Good for Taste, Good for Napping

We bought a new scratching box for the girls about a month ago. We picked a bigger/wider one with Skoda in mind. We've one other scratching mat, one vertical post and one box (a slimmer one) placed at different spots. Providing ample and appropriate scratchers go a long way in "preserving" our furniture. Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats.

Why do cats scratch? (source: http://www.catscratching.com/)
1) Marking their territory - Scratching is a territorial instinct by which cats place their mark and establish their turf. Through scratching, cats mark their domains with more than just visible signs of claw marks. Cat's paws also have scent glands that leave their own special scent on their territory. And this is why they mark the most visible portions of your house. It's Kitty's way of adding her own personal touch to your (and her) home. Her version of interior decorating.

2) Exercise - Scratching also serves to keep your cat in shape. The act of scratching stretches and pulls and works the muscles of a cat's front quarters--a cross between a feline gym workout and Kitty Yoga.

3) Sheer pleasure - Hey! It feels good to scratch.

The new scatching box (costs S$24.90) came with a packet of catnip. I'm not fond of using catnip on my girls (somehow I find their reaction to it unnatural) but the smell had penetrated the box. As usual, Skoda was the first to check it out.

Skoda was at it for almost 10 minutes

And marked it with her drool!

Mikki has a duo use of the box - her sleeping pad

"Why, can't use it as my bed meh?!?!"