Scratching Stuff: Why Cats Do it and How to Make it Stop

A common complaint among cat caregivers is that as soon as they brought home their new cat, their furniture and decor quickly deteriorated. If you've made it to this article, there are two questions you might be asking: "Why on earth does my cat scratch my stuff?" and "How do I make it stop?." In this article, that's exactly what we'll dive into.

Why Do Cats Scratch Our Things?

The truth is that scratching is a very natural behavior for cats. Let's talk about the common motivations for scratching.

1. To maintain their nails

   Cats nails naturally shed the outer layer, and if they don't fall off on their own, cats will scratch things to remove them. Scratching also helps to keep their nails sharp- something crucial for any cat that needs to catch prey or defend themselves from other animals.

2. To get a nice stretch in

   Cats have incredibly flexible spines. The more flexible the joints, the more frequently an animal needs to stretch to lubricate the joints and muscles. Having something to grab onto helps get a much better stretch in.

3. To mark their territory

   "Marking" is when an animal creates a visual or chemical sign that tells other animals that they like to hang out in that spot. When cats use scratching as a marking behavior, they leave a visual sign (the scratched surface) but they also leave a chemical sign in the form of pheromones. Other cats can smell these pheromones with a special organ. Marking is a very important part of keeping the peace among cats who are sharing territory.

4. To relieve stress, tension, or arousal

   This is one of the most commonly underestimated reasons for scratching among cat caregivers. The act of scratching leaves behind a pheromone and scent that tells the cat "I was here before and I felt at home." Cats will intentionally scratch when they are stressed as a self-regulating behavior and to smell that comforting scent again.

   We also see cats scratch right after something very arousing or concerning has happened. This might be something as simple as seeing their owner come home after a few hours away. In the same way a child will jump up and down when they are excited and need to put that energy somewhere, a cat will often scratch when they are excited. But you may also see them scratch to release the tension that happens after a spat or competing over a resource with a fellow housemate.

How Can You Stop Cat Scratching Behavior?

Well, you can't stop all scratching- and you shouldn't try. Because this is a natural behavior that serves some very crucial purposes for our cats, we instead need to channel it into outlets that work for both the human and the cat.

1. Provide ample legal opportunities for scratching around the house- There should be several options for each cat in the house.

2. Choose the right kind of scratchers- Vertical, horizontal, cardboard, sisal, or even wood...find out what your cat likes best by trialing options. Whichever option your cat chooses, make sure you use something long enough for your cat to fully stretch out when they use it. Many cats will not use scratchers that are too short.

3. Location, location, location- Where you place the scratchers is crucial. If your cat scratches vertical spots on your couch, place a vertical scratcher over that spot. If she scratches a horizontal spot on your rug, place a horizontal scratcher over that spot. If you can, use blankets to temporarily cover large spots that have been scratched to prevent access. For cats who scratch as soon as you come home, place a scratcher near the door. Place scratchers near the "territories" or favorite resting spots of each cat in the home.

4. Address sources of fear and stress- Resolve tension between pets, use consent in your interactions with your cat, prevent outdoor cats from stressing your cat on your property, stop using punishment such as spray bottles, scat mats, loud noises, hitting your cat, or anything else that causes them to avoid you. A 2022 study found that higher reports of unwanted scratching were linked to physical and verbal corrections as well as interrupting the cat while scratching (Cisneros et al 2022). You should also work towards incorporating each of the Five Pillars of Feline Environmental Needs.

A Note on Declawing

More and more, veterinarians are deciding to not perform declaw procedures. There is a lot of misinformation in the world about what a declaw actually entails and the adverse outcomes that exist for the cat. Declawing entails the amputation of a cat’s third phalanx, or third ‘toe bone.’ Unlike human nails, cats’ claws are attached to the last bone in their toes. A comparison would be cutting off a person’s finger at the last joint of each finger. Veterinarians are increasingly finding that cats who have undergone declaw procedures are at greater risk for developing chronic pain from nerve damage, arthritis, and more.

Not only is this unfortunate for the cat, but chronic pain and the lack of scratching as an outlet can also lead to more behavior problems. For all of these reasons as well as the importance of scratching as a natural cat behavior, we at Purrfect Paws University are firmly anti-declaw. If you are considering this procedure for your cat because you are at your wits' end, please reach out to us right away. We would love to help you resolve the unwanted scratching.

Sources

Cisneros, A., Litwin, D., Niel, L., & Stellato, A. C. (2022). Unwanted scratching behavior in cats: influence of management strategies and cat and owner characteristics. Animals, 12(19), 2551.

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Christian Flournoy, CPDT-KA

Christian is a professional trainer and behavior consultant for Purrfect Paws University and Wiggle Butt Academy. She is a Fear Free Certified Professional who offers training and behavior consulting for dogs and cats of all ages. Christian enjoys working with pets experiencing fear and clients with disability and illness that make living with pets more complicated. She is passionate about making low-stress pet ownership accessible to more people.