Surely one of the most important things to take into consideration about cats is the simple fact that to them, scratching is just as natural as breathing.
Any cat needs a place where they can scratch, just as much as any human needs a place where they can eat and sleep.
Any good pet owner should have a dedicated area/object that their cat can sink their claws into, and pull at to their hearts content.
This is both healthy mentally and physically for your kitty cat.
Some great objects that you can get for your cat to scratch are things such as traditional cat scratching posts, carpeted cat toys, wooden cat scratching trees, and just about anything that can be hung or placed in a corner, that consists of wood or carpet/upholstery.
And you do not have to break the bank to buy something for your cat to scratch; just go into any pet store and see what they have, and you will be pleasantly surprised at how much some of these basic items are.
The reason why it is important to go with something that is made out of wood, or covered with upholstery, is that it will prevent your cat from clawing at other things that feel better to them, such as your couch and chairs, your rug, and so on.
Obviously this is not something that most people want their cat to be scratching at.
Also, another very important thing when it comes to scratching posts/trees (etc.
) is stability.
Needless to say that the first time your cat scratches away at his new scratching toy, and it tips right over on him, it is likely to be the LAST time that the cat ever uses it! Most good scratching posts have a very large and wide base, at least the ones that are vertical scratching posts.
They also make cat scratching posts that lay horizontally; these are great because they can't tip over, and on top of that, they are more natural to a cat, since they act more like a log lying on the ground.
In fact, real logs actually make for perfect scratch toys for cats, so consider just bring a small piece of log into your home; this is far cheaper than buying a scratch toy at the pet store, and it will last for years to come.
If you are the handy man type, you can even make your own scratching posts or scratching toys.
It doesn't take much; just a little bit of wood or a few medium sized tree branches, along with a few nails or screws, and a bit of creativity.
This is also another great way to save some money if you are on a budget.
Also, if you want your cat to be more apt to go to his or her new scratching toy, a great trick that you can try is to place some cat nip on or near the scratching area/item, which is sure to bring your kitty to that area the instant they smell the cat nip.