DePorter Theresa L, Elzerman Ashley L
Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, 1400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302, USA.
J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Mar;21(3):235-243. doi: 10.1177/1098612X19831205.
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.
Clients may not directly ask veterinarians for their assistance regarding their cat's destructive scratching, and may not be aware that anything can be done except for declawing their cat.
Published studies on scratching are limited. Destructive scratching has been documented as a reason for the relinquishment of cats to shelters and the negative effects of declaw surgeries are being increasingly discovered. Among recent scientific publications are studies assessing kitten and cat preferences for scratching substrates, and the use of pheromones to encourage appropriate scratching behavior. This review draws on these studies, among other resources, as well as the authors' personal experiences.
抓挠对猫咪来说是一种正常且有益的行为，但当猫咪抓挠主人认为不合适的物品时，就会引发问题。然而，如果兽医在首次就诊时给出合适的建议，主人就能实施有效的预防策略，让猫咪养成一生良好的抓挠习惯。向主人介绍猫咪抓挠的原因、如何引导猫咪只在合适的表面（如猫抓柱）抓挠、大多数猫咪更喜欢哪种类型的猫抓柱、信息素产品的益处以及其他避免破坏性抓挠的策略，有助于维护猫与主人之间的关系，并降低猫咪被遗弃的风险。
客户可能不会直接向兽医寻求关于猫咪破坏性抓挠的帮助，并且可能不知道除了给猫咪拔爪之外还有其他办法。
关于抓挠的已发表研究有限。破坏性抓挠已被记录为猫咪被送到收容所的一个原因，而且拔爪手术的负面影响也越来越多地被发现。近期的科学出版物中有评估小猫和成年猫对抓挠底物的偏好以及使用信息素来鼓励适当抓挠行为的研究。本综述借鉴了这些研究以及其他资源，还有作者的个人经验。
