A new study reveals the REAL reason cats scratch furniture—and what to do about it
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As anyone with a shredded couch can attest, cats scratching furniture is a common complaint. It’s also an innate behaviour—cats need an outlet to satisfy their desire to scratch. What’s a frustrated cat lover to do?
A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science reveals secret motivations behind scratching and suggests feline-friendly ways to manage the behaviour.
Study Reveals Secret Motivations Behind Scratching
“Our findings can help caregivers manage and redirect scratching to appropriate materials, which could help foster a more harmonious living environment for both cats and their caregivers,” says Dr. Yasemin Salgirli Demi̇rbas, a veterinary researcher at Ankara University and author of the study.
The researchers surveyed over 1,200 cat owners in France about their cats’ daily habits, personality traits, and scratching behaviours. What they discovered were significant links between scratching behaviour and factors such as the presence of children in the home, the cat’s temperament, and activity levels.
“We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioural factors and increased scratching behaviour in cats.”
Environmental & Behavioural Factors to Look for If Your Cat Scratches Furniture
“We see a clear link between certain environmental and behavioural factors and increased scratching behaviour in cats,” explains Dr. Salgirli Demi̇rbas. “Specifically, the presence of children in the home as well as high levels of play and nocturnal activity significantly contribute to increased scratching. Cats described as aggressive or disruptive also exhibited higher levels of scratching.” Stress, such as that caused by young children in the home, was found to be a leading cause of unwanted scratching. The study also found that cats that exhibited high levels of play and nocturnal activity scratched more.
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Adapting play sessions and strategically placing scratching posts can help diminish and redirect your cat’s scratching.
What to Do: How to Get Your Cat to Stop Scratching the Furniture
The good news is there are strategies that can help curb the behaviour.
Aim to provide multiple scratching posts in your cat’s favourite areas (usually indicated by where they are already scratching). Reduce your cat’s stress by providing vertical space and hiding spots they can retreat to. Pheromone sprays and diffusers have been shown to promote calm. And play sessions help your cat expend energy—just be sure to let your cat catch their “prey” to avoid creating frustration. Multiple short play sessions throughout the day that mimic successful hunting scenarios are best, according to Salgirli Demi̇rbas’ team.
Though the link between children and increased scratching is not totally understood, realizing this as a potential cause of stress and providing your cat with ways to escape unwanted attention may help save your furniture!
This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Cat magazine. Subscribe today!
