Sometimes it’s enough to drive you to despair: your cat scratches the sofa or the wallpaper and before long the furniture is fit for the tip. But scratching is a completely natural behaviour. With the right scratching post and a few handy tricks, you can save your home furnishings from your feline’s sharp claws.
© Somkiat / stock.adobe.com
There are many reasons a cat might scratch furniture.
A scratched armchair, claw marks on the sofa or torn wallpaper often give the game away: a cat lives here. But why do so many kitties attack their owners’ furniture with their claws?
One reason cats scratch furniture is to care for their claws.
To keep these little predators’ weapons sharp, the worn outer layers of horn need to be shed regularly. Scratching keeps the claws at the right length, sharpens them to a dagger-like point and removes dirt.
Outside, cats sharpen their claws on tree trunks. They particularly like using trees that are slightly slanted or upright, where they can enjoy a full stretch.
Fallen tree trunks are sometimes used for claw sharpening too. In popular scratching spots, you may occasionally find shed claw husks, sometimes even embedded in the wood.
Indoor cats don’t have trees at their disposal and inevitably have to resort to alternatives. Upholstered furniture, carpets, wooden furniture and textured wallpaper are especially popular for a “pedicure”.
So when your cat scratches the sofa or the wallpaper, she isn’t doing it to annoy you. For your kitty, it’s simply the best substitute for a tree trunk.
© Carola Schubbel / stock.adobe.com
Cats also scratch to leave messages for other cats. With their markings, they’re making a statement, for example: “This is my territory.”
The visible scratch marks are accompanied by scent signals. These scents are released from the sweat glands in the paw pads and toes.
Because scratching is such an important form of communication, cats often leave scratch marks around the home even if they have the most beautiful scratching post available.
Some cats also take their claws to the furniture because they’re bored or want to relieve stress. Plenty of play, perhaps even in the form of cat agility, often helps with boredom and tension.
Cats are particularly fond of sharpening their claws when another cat is watching. It’s a kind of dominance gesture, saying: “Look at me! I’m the boss.”
Important: never punish your cat, even if she’s just shredded your designer sofa. With a few simple training tips, you can gently discourage your kitty from scratching in the wrong places:
To let your kitty express her natural scratching behaviour, she needs a scratching post. For indoor cats especially, this piece of cat furniture is essential.
A standard scratching post – also known as a cat tree – consists of a trunk wrapped in sisal. One or more platforms are attached to the trunk. In addition to freestanding models, there are also so-called ceiling-height scratching posts. These are particularly tall and can be secured against the ceiling. Large scratching posts have several trunks, platforms and hideaways.
It’s best to place the scratching post where your family usually spends time, for example in the living room. A spot by a window is ideal. Cats love watching what’s going on from up high – when they’re not dozing.
When buying, make sure it’s good quality: the scratching post should be sturdy and not tip over when your cat clambers about on it. With cheaper products, the fabric covering on the platforms and hideaways is sometimes fixed with staples, which could injure your cat.
It’s best to cut off plush balls and other cat toys attached with strings using a pair of scissors. Otherwise, your cat could get tangled in the string while playing, slip and seriously injure herself.
In addition, at least one section of the trunk should be tall enough for your cat to stretch out fully while sharpening her claws.
Last but not least, give your cat a little time to get used to her cat tree. She may ignore her new piece of furniture at first. Before long, though, she’ll be using it enthusiastically to sharpen her claws, clamber about or have a snooze.
The zooplus editorial team consists of a dedicated team of experts with many years of experience in the field of animal husbandry: Luisa with her White Swiss Shepherd Elyos, Laura, Julio, and Florian. Together with a large network of animal experts, we work to make the zooplus magazine a trusted source of information for all animal owners and lovers. Our goal is to provide exciting animal knowledge and relevant information on the proper care of pets.
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