Cat Owner's Manual › Chapter 3: Daily Interaction With Your Cat › Why Cats Scratch ›

Intro: Why Cats Scratch

All cat owners must contend with the fact that cats regularly exercise their claws—ideally on their scratching post, but sometimes on such inappropriate targets as chairs, curtains, and door frames. This is not a sharpening ritual. Feline claws retract when not in use, and thus do not grow dull from contact with the ground. Cats scratch to shed worn bits of nail (which can be found in abundance at favorite scratching spots) and to mark their territory. Leaving visible scratches serves as a visual reminder of another cat's presence. Glands in the paws also leave behind a scent signature.

If your cat scratches an inappropriate object, the steps on the following page may end the problem.

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Chapter 3: Daily Interaction With Your Cat

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Quirk BooksThe Cat Owner's Manual is a basic guide to cat care.
The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides cat owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!