Whatever the motivation for scratching, it is often an undesirable behavior especially if the new sofa or draperies become a scratching site. Scratching habits can be prevented from developing. If kittens are encouraged to use a scratching post, they usually will not abuse furniture. A good scratching post should have loosely woven material to allow the cat to hook its claws in the fabric. Hemp is a preferred scratching material.
Cats scratch more often when they awaken and when greeting a returning owner.
Therefore, locate the post near the cat's usual sleeping place and the front door. Carpeted climbing trees also help. The best teacher of a kitten is its mother, so choose kittens from queens that use a scratching post. If destructive clawing persists, discuss other solutions with your veterinarian such as the application of vinyl nail caps, or as a last option surgical procedures such as tendonectomy or declawing. Wool chewing or sucking is a behavior problem that occurs with greater frequency in Siamese or Burmese cats than in other breeds.