While it can be frustrating when cats scratch and damage furniture and other household items, and it may be tempting to want to stop the scratching altogether, it’s important to remember that scratching itself is a normal, innate behavior for cats. In most cases, it’s not actually the scratching that’s the problem — it’s what the cat is scratching.
By learning some simple solutions to provide an outlet for your cat’s scratching, you can ensure your cat gets to practice this normal behavior without ruining your furniture in the process!
Why Cats Scratch
1. To remove dead nail:
Cats typically scratch on vertical surfaces to remove old, often-frayed outer layers of nail and expose new nail growth underneath.
2. To exercise/stretch:
Scratching also stretches and flexes many of the cat’s muscles and tendons and may serve as an important form of exercise for her. Many cats scratch after waking and stretching or as a part of a stretching sequence.
3. To mark objects:
Cats often return repeatedly to a spot they have scratched, leaving behind chemical marks when they do. The exact significance of these marks is unclear, but some believe they provide reassurance to the cat when she returns to investigate the mark.
4. To play:
Cats may also run to scratch a favorite surface when they become excited or aroused, such as during play.
Prevent Access to Area of Unwanted Scratching
The more times the cat rehearses scratching an inappropriate object (such as a couch), the more difficult it will be to get her to stop. So, it’s important to prevent access to those items as best you can while the cat is learning what you would like her to scratch instead. Here are some tips:
- Confine young kittens to one room initially.
- Cover the targeted furniture with plastic or double-sided tape.
- Spray a product such as Feliway Classic® on the area that is being targeted. This scent leaves a message to the cat that essentially says, “You have already marked this area, no need to mark again,” so it may help decrease the cat’s interest in scratching on the treated area.
Provide Appropriate Scratching Surfaces
Since the scratching behavior itself is innate for cats, it is very helpful to show the cat what you DO want her to scratch instead of your furniture. Here are some tips to help set your cat up for success:
- Provide a scratching post. Most cats prefer sisal or rope-covered surfaces instead of carpet. Praise and reward the cat when she scratches at her post.
- Where you place the post is VERY important. Scratching posts and other devices should be in or near areas where your cat rests most often, as cats tend to scratch when waking up from a nap.
- Make sure any scratching post is stable and won’t tip over, and that it is tall enough for your cat to stretch her legs as she scratches.
- Provide cardboard boxes or cardboard toys. Many cats enjoy these.
- Notice your cat’s individual preferences for surfaces and provide more of the preferred type.
- Use a product such as catnip that attracts cats to an appropriate surface.
Conclusion
Your goal is to make it both more attractive and easier for the cat to scratch on something like a scratching post than on your couch. Find the post and toys that your cat enjoys, make those attractive to her, and reward her for scratching them. Prevent access to the furniture your cat scratches, at least until she learns to scratch the post instead. This way, you both get what you want and need!