Tag Archives: furniture

Why Cats Scratch Your Furniture and How to Prevent It

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Do you ever wonder why your cute cat suddenly becomes a shredding machine when you’re not looking? Cats scratching furniture is a common issue, but it’s a natural behavior for cats, so it’s important to address it in a cat-friendly way.

A recent study published in The Forefront of Veterinary Medicine suggests that understanding the reasons behind scratching behaviors can help manage them effectively by changing play patterns or using scratching posts.

“Our findings can help owners redirect scratching towards appropriate materials, creating a harmonious environment for both cats and owners,” said Professor Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University and lead author of the study.

The study surveyed over 1,200 French cat owners to understand their cats’ daily lives, characteristics, and scratching behaviors. The researchers found associations between scratching behavior and factors such as the presence of children, the cat’s personality traits, and activity levels.

Stress is a major factor in unwanted scratching behavior in cats. For example, the presence of children and high activity levels can increase a cat’s stress, leading to more scratching. Introducing scratching posts, pheromones, safe hiding spots, and engaging play can reduce stress and redirect scratching behaviors.

To play without scratching, the experts recommend short play sessions that mimic hunting scenarios to keep the cat’s attention and reduce stress. These strategies can also strengthen the bond between owners and their cats.

While there are still questions to be answered about the link between children and scratching behavior, the researchers hope that future studies will provide more effective strategies for managing this behavior in cats.

About the Experts

Yasemin Sargiri Demirbas, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, focuses her research on Journal of Veterinary Behavior and Scientific Reports.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Recycled wood ink used to 3D print miniature furniture

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Miniature chairs and tables 3D printed from scrap wood

Thakur et al., Sci. Advanced 10, eadk3250 (2024)

Recycled wood can be turned into ink for 3D printing, potentially providing more sustainable ways to manufacture furniture and build homes.

“Wood has been used for architectural and structural purposes for centuries,” he says. Muhammad Rahman At Rice University, Texas. However, processing the material is not very efficient as engraving the material to size can result in a large amount of waste.

To utilize this leftover material, Rahman and his colleagues split it into lignin and cellulose (key molecules in wood’s hard structure) and broke these down to form nanofibers and nanocrystals. . The cellulose and lignin were then recombined with water to create a clay-like substance that could be used as an ink.

The researchers used this material to 3D print objects by forcing it through a nozzle and building up layers of ink.

To increase the strength of the 3D printed objects, the team freeze-dried them to remove water, then immediately heated them to 180°C (356°F) to soften the lignin and fuse it with cellulose. Ta.

“In fact, we can mimic all the visual, textural and olfactory properties of natural wood,” says Rahman. The product was found to be approximately six times more durable than natural balsa wood in compression tests and up to three times more durable in bend tests.

So far, researchers have been able to use the ink to create miniature furniture and honeycomb structures, but they hope it could eventually be used to build larger objects such as houses. ing.

“We need to rethink how we build structures without cutting down trees,” Rahman says. “If instead of traditional manufacturing he could use 3D printing to recycle waste wood, that would be a good step forward.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com