Save your furniture – get that scratching post for your cat

It is important to provide your cat with a scratching post that’s the right size, if you wish to prevent it from ruining your furniture. — Dreamstime/TNS

Dear Joan: When our cat, Mau, adopted us, we were living in a small house with a door to close off the living room. When we moved to a house with no door to protect the furniture, we bought a tall scratching post covered in carpeting and with three platforms, hoping this would keep him away from the furniture.During the move, we locked him in the bathroom with his litter box to keep him out of the way. That evening we kept a close watch on him while we were watching TV.

The first time he put his paws up on the sofa, obviously intending to scratch, I pounced on him. I said “No! Leave the furniture alone.”