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A fluffy black cat sits on a rug beside a scratched dark brown leather armchair. 24 / 25

A Fluffy Black Cat Sits Next to the Chair She Redecorated

AI imageblack catleather chairscratching

The dark leather armchair has a new texture, and the black cat sitting beside it knows exactly why. Long scratch marks run up the arm and across the back, pale against the brown leather, while the cat gazes at us with round green eyes and a guilty face. Her fluffy fur looks soft in the daylight, and a throw blanket hangs over the chair behind her.

Scratching is an instinctive, healthy cat behavior. It stretches their muscles, helps remove old claw sheaths and leaves their scent behind, since cats have scent glands in their paws. Leather is a favorite because it is tough enough to resist and satisfying to pull on, and a chair in the middle of the room is a perfect place for a cat to make her mark.

The best solution is to offer something better: a tall, sturdy scratching post covered in sisal rope, placed right next to the chair. Many cats also like horizontal cardboard scratchers. Trim her claws regularly, and ask your vet about safe nail caps if the scratching gets out of hand. Never punish a cat for scratching, since it is a natural need.

The black cat looks sorry, but she also looks comfortable. The chair has a lived-in look now, and she seems to think that is an improvement. She sits next to it as if it were her personal artwork.

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