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The need to scratch

Posted Fri, Mar 21, 2008, 12:00 pm PDT

The need to scratch on objects is a natural feline behavior. It's also not something you can train out of your cat. If you've tried to deter your cat by punishment, you've most likely noticed that it hasn't worked.

Scratching is important to your cat. It's not just the way she conditions her claws. Be aware of your cat's needs and motives behind this necessary behavior.

  • When a cat scratches an object, it removes the outer dead nail sheath. This exposes the new nail growth.
  • Scratching an object provides the cat the opportunity to leave a visual mark. In an outdoor setting, it enables an approaching cat to see this from a distance and hopefully, avoid a confrontation.
  • There are scent glands in the cat's paw pads. When kitty presses against the object to scratch, those scent chemicals (known as pheromones) are released. In addition to the visual marking, this scent marking provides even more information should another cat come by.
  • Reaching up to scratch an object enables your cat to fully stretch her back and shoulder muscles.
  • Scratching provides an emotional release. Your cat may scratch as a displacement when frustrated or anxious. She may also scratch when very happy or anticipating something.

Since scratching is beneficial to your cat emotional and physical health, provide her with the right kind of scratching post. Make sure it's tall and sturdy and covered in a rough material such as sisal. Locate the post where she currently scratches. Don't make her have to hunt down the post. For cats who like to scratch horizontally, there are inexpensive corrugated cardboard scratch pads available. Cats love them.

For more information, refer to the book, Starting from Scratch.

Showing 21 of 21 Comments

  • 1. Eileen - 2:08PM on 03/21/08

    My cats had been scratching the sofas. I bought a combo scratching post/cat tower last weekend and they haven't looked at the sofas since. (I sprayed the thing with catnip spray when I bought it home, and they started using it immediately.)

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  • 2. TommyBoy - 5:20PM on 03/21/08

    my cat scratches the post on our back porch. he must be warning those neighborhood cats of his turf!! he also loves to scratch on us when he lays on us during sleep time!!

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  • 3. KayKay - 6:08AM on 03/22/08

    as odd as this may sound, i don't have any scratching posts in my house for my two cats...neither one has front claws and they are indoor cats who never go out unless it is on the small deck that i have....since they don't have front claws, should i still have some scratching post around the house(condo)?

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  • 4. Cat - 6:34AM on 03/22/08

    I'm glad you posted this article. My little one shares her house with a dog who thinks it's fun to chase her around the house. Part of me thinks she enjoys the attention and part of me thinks that it scares her. I'm leaning toward the latter because after the dog chases her, she scratches on the carpet (which I normally don't mind). This article helped clarify this issue a little bit. Now I need to help train the dog out of chasing her around... or encourage the cat to help "train" the dog. heh

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  • 5. Dano - 7:12AM on 03/22/08

    It is too bad some "cat lovers" still feel that they need to cut off the toe tips(claws) to save $ on a scratching post. This owners' cats don't scratch because they lost the ability to be a cat!!!

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  • 6. Kitty Lady - 8:25AM on 03/22/08

    I have scratching posts in my living room, dining room and computer room for my three cats. I also have a tree outside that they all scratch on. Yet, I still have one cat that wants to scratch on my sofa. Sometimes, he will simply rub his cheek on the sofa and I tell him what a good kitty he is for not scratching. It is usually when I am reading or watching a movie and not paying attention to him.

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  • 7. KayKay - 2:39PM on 03/22/08

    in response to Caring Animal Lover, my cats came that way...when i adopted them, they had already been declawed so i did not decide to declaw them...i adopted them from a shelter and the other owners had a child who ended up being allergic to the cats...i personally would have not declawed the cats but the other owners thought it was best for some reason....i treat my cats with the utmost respect and do not try to save money by not doing things for them or doing things to them that would take away from them being a cat....please remember Caring Animal Lover that sometimes people who adopt animals from shelters do not always get to decide how the animals come...i just wanted to save two adorable cats from the shelter.

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  • 8. kathyjchristensen@sbcglobal.net - 4:10PM on 03/22/08

    to kaykay "Well said,it pays not to throw stones."

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  • 9. superpussca - 8:16PM on 03/22/08

    i have three cats, one uses the scratching post, has never used anything else, the middle one has totally trashed the foot stool and won't use the scratching post and the newest baby (barely 6 months) insists on scratching her claws into the throw rug at the bathroom door, she is adorable when she does this, it's almost like she is orgasmic!! hugs cinnamon

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  • 10. vivalconnie - 6:23AM on 03/23/08

    Mine use a chunk of firewood! They're placed at two spots in the house.

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  • 11. KayKay - 6:58AM on 03/23/08

    to kathyjchristensen...thank you for your response...as i said, i would have not declawed my cats if i had gotten them as kittens but when i adopted them they were one years old....they are now 6, almost 7 and they are totally and completely loved by me and my extended family

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  • 12. Deb - 8:25AM on 03/23/08

    in response to Caring Animal Lover, my cats already had thier fromt claws removed prior to coming to live with me. However. they DO "scratch" on a regular basis. It has not lessened this instinct.

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  • 13. Barbara D - 1:31PM on 03/23/08

    All my cats are declawed except for one. He is a feral cat that has lived in my house for the last 5 years. Problem is that he does not like to be picked up for any reason. Now he claws the bottom of a cardboard box. So when he is done with one box I just give him a new box and he loves it. The rest of my cats were declawed when they were 6 months old. One because she kept jumping and hanging on my legs, I have the scars to prove it and she just turned 17 years old and it hasn't bothered her one bit and Sasha who is 5 also is declawed and it doesn't bother her either. They both are always clawing on everything especially when they are happy. The claw boxes, furniture, clothes baskets, anything they can get their paws on.

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  • 14. Terrie M - 5:51PM on 03/23/08

    Kay Kay, I also adopted 2 four-year old cats from a child allergic home that are declawed, (4 paw declawed in this instance). In answer to your original question, yes they do love the scratching posts. They use it for streching and when they are excited upon my homecoming from work :) I would much rather have adopted these babies than to see them put down in a shelter, and like you, I would not have chosen declawing if I had adopted them as kittens...

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  • 15. Kara Ann - 6:41AM on 03/24/08

    I have one of each - a declawed and a clawed. Both scratch equally. We have a carpeted box we made for them to tear apart. Like the article, I see them scratching when they are happy as well as irritated. My oldest cat is the one with claws, which I purposely left in tact. She was a stray that I picked up in the neighborhood. Our younger cat we had declawed and we got her from the Humane Society. They share the same box and if we hear scratching somewhere else in the house, we know they are trying to bury something that should be in a litter box!

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  • 16. Wilma - 6:43AM on 03/24/08

    I also have a cat who is declawed, but loves to "scratch and stretch" all the time. This is also a favorite "very happy" thing he does. He gets inside the shower curtain and scratches away at it, until I scratch back at him. He also does it when I change the sheets...he goes crazy and scratches at every corner I try to tuck. For my cat, it's more a happy, play thing, but I see him scratching objects like a cat with nails, and his paws are so strong, he can pick apart a straw basket just as if he had nails.

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  • 17. unitednationalsupply - 7:31AM on 03/24/08

    i do have a scratching post for my kitty but she sleeps on top of it thats about it she never uses it to scratch she prefers my carpet. but never touches my bed or couch so I guess thats good.

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  • 18. Katt - 8:59AM on 03/24/08

    My cat scratches the front door mat when I get home from work because she's excited for her treat. She also scratches the bed when she wakes up as if she wants to let me know "Hey, I'm awake, so you should be too!" I don't mind because who's looking anyway? When she gets frustrated, she'll lay down on her side on the floor with a tennis ball, hold onto it with her front paws, and scratch with her back paws.. it's soo cute!

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  • 19. KayKay - 5:47PM on 03/24/08

    to all who have posted a note/comment cats who are declawed and what to do about scratching post....i am going to go out and buy two to put in different places in my condo which is somewhat small...anyway, i will get two of them...also thank you to those of you who are understanding about the fact that my cats are declawed and that i was not responsible for doing it...as i said in one of my earlier posts, i just wanted to save two adorable cats from the shelter....thanks

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  • 20. Net Net - 2:06PM on 03/26/08

    I have a "few" cats that have adopted me and my 5 acres. They all have their claws. The mats in the front get scratched, and I have 2 cat hotels that keep them busy scratching. Trees, pieces of wood & any area that they decide is a good scratching spot gets a little scratch now and then. I do have a morning cat that thinks I should be up when she wants me to be up. I don't mind it...she is gentle with me!

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  • 21. freshta52 - 1:40PM on 03/27/08

    Whatever you do, please don't declaw your cat. It is very painful and causes psychological problems.

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