[onscreen action] Woman sitting on couch, petting a cat.  A second cat sit in a nearby cat tree.

[narrator] The key to eliminating destructive scratching is to provide your cat with a scratching station, such as a post or a pad, and then give him lots of praise and attention when he uses it.

[onscreen action] Cat using a scratching pad placed on a wood floor.

[narrator] Scratching stations are designed to offer your cat the ultimate outlet for his need to scratch.


[onscreen action] Cat standing on carpeted base of a vertical scratching post, using the post.

[narrator] They work so well that once your cat gets accustomed to using them, he'll prefer to scratch on his post or pad over other items.

[onscreen action] Cat using scratching pad with thought bubble that reads, “I love this thing!”

[narrator] The most common type of scratching stations are vertical posts, so we'll discuss these first.

[onscreen action] Cats playing in a carpeted cat tree.

[narrator] When choosing a vertical post, be sure that it's tall enough for your cat to stretch out his entire body while digging his claws into it.


[onscreen action] Woman places a tall scratching post on the floor.  Cat stands and scratches on the post.

[narrator] We're talking a full body stretch, like they love to do right after a nap. The post should be at least three feet tall and extremely sturdy. Finally, it's a good idea to provide several scratching stations.

[onscreen action] Cat standing on floor, scratching a vertically mounted scratch pad.

[narrator] This is especially important if you have a kitten or multiple cats.


[onscreen action] Cat standing in a soft blanket next to a vertically mounted scratch pad.  Cat uses the pad.

[narrator] Most cats will wake from a nap wanting to stretch and scratch, so it's a great idea to place a post in the general area where your cat sleeps.


[onscreen action] Cat standing on floor, using a vertical scratching post.  A thought bubble from the cat reads, “This is better than the couch.”

[narrator] Other posts or pads should go in high-traffic areas or near objects that you want your cat to avoid scratching.

[onscreen action] Woman narrating.

[narrator] Okay, now that you've set up your scratching station, all that's left to do is encourage your cat to use it.

[narrator] Start by attaching a dangling toy to it to pique his interest.


[onscreen action] Woman attaches large cat toy to side of vertical scratching post.

[narrator] You can also get involved by having your cat chase his favorite toy around his post.

[onscreen action] Cat bats at a long feather that is being waved next to a vertical scratching post.  A thought bubble from the cat reads,  “This feels pretty good.”

[narrator] During play, your cat will likely climb it in an effort to reach his toy and will discover it's a claw-friendly surface.


[onscreen action] Montage of cats using various scratching surfaces.

[narrator] Another great idea is to sprinkle some catnip on or around the surface to help attract your cat to it. Once he begins using his scratching station, be sure to give him a treat and lots of praise.