Pets Need to Chew and Scratch — Here’s What You Can Do About It
At Paradise Point Animal Hospital, we strive to provide the best veterinary care in Phoenix. And even though we treat your pets like our own, we realize that they’ll spend most of their time at home with you! Cats and dogs love to run around, but they might chew and scratch your furniture in the process. Here are some tips to prevent that!
Provide Scratching Posts and Chew Toys
Scratching posts and chew toys are an obvious solution — and for good reason. In fact, they are an integral part of pet wellness. Scratching posts and chew toys can help keep your cat’s claws and dog’s teeth in check. They can also provide your pets with the mental stimulation and physical activity they need, while redirecting their focus away from your furniture.
Offer Supportive Care
If your pet is scratching or chewing household items more than usual, they could be trying to signal a problem. Pets often become more destructive when they are bored, stressed, or upset, perhaps due to recent lifestyle changes or a health issue. In these scenarios, comforting and attending to your furry friend can make them less likely to harm your things. You may also want to schedule a pet wellness check with our veterinary professionals to verify your pet is healthy.
Take Preventative Measures
Try to reduce the number of things available in your home for your pet to mess up. Put shoes and remotes in elevated places and cover up tempting furniture. Additionally, you can make sure your cat’s claws are trimmed regularly, which can reduce the damage they do to your belongings.
Teach Proper Behavior
Encouraging good behavior can help keep your furniture safe and your pets happy. Consider rewarding them whenever they use a scratching post or chew toy to associate that action with positive emotions. Alternatively, negative reinforcement methods can be used, but these run the risk of hurting your relationship with your pet.
Destructive chewing or scratching is a common pet problem, but it’s one that you can solve yourself with care and patience! For issues that require the attention of a professional team, schedule a pet wellness check at Paradise Point Animal Hospital today!