Why Do Cats Scratch Furniture? 3 Possible Reasons & Solutions
Cats seem to have a vendetta against furniture. Why are they such determined furniture destroyers?
The carnage does not end with the furniture, as cats will also go after your upholstery, carpets, and anything else they can sink their claws into, leaving you wondering what you could have done to warrant such treatment from your pet.
Nevertheless, cats do not scratch up your stuff for the fun of it (well, maybe a little); they have valid reasons for doing so. In this article, we shall discuss why cats scratch furniture, in addition to providing you with solutions to this problem.
The 3 Reasons Why Cats Scratch Furniture
Your cat does not scratch your furniture because they hate you.
The various reasons for this behavior boil down to one thing: instinct. Scratching is instinctual to the Felidae family, which comprises all animals colloquially known as cats, from the mighty tiger to your kitty.
1. Nail Grooming
A cat needs to keep their claws sharp. This is because their claws are as important to them as digits or fingers to us. They use them to grab things, fight, and communicate through scratching. However, unlike typical nails, claws do not grow continuously in length.
Instead, the newer, sharper claw grows inside the older, withering claw. Therefore, to expose the new claw, they must remove the older claw acting as a sheath or husk. Scratching is the most effective way of doing that. Leaving these husks around also serves as sending a message to other cats about territorial boundaries.
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Keeping your cat's paws healthy starts with keeping their nails trimmed. A great set of clippers like the Hepper Cat Nail Clipper Set can help you safely and easily do this at home. This set includes two sizes of clippers with stainless steel blades, built-in safety guards, and comfortable handles, along with a nail file and a storage pouch. Get ready for easy nail trimming!
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2. Communication
Scratching allows your cat to send an important message to other cats, like “this scratched item is mine, and nobody should touch it.” As you already know, cats are territorial. Even among siblings, if one cat claims something, the others try not to cross that boundary.
Scratching also allows cats to scent mark their territory, thanks to the scent and sweat glands in between their pads.
3. Exercise and Stress Relief
You will notice that cats tend to combine scratching with stretching. This is not coincidental, as combining these movements allows cats to effectively target the muscles in their forelimbs and spines.
Scratching also acts as a form of stress relief, explaining why cats tend to scratch more when distressed.
As you can see, cats do not mean any harm when they scratch; they are simply following their instincts. However, why do they prefer furniture?
The reason is simple: your couch or table is a sturdy surface. As mentioned, cats love combining scratching with stretching. As such, the surface should be sturdy enough to bear the cat's weight. Additionally, fabrics feel great against the cat's claws.
How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture
Frustrated with their pet, some owners resort to declawing their cats. However, declawing is an inhumane practice banned in most countries, including the United States. Declawing is not only painful but also handicaps the cat. According to the Humane Society, declawing a cat is akin to cutting off a human's fingers at the last knuckle.
Fortunately, there are simpler but more effective solutions to this problem. They include:
1. Buying a Cat Scratcher
As the name suggests, a cat scratcher is a tool designed specifically for scratching by cats. As such, it gives your cath a scratching surface that feels natural to them. However, these toys can vary significantly in quality, so it's important you know what you are buying.
The Hepper Hi-Lo Modern Cat Scratcher is a functional and stylish design that makes it the ultimate scratching spot for your cat – and a superhero in the battle against furniture destruction. Unlike most cat toys that end up being ignored, this one's a crowd-pleaser for both cats and their hoomans.
With its 3 configurations, thick textured cardboard, and solid birch plywood frame, it encourages your cat's natural scratching instincts, so they stay away from your precious furniture, rugs, and curtains, among all other things they shouldn't scratch. The Hi-Lo is like your home's mini guardian, keeping it safe while looking super sleek and trendy.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. Use Anti-Scratch Tape
The sticky nature of anti-scratch tape is extremely annoying to cats. Simply place strips of this tape on your furniture, and your cat will start looking elsewhere. Here is a good and affordable anti-scratch tape.
3. Use Vinyl Guards
Vinyl is not a good scratching surface, which is why installing clear vinyl panels on your furniture would be an excellent idea.
Conclusion
When you decide to share your living space with any pet, you must learn everything you need to know about them. This way, you will know what to expect from the animal. Unfortunately, most new cat owners make the mistake of assuming that caring for cats is a breeze, only for the animal to wreak havoc on their furniture.
The good news is that you do not have to stop your cat from scratching. The solutions provided in this article should help you and your cat to find a happy-medium and allow them to exhibit their natural behavior.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
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Christian started writing for a local newspaper as a teenager, and he's been involved in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. Combining his love of writing with a passion for animals, he is currently the Director of Editorial at Pangolia and the Editor-in-Chief at Catster.
Christian lives in the Philippines with his wife, son, and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
