It’s Only a Scratch! Cat Scratching – A Happy Cat Expert Explains

Scratching trees or other objects may provide physical benefits for cats. For example, it can help to keep their claws sharp, remove the outer sheath of the claws, and provide exercise while stretching their legs and spine. However, these may not be the only, or even the main, reasons for feline scratching behaviour. 

As with a number of other animals, it is thought that scratching has important communication functions. The scratch marks are thought to serve as a visual signal to other cats. Additionally, cats deposit scents and pheromones from the skin glands between the toes during scratching, and these also provide an olfactory (odour) signal to other cats.

Understanding Normal Cat Scratching Behaviour

Scratching objects is therefore a completely normal behaviour for cats. It helps them mark and signal their territory and communicate information to other cats, making it an important behaviour for their overall health and wellbeing. However, when the scratching involves furniture, carpets, curtains, and other valued household items, it is generally referred to as 'problem scratching'. This can be a major difficulty for many cat caregivers.

Factors Influencing Scratching Frequency

Research suggests that some cats may have a stronger inherent drive to engage in scratching behaviour than others. However, additional factors may also influence the frequency of scratching, such as environmental conditions, outdoor access, and the age of the cat—scratching behaviour tends to reduce as cats get older. There is also some evidence that entire male cats may show scratching behaviour more frequently than neutered males or female cats.

 A recently published large survey of cat scratching behaviour also suggested the cat’s personality may influence the likelihood of scratching occurring with destructive, aggressive, playful, active, and nocturnally active cats being more likely to show scratching behaviour. Interestingly, the study also suggested that the presence of children in the house may increase scratching behaviour.

Common Problem Scratching Areas

Surveys have suggested that more than half of all cat parents experience problem scratching, where cats scratch and damage objects within the home. Scratching furniture, especially upholstered furniture, appears to be more common than scratching carpets, though both can be frequent. Some cats also scratch walls, doorways, and curtains. 

Again, it’s important to recognise that this is normal cat behaviour. Cats should never be told off for scratching. Instead, it’s helpful to consider ways to encourage cats not to scratch furniture and fixtures and instead to use other appropriate items, such as a scratching post.

Preventing or Managing Problem Scratching in Cats

When trying to avoid problem scratching for cats, it’s important to recognise that the goal is not to actually prevent cats from scratching. Instead, the aim is to provide and encourage alternative ways for cats to express this normal behaviour.

Encouraging Use of Scratching Posts

Studies and surveys reveal several helpful trends for encouraging cats to use scratching devices in the home. These insights can be very useful for guiding cats toward appropriate scratching behaviours:

• Material preference: In general, cats prefer scratching soft materials and fabrics, cardboard, rope, and carpet.

• Changing preferences as cats age: Rope or cardboard-covered scratchers are generally preferred by adult cats over fabric or carpet-covered scratchers. However, older cats (over 10 years) may have an increased preference for carpet-covered scratchers.

• Multiple posts: Having more than one scratching post or device in different areas of the house, and offering a choice of materials, may be helpful as most cats will use more than one scratcher if they are offered.

   

• Multi-cat households: For households with multiple cats, having more than one scratching post is essential. Ideally, there should be at least one scratching post per cat.

   

• Horizontal vs. vertical: Young kittens may readily use both horizontal (like s-shaped cardboard) and vertical scratchers. Adult cats, however, show a strong preference for using vertical scratching posts rather than horizontal or angled scratchers.

   

• Stability: Cats are more likely to use a solid, stable scratching post, for example around 1 metre in height with a relatively large base of around 0.3-0.9 metres. The post should not wobble and should allow the cat to stretch to their full height while scratching. Cats tend to prefer a free-standing post to a wall-mounted scratching pad.

   

• Cat trees: 'Cat trees' with multiple levels, vertical posts, and resting places may be used more frequently than simple posts for scratching when they are available.

   

• Placement: Scratching posts can also be positioned close to areas where the cat has been scratching furniture or furnishings to encourage them to use the posts instead.

   

• Catnip or silver vine: Applying catnip or silver vine to the scratching post will encourage most cats to interact with it, but these have no effect on young kittens.

   

• Toys: Attaching a small hanging toy to the scratching post may also encourage that cat to use the post.

   

• Redirecting Behaviour: Placing scratching posts close to areas where the cat has engaged in unwanted scratching behaviour may also help to divert the behaviour towards the scratching post.

   

• Positive reinforcement: Rewarding the cat immediately after they use the scratching post – with a treat, verbal praise, or petting – can reinforce appropriate scratching behaviour.

In addition to these measures, it is possible that allowing a cat to have some outdoor access can help reduce unwanted indoor scratching. This allows the cat to express scratching behaviour in the outdoor environment. However, this may not be practical or feasible in all situations.

If your cat scratches furniture or other household items, it may also be possible to gently discourage the behaviour. This said, it’s vital this is done in a way that causes no stress or anxiety, as this can otherwise be counterproductive. Avoid shouting, making loud noises, or doing anything that would startle or scare your cat. Consider the following methods instead:

• Restrict access: If possible, remove or restrict access to the items your cat is scratching until the use of the scratching post has been well established.

• Clean scratched areas: Use warm water with a mild detergent to clean the areas your cat has been scratching and remove the scent that has been deposited.

• Temporary covers: The areas being scratched can also be covered temporarily with plastic, leather, aluminium foil, or other material to discourage scratching.

• Trim nails: Keep your cat’s nails trimmed (it is best to seek advice from your vet about how best to do this) to minimise any damage done when they scratch.

Although surgical removal of the claws (declawing) is permitted in some regions, it is outlawed in many countries and is widely considered unethical and inhumane. It prevents cats expressing normal behaviours and defending themselves and is often associated with long-term pain. Declawing should never be performed unless required for medical reasons.

The Use of Pheromones

Very little is known about the effect of environmental stress on cat scratching behaviour in the home. While the two may be unrelated, it has been suggested that stress may be one factor that increases scratching behaviour. Interestingly, a recent large and well-conducted controlled study demonstrated that using a FELIWAY Classic diffuser significantly reduced unwanted scratching behaviour compared with a placebo product.

Whether this effect is due to reduced stress or simply a change in the cat's perception of its environment, FELIWAY appears to be highly beneficial. FELIWAY Classic contains a pheromone that

promotes safety and reassurance for the cat. Using a FELIWAY Classic or Optimum diffuser, or applying FELIWAY Classic Spray to the scratched area after cleaning, is a simple and highly effective strategy to help stop unwanted scratching.

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Further reading

Cisneros, A., Litwin, D., Niel, L., & Stellato, A. C. (2022). Unwanted Scratching Behavior in Cats: Influence of Management Strategies and Cat and Owner Characteristics. Animals, 12(19), 2551. doi:10.3390/ani12192551

DePorter, T. L., & Elzerman, A. L. (2019). Common feline problem behaviors: Destructive scratching. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 21(3), 235-243. doi:10.1177/1098612x19831205

Demirbas YS, Pereira JS, De Jaeger X, Meppiel L, Endersby S, da Graça Pereira G (2024) Evaluating undesired scratching in domestic cats: a multifactorial approach to understand risk factors. Front Vet Sci. 11:1403068. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1403068

Feldman, H. N. (1994). Methods of scent marking in the domestic cat. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 72(6), 1093-1099. doi:10.1139/z94-147

Kennedy, C. J., Thomson, A. E., Griffith, E. H., Fogle, J., Lascelles, B. D. X., Meeker, R. B., Sherman, B. L., & Gruen, M. E. (2018). Enrichment Preferences of FIV-Infected and Uninfected Laboratory-Housed Cats. Viruses, 10(7), 353. doi:10.3390/v10070353

Mengoli, M., Mariti, C., Cozzi, A., Cestarollo, E., Lafont-Lecuelle, C., Pageat, P., & Gazzano, A. (2013). Scratching behaviour and its features: a questionnaire-based study in an Italian sample of domestic cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15(10), 886-892. doi:10.1177/1098612x13481468

Moesta, A., Keys, D., & Crowell-Davis, S. (2018). Survey of cat owners on features of, and preventative measures for, feline scratching of inappropriate objects: a pilot study. J Feline Med Surg, 20(10), 891-899. doi:10.1177/1098612X17733185

Pereira, J. S., Salgirli Demirbas, Y., Meppiel, L., Endersby, S., da Graça Pereira, G., & De Jaeger, X. (2023). Efficacy of the Feliway® Classic Diffuser in reducing undesirable scratching in cats: A randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study. PLoS One, 18(10), e0292188. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0292188

Rossi, A. P., dos Santos, C. R. C., Maia, C. M., Terzian, C. C. B., Predebon, D. F., de Queiroz, J. S. C., Pereira, L. P. M., Bastos, M. Z. N., Choinski, M., Tsapatsis, P. E., de Assis, S. R. M., & Corrêa, T. M. (2023). Rescued Cats Prefer to Scratch Fabrics Commonly Used to Cover Upholstered Furniture. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 26(3), 313-324. doi:10.1080/10888705.2021.1949595

Wilson, C., Bain, M., DePorter, T., Beck, A., Grassi, V., & Landsberg, G. (2016). Owner observations regarding cat scratching behavior: an internet-based survey. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 18(10), 791-797. doi:10.1177/1098612x15594414