Understanding the Behaviour: Why do Cats Scratch my furniture?

Cats scratch for several reasons, and understanding their behaviour can help address their needs effectively. Here's why cats scratch your furniture.

1. Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats that helps them maintain healthy claws. Just as you trim your nails, cats scratch things to help trim their claws. Scratching helps your cat to remove the outer sheath of their claws, which can become dull or frayed over time. This process keeps their claws sharp and allows them to retract and extend their claws properly.

2. Scratching also serves as a form of stretching and exercise for cats. When they scratch, cats engage their muscles, particularly in their shoulders, back, and legs, which helps them stay limber and maintain muscle tone. Regular stretching and exercise are essential for cats' overall health and well-being.

3. Cats have scent glands in their paw pads, and scratching leaves behind both visual and smell (olfactory) marks. When they scratch, cats deposit pheromones from these glands onto surfaces, signalling their presence and marking their territory. This behaviour helps cats communicate with other cats and establish their territory boundaries.

4. Scratching can also serve as a stress-relieving behaviour for cats. Cats may scratch when they feel anxious, frustrated, or overstimulated, helping them release pent-up energy and tension. Providing appropriate scratching posts can offer cats a healthy outlet for this natural behaviour and reduce the likelihood of destructive scratching on furniture or other household items.

5. Scratching also provides environmental enrichment for cats by offering a variety of textures and surfaces to scratch. Cats may prefer different materials, such as sisal, carpet, cardboard, or wood, so they may gravitate to something in your household that caters to their individual preferences and encourage them to engage in this natural behaviour.

In summary, cats scratch for a variety for reasons, which include nail maintenance, stretching and exercise, scent marking, stress relief, and environmental enrichment. If you wish to save your furniture then providing appropriate scratching posts in your home helps fulfill cats' natural instincts and needs. It will also promote their physical and mental well-being, whilst reducing the likelihood of destructive scratching behaviour.