Answer:
Dogs bark, fish swim, and cats scratch. Scratching helps cats stretch and groom their nails, leave scratch and sniff graffiti to mark territory, fight or flight. So, climbing curtains and shredding the sides of chairs and couches is what cats do unless given alternatives and taught the difference between acceptable and unacceptable scratching.

Teach acceptable scratching by placing treats and catnip on posts. Play chase games that move the laser light, string, mouse or feather up and around the post. Praise kitty whenever a paw touches an approved scratching area. At the same time, make target furniture unattractive with a covering of foil, saran wrap, or commercial cat repellant.

Test individual preferences by providing an abundance of alternatives; vertical, horizontal, wood, carpet, cardboard and sisal rope surfaces. Consider at least one floor to ceiling cat tree with a high comfy resting place for purveying the kingdom. Select posts at least 32 inches high to allow a good stretch.

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