Why do cats scratch? 

Marking territory and stretching their bodies are just some of the reasons why cats scratch. In the following lines, we are going to find out more about the reasons why cats scratch objects and what we should do in this situation.

Anyone who has a pet cat in the home must have wondered why they scratch objects. In addition to having certain special considerations in their upbringing, they also have a fixation for scratching some kind of furniture and we don’t know why.

We tend to think that cats scratch because it’s a way of showing their anger or their level of conceit; nothing could be further from the truth.

Scratching is a natural behaviour for felines and there are different reasons why they do it.

Reasons why cats scratch
One of the most common reasons cats scratch objects is to mark their territory, either with visual markings or with pheromones that tend to be released from their paw pads and are detectable by other animals.

Cats also scratch objects because it helps them remove the dead outer layers of their claws, a kind of canine exfoliation.

It also serves to stretch their bodies, as well as their joints and claws, a natural feline relaxation exercise.

But scratching also relieves stress at times when they feel very tense, frustrated or anxious.

What should I do if my cat scratches a lot at home?
Punishment is not the best way to correct a cat’s scratching behaviour, as it could intensify the frustration they feel, aggravating the problem.

According to specialists, there are certain actions we can take to modify their behaviour. One of them is to identify the places where they choose to scratch and place certain commercial products to help them scratch, such as small rugs or scratching posts.

There are some special products on the market that can help us to solve this problem. Odour neutralisers or repellents are very useful to keep cats away from areas where they often scratch.

Another valuable tip is to place in the typical scratching area some objects that are unpleasant to the animal, such as aluminium foil or scented cotton wool, in order to naturally repel the pet.

Finally, once the environment has been conditioned with the objects we want him to scratch, it will be ideal to help him understand that it is a good place to scratch and encourage him to get into the habit of doing so in that area.

Correcting the cat’s behaviour and getting him to scratch in the special scratching area can be a slow and tedious process. Patience is necessary to modify the behaviour; little by little, we will achieve the goal of getting the cat to scratch in a particular area.

 

cat scratching post with bed