It might not like it, but inside every cat currently inhabiting the generous environment of an Aussie household lies the remnants of a fierce hunter that has pretty much domesticated itself in order to access the almost endless source of prey that started to circle around human settlements after the invention of agriculture. But that’s ancient past and boring evolutionary development talk. What interests you primarily, since you are reading this post, is to find a cost-effective way to stop your kitty from scratching your furniture. You’re not the only one.

Cats are present in around 34% of Australian households, and no less than 41% of them are either adopted from shelters or rescued from the street. They are ingrained in the Australian way of living, and they are one of the best animal companions to have, especially if living in a small apartment, where extra space comes at a premium. Loyal, intelligent, independent and clean, cats are, on paper, the right pet for pretty much any family. But things are more complicated than they might seem at first glance.

Yes, cats are great. But since they are not yet fully domesticated and they have retained a significant percentage of the instincts also found in feral cats, kitties have a natural tendency to scratch objects. It’s not because they like to see you suffer or they have an evolutionary anger towards the drapes bought by your spouse, but rather, their behaviour is a result of eons of evolution and only recent adaptations to living in our proximity. Cats need distractions. And those distractions can come in the form of a cat scratching post.

Kitties Are Financially Worth It as Long as They Don’t Get Bored 

When you look at the numbers, the costs of owning a cat are actually quite reasonable. The average ownership of a cat should set you back around $1,650 per year. Not too bad, right? Not when most dog breeds will require a more significant commitment than this. But where things take a turn for the worse is the potential miscellaneous expenses brought by kitties with behavioural issues.

Five years ago, I rescued a small orange kitten, which I called Mittens (original, I know). He is the fluffiest, cuddliest, cutest and most affectionate cat I’ve ever seen, and he’s purring right now, next to me, while I’m writing this post.

It didn’t matter that he only has one functioning brain cell, and even that one is sometimes low on resources. I loved him nevertheless since the first day I laid eyes on him. But I’m not going to lie. I kind of reconsidered my stance after the first time I left him alone for more than a couple of hours.

The Great Sofa Incident of June 2022

My favourite couch bought from Ikea for 35% off, with an extended warranty? Shredded. And that extended warranty apparently wasn’t so extended after all, since it didn’t include, and I quote: “pet damage”. The ironic thing is that I’ve actually considered buying a quality cat scratcher, at a discount, just a day before. But I’ve decided against it since my kitty was so well-behaved. Well, he wasn’t. I still love him, but that was the day I learned you cannot really fight the instincts of Mother Nature.

They Are Fluffy but Also Vicious

Cats are a bit unpredictable when it comes to their scratching behaviour. If your kitty stays constantly in your company, then you can act as a distraction for him, which will in turn mean that disruptive behaviours will stay at a minimum.

But when you are away, boredom, anxiety or ingrained aggression can creep up, and what’s there in the distance? Your perfectly serviceable couch with a brand-new protective cover perfect for sharpening the claws of your fluffy thunderbolt? Well, don’t mind if I do.

Clawing is pretty much unavoidable in the long run, as it’s an instinct that’s almost impossible to train out, even with positive reinforcement.

1.                      Cats have natural scent glands in their paws, and in their natural environment they scratch objects to keep their claws sharp and to communicate with territorial rivals or potential mates.

2.                      They also scratch the bark of trees in order to mark their territory, relieve stress, shed the outer sheaths of their claws, and keep their ligaments stretched and ready for action. It’s hard to eliminate this instinct completely. But you can give them an alternative via a cat scratcher.

What Are the Financial Benefits of a Cat Scratcher?

A cat scratching post will not exactly be free, but in the greater realm of pet ownership, it is probably one of the most subdued investments you need to worry about. Even the fanciest cat scratcher on the market will set you back only a couple of hundred dollars, which will likely be less than the price necessary to reupholster your couch in case of damage.

A Cat Scratching Post Will Likely:

1.                      Protect your furniture from the sharp claws of your kitty

2.                      Act both as a practical accessory as well as a toy

3.                      Help your kitty relax during the hours you are away at work

4.                      Extend the lifespan of your household appliances

5.                      Represent a fantastic long-term investment that, over the years, will basically pay for itself.

Now, is a cat scratcher the do-all, be-all accessory that can fix all your kitty’s behavioural issues? No. But at least in my cat’s case, it was the right solution for keeping clawing incidents at a minimum. Not once after I purchased the cat scratching post did my kitty try to scratch my new couch (which is good, because I paid full price for this one).

In retrospect, a scratching post should’ve been the first thing I purchased after deciding to adopt Mittens. But we all make mistakes, I suppose, and I’m just glad that, in the end, my kitty grew up to become my household’s main attraction. Even though he still has only one functioning brain cell.