Cat Scratching Posts Must Be Tall, Stable, and Numerous

Keep your cat from scratching furniture by giving it multiple better options.

Scratching posts should be tall enough for your cat to stretch to full height. Svetlana Rey/Shutterstock

Q: We read your column about the importance of not declawing cats—or, as you put it, amputating their toes. We’re convinced! Now our question is: What can we do to prevent our cats from scratching our furniture?

A: Multiple toe amputation, euphemistically called declawing, causes long-term medical and behavioral problems in cats. Readers who missed the column you cited are welcome to contact me for a copy.