticed if your cat sees another cat in your garden. This is just one of the ways your cat will be preparing to fight.

If your cats ears move from an upright standing position to a flat position down against their head, then its a sign for you to leave them alone. They are annoyed or frightened about something; watch out, because they could be planning to attack you too!

Look at the rest of the body language your kitty will be exhibiting at this point. Are they getting ready to pounce?

The reason your cats ears will be flattened down is to protect it’s ears from the claws of other cats – or from other sources of harm. It’s your cats way of streamlining him or herself so that they are fully prepared when an attack does happen – they could be preparing to play fight with you!

If you notice that your cats ears are constantly in this position there could be something more serious going on. Perhaps there is an ear infection, maybe ear mites or ticks. In this case it would be advisable to take kitty to the vet and have their ears checked.

When your cats ears indicated that they are in an attacking mood then it really wouldn’t be a good idea for you to pick your cat up. Leave them to calm down by themselves, this is often the best way. Although we love everything about our cats, it is also worth bearing in mind that they do have some very sharp claws – they can really do some damage!

Your Cat in Confused Mode

Cat’s ears are clever and move independently;  occasionally one will move while the other one stays still. When the two ears are in different positions it means that your cat may be confused. He or she maybe unsure of how to respond to you or something that has happened. They are most likely to withdraw to a place that is safe and away from the situation. Don’t worry, you can rest assured that your feline friend will come back to you once he or she is comfortable.

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Your cat may have a special place in your home where they feel comfortable coughing up, this could be under the table or even on your favourite shag pile rug! Wherever and whenever it happens it’s sure not to be a pleasant experience for all both cat and cat owner.

Why do cats cough up hairballs?

Hairballs or ‘fur balls’ are just that, balls of fur that have managed to get into your cats digestive system over time. Your cats sticky coarse tongue is tailor made for removing any dirt, but for this very same reason it will also pick up fur. Cats shed their fur in the same way that humans shed hair so it is only natural that they will end up eating a lot of it as they groom themselves.

Hair is mainly made up of Keratin, a strong protein which is hard if not impossible to digest. So in the case of your cat, any hair will travel to your kitty’s stomach and clump together in a ball. In some cases a random few hairs can pass harmlessly through their system, but the majority stays in the digestive tract along with partially undigested food.

The cats system will eventually reject this bundle and push it out. If it doesn’t, then it could restrict the digestive system and cause your cat more problems ( hair balls have been known to block cats intestinal tracts). This will cause your cat to lose interest in food and possibly be constipated. In the most severe cases, surgery maybe needed to remove the blockage!

So coughing it out is the best option.

What you can do to help?

Unfortunately, hairballs are just part of life for cats but there are a few things that we their human friends can do to make things a little easier for them when it comes to hair balls.

It’s good practice to brush your cat’s fur everyday; the brushing action will pick up any stray hair that would otherwise end up in your cats stomach. Even a five minute ‘all over brushing session will significantly reduce the amount of hair that you cat ingests.

Choosing a brush for this purpose will depend on the length and thickness of your cats fur. For domestic shorthair cats (the most common of domestic cats) a bristle brush would be helpful. For your long haired kitty opt for a wide toothed comb instead. Whichever brush you choose make sure that it is soft enough to be used everyday and not too harsh. The few minutes you spend with your cat brushing his or her fur each day should be a bonding time and not something that you both dread.

You can also help with reducing hairballs by providing a staple ‘anti- hair ball’ diet. Many cat food brands have identified this need and are now offering ‘Anti hairball’ food. It’s high in fibre, helping food and hair to pass through the system quickly. But we do recommend that you consult with your Veterinary surgeon before making any major changes in your cats diet. As you know many cats can be very fussy when it comes to food and the last thing you want to do is put them off or cause another problem such as constipation.

Hair ball medicine is available from your vet or online, however tread with caution when it comes to self medicating your cat. Some such medicines have been known to cause a vitamin deficiency. Check with your vet and find out if this is the best solution for your cat.

Although you can significantly reduce the number of hairballs your cat coughs up, it is difficult to get rid of them altogether. But we are sure that your feline friend will appreciate anything you do to help.

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There is no set way to introduce a new kitten into the family, many who have had experience of this will often say that no two introductions are alike. Cat’s personalities are just as complex as human ones, some cats will be relaxed and happily accept the new kitten into the family home, but others will show aggressive behaviour and they may hiss or growl menacingly. This sort of behaviour can be seen in even the most docile of cats when another cat is in their territory.

Cats will often see you as ‘theirs’ and when a kitten comes to stay they will have to share your affection and time. There will also be a major change in routine, so do not be surprised if your cat displays symptoms of stress: change in overall behaviour, hiding, sleeping more than usual, vomiting and even over grooming themselves are just some stress signs in cats.

Vets normally have some very helpful suggestions, among them maybe the ‘stages’ method. Steps are taken at a slow and comfortable pace instead of just bringing home a kitten and expecting the two cats to get along. This could be a total disaster, so taking things slowly makes the transition much smoother for all parties involved.

Firstly pick a ‘safe area’ in the house, this could be a bedroom or laundry room, somewhere well ventilated and at a comfortable temperature. Provide a litter box, bedding and food along with any kitten toys and a scratching post to keep new kitty occupied. This will be kittens sanctuary and will give him or her a chance to settle down in their new home.
With their superior senses your older cat will definitely pick up on kittens scent, this can be a useful as it’s an introduction in itself. Getting used to each other’s smell is the first step, they may even begin to play and paw gently underneath the door.

Swap places, take your kitten out of the safe room every once in a while and let your cat in – another way in which the two cats will become accustomed to each other’s scent.

You don’t want to leave it too long before you allow kitten to explore the rest of the house. Perhaps a day after he or she has arrived is a good time to allow some venturing away from the safe room. Choose a day when you are able to stay at home with them, kittens are very excitable and as a result very accident prone, it will be worthwhile keeping an eye on him or her. Meanwhile make sure that your existing cat is safe and happy in the safe room with their litter box and food. Note that this will only be for a very short time while kitten has the chance to take everything in on his or her own.

Once your new kitten starts to show signs of confidence, it could be time for introductions!

One of the safest ways in which you can do this is to put kitten into a cat carrier and then let your cat enter the room. The cat carrier acts as a safe barrier in case of confrontation.

If you feel happy that both cats are comfortable you can open the door to the cat carrier and encourage the kitten to come out when he or she is ready. Watch the interaction between the two, they will obviously be curious about each other. How this will go is a mystery to even the most experienced of cat owners.
There could be some initial clawing and swiping at each other, one or both of the cats may even run away from the meeting place preferring not to meet. If you feel that there is a threat to the kitten from the older cat then it is fine to interfere in the situation.

When one or both of the cats react badly then it is fine to go back to keeping kitten in the safe room for a couple of hours. You could retry the introductions later on in the day when your older cat has calmed down. Realistically it can take up to several weeks for the new kitten to be fully accepted.

Hopefully all will go well but look out for one or both cats looking ‘on edge’, your older cat may walk around the house cautiously, or react to you in an out of character way. They may not want to be petted or picked up, opting instead for hiding under beds. Only temporary behaviour, you can expect your cat to return to his or her normal self within a few weeks. Not all cats can be friends, and it is preferable that they can at least tolerate each other in the beginning. Although many cats are able to build amiable relationships with each other over time.
With the right amount of gentle handling and kindness, we are sure that all the members of your feline family will live a happy harmonious life together.

*** Strays, shelter cats and cats from unknown sources must be checked by a qualified veterinarian before introduction to ensure that they are not carrying any infectious diseases.    

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It’s a well known fact that most of our feline friends respond to Catnip (also known by it’s Latin name ‘Nepeta Cataria’). Many cat owners refer to the plant as ‘weed for cats’. This gives one an indication of just how strong the effects of this humble garden herb can be on our feline friends.

What is Catnip?
Although not all cats are sensitive to this plant (kittens are not susceptible to its effects, in fact they often show an aversion to it), it is thought that up to two thirds of cats will have a dramatic reaction to Catnip. Just one whiff and they are instantly hooked, you can expect most cats to be rolling around on the ground once they have been exposed to the plant or bag of dried Catnip.

They will paw at the plant itself while chewing the leaves and purplish flowers. There could also be a lot of random leaping and bounding about, do not be surprised if your “catnipped” cat also starts to chase imaginary mice or birds around the garden!
Sleepiness, anxiety, drooling and aggression are also common side effects to be expected. The key ingredient that affects the cats ultra sensitive sense of smell is the active chemical found in Catnip – Nepetalactone. The powerful chemical travels up to the cats sensitive nasal system where it takes effect.

So far we know Catnip only to cause these strange reactions in felines, one possible reason is that the Nepetalactone resembles a cat pheromone. The common ‘Feline Facial Pheromone’ can be frequently found in tomcat urine, although this theory has not been tested it’s one of the strongest possibilities to date. The reaction that this chemical has is caused by the part of the cats brain that operates the five senses of touch, smell, sight, sound and taste; no surprise that the effects are so profound!

Keep an eye on that bag of dried Catnip you may have at home, many cats will happily munch through a whole bag without a second thought. This could cause kitty to become aggressive and hiss too!
Don’t worry if your cat does show signs that he or she could have been overexposed to Catnip- the effects will wear off as the drug leaves the cats system.

Is Catnip safe?
The simple answer in many cases is ‘Yes’, for most cats you can rest assured that although the effects of Catnip seem very ‘drug like’ they will wear off within two hours.
Catnip is a herb from the mint family and can be found growing wild including at the back of many gardens. It is a favourite with herbalists for it’s fragrant leaves and other medicinal uses, so it is 100% legal. Seeds can be bought from most good garden shops for those who wish to grow their own.

What is Catnip used for?
Nepetalactone is used as a feline attractant and can be found on many cat products such as toy mice and furniture. It can be bought from pet stores in spray form or as dried herbs in a bag. A little Catnip sprayed onto that old cat toy will give a new lease of life that your kitty will love!
It’s is also a great idea to spray your Catnip formula onto scratching posts at home. The scent will hopefully encourage your cat to use them when manicuring his or her claws instead of on those chair or table legs.
Some cat owners will also buy dried catnip for their feline friends as a an occasional treat. Why not encourage good cat behaviours with a bit of Catnip as a reward?

How to use Catnip
To use, simply take a pinch of dried Catnip, crush the buds or leaves with your finger tips and scatter on the floor near your cats favourite hang out spots in your home. These include near where kitty sleeps, maybe also that spot where he or she sits while watching TV with you?
Avoid putting any Catnip in your cats food, this will cause them to have an upset stomach and could cause a change in dietary and eating habits. If you can buy Catnip leaves and flowers that have already been finely ground then it’s a bonus!
It’s always good to check for any sharp stalks that could accidentally scratch your cat before you scatter the Catnip.
We do recommend that you speak to your vet before exposing your kitten or cat to any amount of Catnip, especially if there are any underlying health problems to consider.

Storing your Catnip
Like any herb, Catnip can also lose it’s potency, to help prolong it we suggest that you store your cat nip in a dark and cool place. In a fridge or freezer will lengthen the time that the catnip is kept fresh. If this option isn’t possible then try storing it in a re-sealable container away from direct sunlight.

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Even though we adore these special moments, our cats are also capable of behaviour that occasionally tests the limits of our patience.

One of these annoying little habits is scratching!

Whether it’s that little innocent stretch up the curtain, or outright furniture destruction, it’s important to address scratching problems as early as possible. The good news is that there are proven training techniques that can help stop this unwelcome behaviour.

Why Do Cats Scratch?

Despite the fact that cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, cats have evolved to live in the wild and therefore their natural tools have evolved to address the specific requirements of wild outdoor life; claws are a very clever and important feline feature. Along with their teeth, claws are your cat’s primary weapons for hunting and defence. These little razor blades flick out in a second, ready to strike at a moment’s notice in the wilds of your garden!

Have you ever noticed that little spot in the corner, that favourite place which your cat likes to curl up in?

Look a little closer at the objects in and around this spot; you will see small – and sometimes not so small – scratch marks!

Yes, that is your cats preferred ‘safe area’; you will also notice that along with the furniture, doorways and windowsills will also exhibit these etchings. Scratching is a way of territorial marking, think of it as your cats way of putting their little name tag on objects and places that they consider to be theirs. If your cat spots a stranger prowling around in their garden, they will scratch their area to show the trespasser that this territory is occupied and more importantly that they are the boss. There are also tiny sebaceous glands in your cat’s paws which leave a unique, distinct scent at the scratched area, yet another sign that your kitty uses to stake their personal claim.

Around the areas where your cat scratches you will notice little hollow claw sheaths. A cats claws grow like an onion, in layers and they continuously scratch in order to shed the outer sheath and expose the sharp layer underneath.

So claws are important – one way that your cat will keep their claws in pristine condition is to sharpen them on your furniture, in particular vertical and horizontal pieces of furniture. These include arm rests, wooden chair legs, carpets, curtains and even the end of bookshelves.

In the wild, cats would manicure their claws on tree trunks; bark is the perfect surface to sink little claws into. It has a very appealing texture, it’s soft enough to allow for effortless visual marking and hard enough to be an effective claw sharpener. Just like goldilocks, kitty needs something to scratch that’s not too hard, nor too soft, but just right; and unfortunately that is usually found to be your favourite piece of furniture.

How to Choose the Best Scratching Post:

Note that some cat breeds will not need to use their scratching post as much as others, but it is best to get a tall, sturdy scratching post for when they need it.

When choosing a scratching post, make sure that you get a post which is tall enough for your cat to get a full stretch; another reason that cats scratch is that they like to get a full stretch while they are scratching. Short little posts don’t cater for this requirement and is the reason that they are usually ignored. Needless to say, tall posts need to be sturdy, your cat will be very hesitant to stretch up against a post that will easily tumble over.

After size, the next – but equally important – post attribute is texture; take a look at nature for guidance, there are no soft fluffy trees growing anywhere. It should therefore be easily understandable why your cat would prefer the high quality canvas fabric found on your couch to their inadequate fluffy post.
When choosing a suitable scratching surface, select a post with a surface texture as close to tree bark as possible. In this regard, high quality cardboard is the closest analogue, but be advised, not all cardboard is manufactured to the same quality. The cardboard should not feel soft or furry, on the contrary, high quality cardboard will feel extremely firm and rough like tree bark.

Examples of other suitable surface materials to look out for are sisal and burlap. In addition to the reasons explained earlier, curtain or carpet-like material would not be a good choice as your cat will not be able to differentiate between the post and the rest of the furniture. Give your cat a clear message, they will not understand why its acceptable for them to scratch their carpet covered post, but not your carpet.

Some cats might benefit best from wood pieces found in the park!
The bark will provide them with the surface they need to sharpen up their claws, while giving your home a great outdoors feel.

How to Train Your Cat to Use a Scratching Post:

It must be said, cats respond to reward, not punishment; with that in mind, be patient with your cat. Tempt them with a bit of catnip and offer them a reward for taking interest. It is vitally important that your cat has a pleasant introduction to their new post, as a negative experience will likely reinforce their dislike and send them scurrying for the nearest piece of furniture. With your cat watching, scratch the post with your hand and offer them a treat when they come to investigate. Its naïve to think that as soon as you bring home a suitable post that your cat will immediately cease their existing scratching behaviour. The transition takes time. When you catch your cat scratching something they shouldn’t  gently stop them and take them to their post; encourage them to scratch the post and reward them accordingly.

Lastly, don’t make a big fuss over the new post, your cat likes routine and will usually shy away from change. If they do not show interest at first, leave them to discover the post in their own time.

Hopefully by following these suggestions and advise, you will be able to coexist harmoniously with your little fur baby, strengthen your bond and still be able to have undamaged furniture for your own enjoyment…

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