Your Cat Isn’t Scratching the Couch to Be “Bad” – Here’s Why They Really Do It
Few things frustrate cat owners more than discovering fresh claw marks on a couch, carpet, or wooden table leg. It can feel personal at times – like your cat stares you directly in the face while they scratch your expensive furniture.
As a cat owner, it’s important to remember the reality of the situation – you have an animal living in your home. This animal has different wants, needs and instincts from you, and as the more intellectual and powerful being in the home, it’s important to keep things in perspective.
Why Cats Love Scratching
1. Cats scratch to keep their claws sharp and to remove dead nails. Scratching is like their version of busting out the nail clippers. If cats don’t scratch, their nails will grow too long, and they risk curling up and piercing their pads.
2. Cats also like to scratch because it provides a full-body stretch. Felines are very active animals, so they stretch… a lot. Frankly, human beings would be in a lot better shape if we stretched as often as cats do.
3. Another reason cats scratch is to mark territory. Cats are extremely territorial animals – in nature and at home. By scratching items along their ‘route’, they let other cats know they are entering into their territory, and there could be a problem if they cross paths.
4. Finally, cats will also scratch to relieve stress or excitement. Ever notice, when your kitty gets all revved up, they run straight to the couch or a scratching post and rip it to shreds? This is a natural reaction to stimulation, be it good or bad.
Why Cats Often Choose Furniture
Your cat is usually not scratching your couch because they hate you. They are choosing it because it works better than the alternatives available. Scratching is not a cat acting out; it is a cat acting naturally. Remember, the things attractive to cat scratching are sturdy, don’t wobble, allow a full stretch, have satisfying texture and are located in important social areas. Unfortunately, couches are almost perfect scratching objects from a cat’s perspective.
Save Your Furniture from Scratching
First of all, NEVER EVER have a cat declawed. Some people believe declawing is safe if they do it just to the front claws, but regardless of how it is approached, it is just wrong and downright cruel.
Declawing requires removing the top portions of a cat’s fingers. If humans were declawed, we’d lose the tips of our fingers (the portion containing our fingernails). Imagine how much fun life would be with them.
So, how do you save your furniture from cat scratching? Nothing is a guarantee, but there are some options available to you.
1. First of all, you need to purchase scratching posts and place them near the areas your cats are naturally drawn to. A big cat tree will also come with scratching posts built into it, so the bigger the better. You also should have lots of different scratching posts for your cats so they become more interested in them than your nice furniture.
2. Second, you can purchase certain sprays that smell and taste bad to cats. These are quite intense, though, and if you get some on your hand, it can take forever to come off. Additionally, if you get it on or near your mouth, you’re in for a very unpleasant experience. If you don’t like the idea of your cat having to go through tasting this, there is one more option.
3. The third option – purpose-built furniture protectors. These come pre-built or on an adhesive roll. They contain cat-scratch-friendly materials that kitties can go to town on without ruining your furniture. Take a look online by searching for “Cat scratch furniture protectors” and see if anything jumps out at you!
Final Thoughts
The most important thing to keep in mind in this situation is that it is largely unavoidable. Cats need to scratch, so don’t yell at them or get mad when they do. It will only confuse them and strain your relationship with them. Instead, lean into the behaviour and redirect it to places intended for them to scratch. You’ll both be a lot happier overall!