Common feline problem behaviors: Destructive scratching

ABSTRACT:

Practical relevance

While scratching is a normal, beneficial behavior for cats, it can create problems when cats scratch objects owners deem as inappropriate. However, if veterinarians make suitable recommendations from the first veterinary visit, owners will be able to implement effective preventive strategies to develop good scratching patterns for life. Educating owners as to why cats scratch, how to guide cats to scratch only on desirable surfaces (ie, a scratching post), which types of scratching posts are preferred by most cats, the benefits of pheromone products, as well as other strategies to avoid destructive scratching, helps to preserve the cat-owner bond and reduces the risk of relinquishment.

Clinical challenges

Clients may not directly ask veterinarians for the

SUBMITTER: DePorter TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11373750 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature