Cat scratching redirection

Cats with claws are going to scratch something *because* they have to. Otherwise, their claws will grow so long they will curl under and be a problem in terms of mobility.

When you train your cat to claw an approved surface such as Natural Scratch, you have accomplished something.

First, you have preserved the cat's wonderful claws; second, you have preserved fine things in your home; and third, you have communicated with your cat in a somewhat complex way, gotten it to understand you, and proved beyond any doubt that cats can be trained.

All this is cooler than a go light. I invite you to go for it at naturalscratch.com.

Scratching? No. Wasp update.

Anyone who has visited this blog might have discovered that in a few previous cases, I have mentioned the paper wasps I have been watching. Fascinating, as Spock used to say.

Just few weeks ago a number of the wasps were still visible but as of this past weekend, all are gone.

These workers built numerous cells; helped hatch and care for many sisters and some drones; and probably a queen or two, but in the end, they had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Their lives were over but they didn't know it.

The queen left weeks ago and the freshly hatched queens probably fled even further back in time. Next year the cycle will repeat…

Cats respond to operant conditioning

It's important to realize that cats are independent animals with minds of their own. They like to do what they like to do and won't give up pleasing habits easily.

They're a lot like humans.

However, they respond to operant conditioning like just about any other creature and this is what the Natural Scratch training system is based on.

First, Natural Scratch presents a stable and soft scratching target that cats like; second, it includes features that help humans interest their cat in the post if he or she doesn't take to it automatically; and third, it arrives with an instruction guide that teaches companions all they need to know about operant conditioning to train their cats.

Truly, it's a fun process and it works very well.

Wonderful customer service

My sister called and mentioned that JC Penny was having a major sale on glasses--that was kind because I needed a pair and always am happy to save a buck or two. There's a store in mall a couple of miles from the house so I went over. I can't remember being in the store previously--I'm more of a Land's End Outlet guy--so as soon as I entered I began scanning the walls and ceilings for a clue as to where the optical department might be.

Seconds later, a nice matronly clerk approached and asked if she could help. I told her my objective and she told me how to get to optical. It really blew me away because these days clerks in stores are often too busy talking among themselves to offer any help, especially if it's not going to benefit them in any way.

Once I reached the optical department I was assisted by another matronly woman who was kind and concerned about my getting the right pair of glasses without breaking the bank. It was great. She brought pair after pair and seemed more fussy about what would look good on me than I am.

Finally she slid on a pair that she liked and that I thought looked pretty good, too. "Those are the ones for you," she said. The price was right--$200 less than my current pair--and I left very happy for the experience. In the future, I'll probably visit the store again.

Customer service is terrifically important--I try to give just what I like to get...

Help with cat-scratching problems

People who bring cats into their lives for the first time are amazed by scratching. In many cases, it's something they hadn't thought about when they decided to obtain a cat.

Seeing and hearing the end of a davenport being used for claw sharpening is disconcerting to say the least. Often the human companion rushes to the local pet store where various scratching posts are available. These will work, too, *if* the human knows how to train the cat…but few do.

The post is set up but the dispite the owner's best attempts to interest the cat in using it, the cat returns to the davenport. Eventually and sadly, the many owners have the cat declawed and discard the post. It's a terrible shame. The lack of training is the problem.

This is why Natural Scratch includes a training method that has been used successfully by many people. My goal is to eliminate declawing by providing a scratching post most cats like and by including a training method that allows an individual who is brand new to the world of cats to succeed.

Overcoming unwanted cat scratching

Many people have contacted me over the years with reports of cats that out of control and scratching fine things in the home or apartment. This is not good for cat-human relations.

I try to make it clear to these folks that their cats are only doing what comes naturally--just as a toddler will--and need to be trained to behave in ways that are okay with their human companions.

Natural Scratch was developed to give cats a great structure to scratch and to teach humans how to train their cats to claw just one thing: Natural Scratch.

It has worked very well for both purposes. Anyone who follows the cat-scratching training method that accompanies Natural Scratch will succeed. It takes longer with some cats but all cat be trained.

Scratching? No. Interesting? Yes. Wasp update.

Temperatures continue to fall in Wisconsin as winter approaches, and only a few wasps are present. I climbed a ladder to take this photo. The wasps were so still that at first I thought they might be dead so I nudged the nest near them with a stick. This motivated an immediate, aggressive reaction. It seemed that they were positioning themselves to fly at me.

It's been many days since I saw any actually flying or even sitting on the ground-facing, open-cell surface of the nest. I can't imagine what they are doing for food and water. 'Course I'm only able to glance at them now and then.

Their season is over even though it's all but certain they don't know it. Soon they too will be gone, like all of their nest mates, and life will go on--paraphrasing George Harrison--without them...

Scratching and scratch

When my son and daughter were small, sometimes--okay a lot of times--the subject of money came up. Now and then I would challenge them to tell me as many slang terms for moolah they could think of. There's quite a list, from bread to wampum.

There are so many words for it because, sadly, dough makes the world go 'round.

I wish it didn't and that I was able to give Natural Scratch away just to help all the people out there who need one for their felines but can't part with the coin. For a producer like me, the price of a product covers everything, from raw materials to advertising. Having a wonderful product means nothing if no one knows about it. I wish I didn't have to spend so much cabbage promoting Natural Scratch because inevitably it has to go into the price. But, I do! Maybe someday word of mouth alone will do the trick. That would be nice…

Scratching up support for animal welfare societies

Thankfully there are thousands upon thousands of wonderful people who work for animal welfare organizations such as the Humane Society, local and national; Best Friends in Utah; the ASPCA; and many, many others. Please do the animals in your area or anywhere a favor and support these wonderful groups with time and or money if you have any to spare. I support a number of them financially and always feels good about it. There are still way too many animals without homes in America. Practicing neutering is essential--ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. We have always neutered our animal companions and they are as happy as can be. Haven't noticed any difference at all before and after. Whatever you can muster, whether a few hours a week volunteering or donating a few dollars a week, I urge you to do it.

Cat scratching is fun to watch

When cats learn to scratch Natural Scratch exclusively, it is fun to watch them dig into the soft white cedar. And it's easy to see that they are enjoying themselves. Their primary motivation is sharpening their claws but scratching also exercises their paws. When they claw Natural Scratch, light cedar debris will gather at the base and over time cats will dent the post. The debris can be vacuumed away easily.

Cat Scratching Blues

With a nod to the Stones' *Stray Cat Blues*, which is quite a different story, I'll mention that it's easy to get bummed by a cat or kitten that claws woodwork or upholstery in one's living space. What to do? Don't panic because there is a solution--training the critter so it scratches just what you want it to and stays away from everything else. If you're new to felines, this will probably seem like a daunting task but it really isn't that hard. You just need to know what to do and then to do it. Natural Scratch offers a great post and a training method that works.

Cat scratching post that works

Natural Scratch is more than a post and that's why it works--not that it's a set-and-forget solution. It includes interactive features such as the Mouse Hole and Antenna that help humans attract cats to the post and a training guide that teaches humans how to train their cats to scratch Natural Scratch and nothing else. You add rewards such as petting, praise, and treats the cat loves and a lot of love and you will succeed with Natural Scratch. It's made out of white cedar which is a soft wood cats like.

Scratching trying patience

If your cat is scratching something it shouldn't, chances are you're trying to figure out what to do about it. The solution is to train the cat to scratch an approved surface such Natural Scratch. This isn't hard so long as you follow the simple directions that come with the post. You won't achieve success overnight but most cats respond pretty well to training and soon will be scratching only Natural Scratch. Give it a try. It's guaranteed.

Scratching it isn't; interesting it is

A colony of wasps built a nest under one of our eaves. It is relatively close to the ground, and I have been watching them for weeks. Until recently, the wasps were busy gathering food and materials and capping and tending to cells that contained recently laid eggs or building new cells. Over the past several weeks, however, those activities have stopped and now the wasps rarely fly or do anything other than cling to the nest. They aren't visible in the early morning and only appear when the sun's rays reach the paper structure they so laboriously--mouthful after mouthful of masticated wood fibers--created. My guess is that as the evening comes on the night before they climb to the top of the nest, getting as much out of the elements as they can, and huddle together for warmth. Although temperatures here in Wisconsin have been unusually warm this fall, it can't last much longer and soon the air will drop below freezing. These wasps don't know it but they're days, like those of all creatures I suppose, humans included, are not endless. They appear to be waiting for something but it's hard to imagine they have any idea what.

Cat tree climbing

Kittens are wonderfully curious and energetic newcomers. In my experience, when they encounter Natural Scratch, they climb the post as if it were a tree. It's fun to watch. Although like toddlers they learn slower than adults, the fact that they find climbing Natural Scratch hard to resist makes it easier to train them. If you have a kitten, get Natural Scratch today and you'll be well down the road to training it to scratch only where you want it to scratch.

Scratching up a storm

Once a cat is trained to Natural Scratch, humans can expect it to claw the post regularly and deeply. Light cedar debris will gather on the base and near it but this can be vacuumed away easily. The shavings cats remove from the post do not become embedded in carpet fibers. At least I've never experienced that myself and have never heard of it happening from a customer.