Karlijn is a companion animal veterinarian and a great cat lover. She knows better than anyone what goes on in a cat's life and how to provide the best care for your furry friend. From the right cat scratching post to a comfortable living environment, Karlijn tells you what is most important.
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How to train cats not to scratch furniture: Tips for furniture protection
Cats are fantastic pets, but their natural urge to scratch can sometimes be a nightmare for your furniture. But don't worry! In this blog, we will give you some handy tips on how to teach your cat not to scratch your furniture, while protecting your furniture at the same time.
The veterinarian in this blog is Karlijn van Bladel, 27 years old and living in Den Bosch. Karlijn is a companion animal veterinarian at DCO in Oisterwijk and previously worked at the animal hospital in Waalwijk. Karlijn has now been working as a veterinarian for a total of two years and it is still her dream job.
Karlijn has been involved with animals since she was very young. She grew up with her horse Surprise and later her cat Lilly, a beautiful Ragdoll, joined her. It has always been her biggest dream to become a veterinarian.

It has always been my greatest dream to become a veterinarian. It still is!
Karlijn explains that cats have different reasons for scratching. These reasons are explained below.
- Rubbing the nail against sturdy material causes the worn outer layer of the nail to come off and the underlying sharp nail to appear
- The cats train the muscles of the front paws by scratching
- Cats scratch to mark their territory. Scratching is used as part of communication. The cat marks its living area. Between the paw pads are glands that leave a unique scent after scratching
- Cats can also start scratching when they experience tension. Then scratching behavior is a way to reduce stress
Did you know that Lilly's favorite cat tree, Karlijn's cat, is the Maine Coon Lounge Blackline Dark Gray? You can shop it here!
For Karlijn, several factors played a major role in choosing a cat tree for Lilly. Quality, high sitting and sleeping, and a cat tree that does not take up too much space. This cat tree is perfect for Lilly!

Cats prefer stone or ceramic feeding bowls so they can't eat pieces of plastic. Of course, you don't want that for your best friend either.
Besides, cats look for a place where they can hide, such as under the couch, a basket, or a box. In addition to a hiding spot, cats like to have an overview and therefore prefer to sit high. The Cat trees of RHR Pets are perfect and offer an optimal place for cats to keep an eye on their surroundings.
And who doesn't want a clean and large place to do their business? Provide cats with a litter box and they are happy.
Last but not least, the cat toys! After all, cats love coziness and what could be more fun than playing with your favorite friend?

Important for your cat? The cat toys! What could be more fun than playing with your favorite little friend?
We asked Karlijn if there are also particularities, diseases, and accidents that occur in cats and if there are ways to avoid them
Unfortunately, many different diseases and accidents occur in cats. Think of urinary problems, stomach and intestinal issues, and trauma caused by fighting or being hit by a car.
What can you do as a human to give your furry friend the best care?
- Vaccinate every year
- Deworm once every 3 months
- Flea and tick prevention
- To prevent trauma, it is best to keep your cat indoors. However, this depends on the type of cat you have
When Lilly entered the showroom at RHR Pets, we immediately noticed how beautifully clean and white she is. That's why we asked Karlijn as the last question how she keeps Lilly so beautiful.
The answer to this? Lilly is well brushed and stays cozy inside with Karlijn. The result is definitely worth seeing.
We enjoyed that Lilly and Karlijn were here! Did you like the blog too?
Until next time!

