YES!  Cats scratch!  It is what they do.  They wouldn't be cats otherwise.  I wish people would stop treating this as a "naughty" behavior.  Kittens begin scratching as soon as they can walk.  Before really since the sometimes use their tiny claws to pull themselves around in their beds with mama.

I'm glad you posted this topic.  People do NOT know in many cases exactly what "de-clawing" is--a horrible, brutal practice.  Yes, the cat "heals"  but you'd heal, too, if someone cut your fingers off.  That doesn't make it right!  Or humane!

Appropriate scratching posts DO pretty well solve the problem.  Okay so my sofa had a couple little tattered places on the arms.  Big deal.  It is 20 years old.  Giving cats appropriate scratching surfaces keeps them away from furniture.  (They don't like being yelled at after all!)

One thing you might want to try is to keep your eyes open for someplace where the city or a neighbor is taking down an unwanted tree.  Usually the larger limbs and the trunk are sawn into 20" to 24" lengths for disposal or firewood or what ever.  Beg a piece of trunk from the workers or the neighbor.  ( Pay 5 or 10 bucks for it if you have to)  Choose a piece at least 10 inches in diameter with one end sawed straight across. 

Be sure you get a good sized diameter log though.  Anything smaller than 10 inches and the cats might pull it over.  My log is about 12 or 14" inches and they have never tipped it over.  I've had it for 5 years.  My 5 cats have used and still do use it.   My daughter's cat uses it when he comes to visit.  My daughter-in-law's cats use it now that they have come to stay with me.  (When we have Thanksgiving, there are six cats, five dogs and two kids under foot!  Busy house! and everyone gets along!                                    ) 

Take the piece of log home and set it upright on the straight end and watch your cats enjoy it.  If they've never seen a real tree, they might be intimidated by it.  In that case, spray the wood lightly with water and then shake loose catnip into the nooks and crannies of the bark.  They will come to paw at the catnip and stay to scratch and scratch.  If tipping worries you, have the guys at the site use the log splitter on it and split it in half, then just lay the halves flat on the floor.  The cats will still love it.

PS/  It is great to meet someone who has cats and dogs!  I'm usually the odd man out--most folks are either cat people or dog lovers, but not both! 

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Vonda that is a great idea with the tree piece! thanks for posting it.

I was thrilled when I put the scratchers down for the kittens! They took right to it and there is nothing cuter then a baby kitten trying to tear up that cardboard! LOL ANd I didn't do anything. I just set it down and they climbed up there and just started to dig in. Too precious. They were foster kittens and I no longer have them as they had to go back to the adoptions. I sure miss them.

ANd my dog just loves kittens!!

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There is NOTHING as cute as a busy kitten...well, a busy puppy maybe!  They are so brave, facing the world.  And so quick to scoot under the sofa if something really frightens then! 

I think my favorite antic is what I call "ghost cat"  The kitten or cat will be trucking along, just minding its own business but looking for some reason to run.  All of a sudden it jumps straight up into the air for no apparent reason and tears off across the room like all the dogs in the world are chasing it.  Then it stops and prances on it's tippy toes with its hair and tail all puffed.  LOL and there is nothing whatsoever to run from.  Hence the name of the game!  There must be a ghost cat that attacks it! 

I was just following a topic thread over in cat lovers  that I wondered if you had noticed  (there is soooo much on here now a days, that a lot just goes unnoticed--well, by me anyway!)  There is a lot of info on de-clawing  http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=47&pst=70546

I thought we should support each other.  And I know they'll love those kitten photos. 

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Oh yes, I saw that topic. She has it locked though. It doesn't seem to matter if people are for or against declawing, the topic is not genneraly welcomed on message boards. That is why I created this board.

I think people should have a place to go were there is no name calling or people whos passion about it gets the best of them. A place were they can really take a minute and learn about it and not be driven away or have people yelling.

The topic isn't tabo here and I welcome all who want to discuss it.

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