4 Most Common Injuries from Cat Scratching Trees

A bevy of cat scratching trees will greet you whenever you venture into the cat aisle of your local pet store. Cat scratching trees look like great fun for your feline friend but injuries and problems can arise from using them. There are many kinds of cat scratching trees which include carpeted, wood and cardboard. The following information will share with you some of the common problems associated with cat scratching trees.

Nail Damage

All cats have a natural instinct to sharpen their claws and that is essentially the purpose of cat scratching trees. The cat extends their claws and begins scratching at the tree. Once the nail hits resistance the cat retracts the nail and they continue like this until the compulsion passes. Older cats and kittens are prone to having their claws get stuck in the material. This is the case with kittens because they do not have the instinct yet to retract their claws. Older cats may lack the response time needed to retract their claws or the strength to do it. The results can be broken nails. If the cat scratching tree is not properly balanced it could call on top of your cat which can cause serious injuries.

Digestive Problems

Cats, like most house pets, will eat just about anything if it smells good to them. We cannot begin to understand the heightened senses of animals. Many cat scratching trees are infused with catnip. We use catnip as a way to make our cats playful and social. If catnip it sprayed on, or hidden within, the cat scratching tree the cat will try to find it. In doing so they may begin to eat the cardboard, wood or carpet that is covering the made structure. Cats can digest many more harsh things than we can but too much of these materials can cause serious intestinal discomfort. In time this type of issue could lead to a blockage which may need attention from a doctor and possibly surgery to remove it.

Presenting Unacceptable Behavior

Cat scratching trees are used to curve scratching behavior and to provide exercise. If your cat is allowed outside and does not scratch at furniture then cat scratching trees are not very important. If your feline friend is using cat scratching trees and the animal had not previously scratched at walls or furniture you may have just given them a behavior. Once you remove the cat scratching tree you may come to find out that the cat is now scratching at furniture and walls. Do not provide cat scratching trees for cats that do not present with scratching problems.

Fleas

No owner wants their cat to have fleas or ticks. There are some cat scratching trees that rest on the floor instead of standing straight up. This type of scratching post presents a unique situation. A cat can stretch out on it and use it to scratch their whole body. If they tracked in flea eggs they could be rubbed off on the surface and remain until the cat returns.